GreenerPasture.com

Sign In



FREE genealogy since 1999 - History belongs to all of us!


1910 - ASYLUM BURNS, INMATES SHIVER. INSANE PATIENTS FORCED TO FIND SHELTER IN BARNS AND SHEDS. BUILDING REDUCED TO MASS OF ASHES.

News
NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE BURNED IN ESCAPING BUT IT IS BELIEVED NONE OF THE INJURIES WILL PROVE FATAL.

Brandon, Man., Nov. 5. - In the piercing cold of a chilly November night 600 patients of the asylum for the insane are huddled together in sheds and barns as the result of a fire which destroyed the asylum. The asylum was a mile and a half northeast of town and, despite the fact that an early alarm was given, it was an hour before the fire department had reached the scene and by that time the building was almost a total loss and burned to the ground.

Patients Are Released.
Immediately it was seen that the fire had gotten beyond control, and the asylum staff released the patients and by persuasion and threats headed them out of the building in squads. Men, women and children were huddled together in every available outbuilding, but enough of them had sense to realize the awful fate they had escaped and assisted in quieting those who were raving dangerously. A few seemed to recover their senses through the shock but it is feared they will again lose their minds when the excitement is over.

Every Inmate Taken Care Of.
To add to the horrors of the situation, a blizzard was blowing at the time but, despite this, several thousand people went out to the scene and rendered what assistance they could and practically every inmate was in safety within ten minutes after the outbreak, and the superintendent states that everyone has been accounted for, although a number were burned in escaping from the building. It is believed none of the injuries will result fatally.


The Evening Telegram
Elyria, Ohio
November 5, 1910

Visit Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.


Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

The comments you read here belong only to the person who posted them. We reserve the right to remove off-topic and inappropriate comments.