Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1877 — Seventeen Inmates of a Canadian Poor-House Burned to Death. [ARTICLE]

Seventeen Inmates of a Canadian PoorHouse Burned to Death.

niMCOK, Ont., Aug. S. At 10:45 on Saturday evening fire Was discovered in the Poor-Huu9e on the in dustrial farm of the County of Norfolk, and about one mile from the town. , The building was very old, dry and built of wood. The fire originated in the center of the building down-stairs, and spread so rapidly that before any alarm could be given both staircases were in ruins, thereby cutting otf retreat through the doors. The inmates were sleeping both on the ground floor and the first floor above, the men on the one side and the women on the other. Very few people were at the scene of conflagration, owing to the distance at which the Poor-House was situated from the town. The tire alarm was not sounded and no fire engines or firemen were present. Meanwhile the flames spread rapidly, and, notwithstanding the extreme exertions and complete presence of mind ot an old, blind man, an inmate of the building, who went through room after room, and awoke the men and boys and controlled them to the best of hfs ability, the inmates lost all control of themselves and were as helpless as infants. The blind man forced five or six out of the window ab >ve, and worked until the flames and smoke compelled bim to seek safety in flight. Notwithstanding his efforts, nine of the males perished in the flames. Meantime, some one in the crowd forced an entrance from the outside to the female department, and succeeded iu awakening all the inmates. They were if possible more excited than the men, and, although many jumped out of the windows at a distance of twelve feet, others could not be induced to leave. Owing to the rapidity with which the flames spread, the time was very short, not exceeding from the first twenty-five minutes, before the greater part of the building was in flames. Meanwhile the ground? surrounding the building were in a state of great con fusion Men and women were running like mad people, some half-dressed and some with nothing on hut a night-shirt, crying and uttering the most pitiful shrieks. During this time the crowd were witnessing a sad and heart rending scene. Men and women could be seen through the open windows seated on their beds and the flames rapidly licking the bed-clotlies and their own scanty clothing. One woman went down stairs, and when she found all retreat was cut off in that direction she sank down on the stairs and perished. She was plainly visible through the open door, and many a brave heart sickened and turned from this most horrible spectacle. Another woman threw two of her children out of the window and then jumped herself. Fortunately, some men underneath caught both mother and children. After a lapse of fifteen or twenty minutes the floors and walls gave way and left nothing standing but the frame. Then the victims coula plainly be seen in the ruins burning. This was the most sickening scene that the crowd had to withstand. Soon the frame fell, and in a very short time all was buried in smoke and ashes. There were seven men, eight women and two boys burned to death, and four men who escaped were badly burned, and ' one man had his leg broken in jumping from the window. These unfortunates received all possible attention. They were conveyed at once to the County Jail, in this town, and received medical aid. It is feared that one of them will not recover. Those who escaped were well cared for. They were temporarily housed in the barn and a small house on the premises and attended by the Matron of the PoorHouse. There were forty inmates, twen-ty-three of whom escaped and seventeen perished in the flames.