The Asylum Fire

Southland Times, Issue 18057, 29 January 1903, Page 2

The Asylum Fire

MANY DISTRAUGHT WOMEN PERISH

Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph— Copyright,

LONDON, Jan. 27,

The fire in Colney Hatch Asylum started at 5.30 this morning in an annexe containing 1200 women. A high wind, was blowing, and the wing was quickly a iu«ss of "nines. A pipe leading to an artesian well was under repairs, and the water supply was short. Many brigades were in attendance, and tho Asylum officials and attendants made heroic efforts to save the patients, but experienced difficulty in making the afllicted people understand their peril. Many resisted attempts at rescue. and number* were overpowered in the corridors. Two nurses also perished. Later reports give the number of deaths at fifty.

GALLANT SERVICES

Received 128 th. 11.31 p.m

Three hundred and thirty pauper rrippleK, a hundred quite bedridden, occupied a wooden annexe at Colney Hatch Asylum, containing five wards, uncl connected with the main, building l»y corridors, which the firemen demolished, confining the conflagration to the annexe. A nurse first discovered the fire in a store room. The flames spread with dreadful rapidity, despite the efforts of the Asylum firemen, who were soon aided by 35 London engines. Two hundred firemen, the nurses and attendants, and the whole Asylum made gallant efforts, und succeeded in rescuing 280 inmates, Dr Suward, the medical superintendent, pets sonally saving scores. The v,orst los« occurred in ward No. 5. where suicidal patients were housed, 35 out of 70 perishing. Sixteen perisjied in ward No. 4. Some of tho patients were <|Uite calm. others gleeful. Some, frenzied, fought the rescuer*, and hid under beds. One liit a nurse's linger off. No nurses were killed, though several were injured^