BURNING OF THE WHAU LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4870, 26 September 1877, Page 7

BURNING OF THE WHAU LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Auckland, Soptember 2Qfch. ; An extensive fire occurred at the Lunatic Asylum, Whau, at five o'clock this morning, which destroyed all the leffc wing' and upper portion of the centre of the main builuings. A female patient named Fortune was burnt to death. The fire broke, out in a shed in the back part of the building, arid communicated to the upper parfc of the centre, then extending to the -wing on the left side of the approach to the main entrance. This section was occupied by women and some of the worst patients. There was very little water on, or jirompt measures might have very much circumscribed the destruction. Efforts were at once made to get out the patients, with complete success, with the single exception noted above. There was comparatively little confu sion. the inmates behaving remarkably well, considering circumstances so calculated tp excite then imaginations. Beyond a few cries, there iriay be said to have been no .disturbance. The news was not known in" town till half past five o'clock, and then some.time elapsed before the locality could be discovered, many running into town. The Fhe Brigade, under Inspector Hughes, at once started for the scene, the' engine /being drawn by four horses. .On arrival, the hand engine was fastened on to the force pump, and a ffood ef water thrown on to the upstairs floor of the centre with such success asto prevent the fire from burning it through, and thus preserving the yigbt wing intact. Great excitement arose

shortly after six o'ebek upon discovering that awoman was.still in the left wing. Owen Humphrey, of the Fire Brigade, broke in a window to get her out, when it Was found that alie-had 'run to another or.c of the windows. Alter a, few minutes of intense euspetise slie was rescued m safety. Dr Aiken employed himself actively m removing patients, and aU the Women were brought into the Hospital by eight o clock. The male inmates were located inthe Immigrants' Barracks. A considerable amount cf danger arose during the progress of the fire, owing to the lead running off the roof and from fa.lmg timber. "One inmatei asserts'that she set' the building on fire,"because she was put to' Sleep m the same compartment with -.a-. Maori woman. . , „ ;

:.. ADDITIONAL" PARTICULARS, ; When the alarm was "given by the-rifeht watchman, the Superintendent, Dr Aiken,: and MrsLongdie!, matron, at once opened all the dormitory doors for the purpose of rescuing the inmates. The fire was first discovered in the refractory cells at the back:of the building, and which are built of wood. The cause of the : outbreak was soon explained by one cf the': female patients' named Mrs" Morrow confessing ; she herself set fire to a matrass with the inten- ■'. tion of burning down the place, the reason a-srgned by her being that she bad been locked m a cell with a Maori woman. It was with difficulty that all the dormitory doors coiild be «pened,Eiich was the hold, the fire had got by that time, and even some of- the cells had to, be broken: into from the back to rescue the inmates. The poor creatures were terror etrickeri; and many refused to quit the building, and had to be dragged out by the warders. One hundred and eighty-two patients were safely got out. Of these 63 were females, who were taken out m their night clothes and wrapped, in blankets, llie scene on the. lawn almost defied description. . Many of the lunatics became refrac tory, and required much attention to prevent their escaping or doing mischief. The most unruly were tied to the fence. The majority behaved quite-rationally, many assisting gveatly in the efforts to> save their fellow-inmates and to preserve order. Mrs Fortune, who is believed to have been burned to death, was the wife of "a baker; at Napier, and sister of Father O'Reilly, CoromandeL . It is supposed that she and another patient who was. afterwards got out with great difficulty had wandered back into the > building. The Asylum was insured by the Provincial: Government rfor LIO,OOO in the. New -Zealand;- Office, but the General lirovernment allowed thepolicy to lapse. _■■.-