THE AVONDAALE ASYLUM FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10239, 22 December 1894, Page 6

THE AVONDAALE ASYLUM FIRE.

(Fan Onitkd P.«;;us Association.) AucKi-tND, December 21. A firs broke oat last night ?.t the auxiliary asylum, Avoudale, half a mile distant from the main building. The fire resulted in the complete destruction of the auxiliary buildings, v;hich were of wood. The damage is estimated ab from £8000 to £10,000.' Dr Eeatty, the assistant medical officer, recaived somewhat serious injuries in the w&y ot burns. The whole oE the patients in the auxiliary, to the number of about 120, wers saved. The outbreak occurred in what was known as tiw auxiliary asylum, about half a mile fio-n the principal blosk. The auxiliary was occupied by about 120 male patients v;ho ware able to work the farm, the staff superintending thsaj. The structure was entirely oE wood, was ons-storcy in height, aud occupied about aa acre and a-half. It was in the form of a qncdraugle, the liitoh'u, lavatoi-ies, snd offices talcing up the whole of o:i« sids. Two of the other sides were dormitoriea for patients, and the fourth side formed the connecting corridor, en which the othsr buildings— billiard room and other aps-.rfcmfints— abutted, forming two wings attached to the ma.in quadrangle. Duriug the oveniag * diiaoe was in progress ia the mnin bniUiiiig, and jast as the laat dauce fuiisued the fire alarm TiA\g out. The auxiliary ssylum patient'j had alt been seen safely iv their night quarters, and Me Wybourne, the iarru manager, had about completed his usual rounds when ho noticed a smell of lire. His inveati^atiocs showed a lice in the bathroom. Mr Wybourne raided tlie alarm, and the patieuts were got from the b»tlrooma and placed in the central yard under vy^rdern

Meanwhile help had arrived from the. own block. The fire-hose was fixed to (hu ffendjiipu in the grounds, and » body of warders did their best to control th» flames from reaching the rest of the building, but what could be dose with one or two seto of hose, and worked with little or no pressure of water? While these operafciocs were ia progress the female attendants and servants busied theraoelveß saving what furniture they could. Help in it? moat desirable form—that of the fire brigade—was not available, the brigade being engaged at a big fire in town. The police and salvage corps, however, joined in the work, saving whatever was possible. Drs Robertson, Lowry, and Girdle? joined with other helpecß, Inspector Hickson directing the disposal, of property saved. Ths.wsud up to that time had been slight, but from its directiou had driven the fire outward from the la-rger portion of the buildisg. Here, however, was the ntaud-piue, and the intense heat set fire to the grass round it, soon rendering evcu the slight check to the firs obtained from the lwse of leas vr.lue than ever.

Than came a change iv the breeze, and it was at once seen that the whole block was doomed. At great risk the helpers directed their efforts to saving the contents of the 3econd dormitory. Buc the flames had got a complftta hold of the first dormitory befora mauy minutes elapsed, and a peremptory order was given everyone to leave the building. This was given and obeyed none too soon, for the flames ran along the heated timbers from one pait to another with almost lightning speed.

There were several narrow escapes, and some were overcome by the dense smoke. Dr Beatty wm about the last to leave. He did not do thin until he had received somewhat serious injuries iv the way of burns, which necessitated his being sent to the main building, where his burns were dressed, and he then had to go to bed. A detachment of the fire brigade, more police, &nd meu of tha artillery came upon the scene, bub thfcy could do nothing. The patients, an already stated, to the number of about 120, had early been assembled in tho ward quadrangls. Some were able to render assistance, but thn Major portion remained where they were planed until ifc was seen it ■would bs unsafe for them to stay there any longer. They were then marshalled outside and marched off to the main block for the night. One er two managed, in the inevitable tho'.igh very slight contusion, to wander away— one, at least, intn a neighbouring plantation. However, all had been accounted for by midnight, none ths worse for the disastrous occurrence of the evening, unless relapses should eusne.

The fire \vm fleet noticed about half-past 9, and by 11 o'clock every square icch of the acre and a-hulf of bnildings was in flames. The flight wav a brilliant one, never to be forgotten by those who saw it. Oae vast column of flame which shot into the air overhead with a dense cloud of smoke, while the corrugated iron roofing and lead piping melted and spluttered like boiling water. So terrific was the heat that the onlookers could hardly stand 70 yards away. At midnight all that was left of the standing building were 13 chimney stacks, while the burning and charred remains of the block lay nearly two feet deep. It is said that the damage could not bo less than from £8000 to £10,000 when the value of the building and furniture is taken into consideration. The stiff lo3t a great many of their belongings. Had there been a plentiful supply of water within an honr o£ the first discovery of the fire the loss would have been comparatively small. ,As it was, it is a, mercy that no lives were lost.

Nothing further has been elicited as to the origin of the fire at the Auxiliary Asylum. The total inmates in the asylum at present number over WO, of wfcwtn one-third are 'itomen. Uulil additional Hccommodation is provided t.he institution will be considerably overcrowded during tha temporary housing of the additional 120 from the auxiliary in the main bnildicg.

'Che inquiry made by Mr Cooper, the deputy inspector, elicited the fact thai; the fire could have been confined to the lavatory hail there been any pressure of water, bub the water ws-3 ». mera trickle, notwithstanding urgent telephone requests to tha waterworks to increuse the pressure. Mr Cooper reported that the fire apparatus introduced by Captaiu H«cuah worfeel exceedingly well and answered

all expectations, but; the want of water was Ff.tal. Arrangements are being made to transfer the patients to Motuihi quarantine station.