3-078-135 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Burning of the Lunatic Asylum at Montreal, Canada, 1890. 'The destruction of the Longue Pointe Asylum for lunatics, on May 5, caused the death of nearly forty unfortunate persons, all women, the patients on the male side being got out safely. There were 1300 altogether in the building...The fire...was caused by a lunatic, who ignited some articles in a cupboard. The flames spread through the ventilating shaft, and soon enveloped the whole building. The firemen worked well to subdue the outbreak, but the water supply was exhausted in five minutes. The behaviour of some of the poor lunatics was most painful to witness. They seemed to consider the disaster an occasion of supreme glee, evincing the greatest exultation at the approach of the flames: it was not until the walls fell in over their heads that their maniacal rejoicings were silenced. Three nuns made an heroic attempt to rescue a sick sister from the burning building. The flames, however, overtook them, and all perished. Several firemen were injured...A large number of the inmates were badly burnt before they could be rescued. The value of the building is estimated at from 700,000 dols. to 1,000,000 dols. Our Illustration is from a sketch by Mr. G. Horne Russell'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.