1891 — March 13, Fire, Central Tennessee Insane Asylum, near Nashville, TN –10-11
–11 Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, IA. “Eleven of the Lunatics Perished.” 3-16-1891, p. 1.
–11 Daily Alta California, San Francisco. “The Nashville Asylum Fire.” 3-17-1891, p. 5.
–11 San Antonio Daily Light, TX. “More Added.” 3-16-1891, p. 1.
–11 Waterloo Daily Courier, IA. “Eleven of the Asylum Fire Victims.” 3-17-1891, p. 2.
–10 American Journal of Insanity. “Notes and Comments.” Vol. 47, April 1891, p. 587.
–10 Daily Sentinel, Carroll, IA. “Ten Lives Lost at Nashville.” 3-17-1891, p. 1.
–10 The News, Frederick, MD. “Victims of the Asylum Fire.” 3-16-1891, p. 1.
— 9 Appletons’ Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1891. p. 253.
— 9 Galveston Daily News, TX. “Insane Asylum Burned.” 3-15-1891, p. 4.
— 8 NYT. “An Insane Asylum on Fire. Eight…Inmates…[TN]…Burned to Death.” 3-15-1891.
— 8 Prince. The Fire Protection of Hospitals for the Insane, p. 12.
— 6 Goshen Democrat, IN. “Six Lunatics Cremated.” 3-18-1891, p. 1.
— 6 Laredo Daily Times, TX. “An Asylum on Fire.” 3-15-1891, p. 1.
— 6 Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Insane Asylum Burned.” 3-14-1891, p. 1.
Narrative Information
American Journal of Insanity: “The Fire at the Nashville Hospital. – Once more we are called upon to record a disastrous fire in a hospital for the insane. On the night of March 13, 1891, the entire male wing of the Central Hospital for the Insane, situated near Nashville, Tennessee, was destroyed by fire, and ten patients were burned to death. The origin of the fire was in a patient’s bedroom; its cause could not be ascertained. The deplorable event occurred during a dark, cold and stormy night, and with a most unfavorable wind. When discovered, at 11 o’clock, the fire was confined to one room and a hallway, but the only means at hand to fight the flames were buckets of water handed from one to another. The Nashville fire department was notified by telephone, but an engine was not on the scene until about 2:30 a.m. All of the patients were safely removed from the burning building except eight occupying rooms on the first and second floor, approach to which was prevented by flame and smoke. The lives of two others were lost by their rushing back into the flames after their rescue had been accomplished.
“In an official report of the disaster to the Governor and Assembly of Tennessee, it is mentioned that temporary accommodations have been afforded the houseless unfortunates at the West Tennessee Hospital at Bolivar. Insurance was held to the amount of $75,000, and it is estimated that the building will be re-built without expense to the State. The catastrophe forcibly illustrates the necessity of having good local protection from fire, especially in institutions situated at a distance from organized fire departments.” (American Journal of Insanity. “Notes and Comments.” Vol. 47, April 1891, pp. 587-588.)
Prince: “March 13, 1891, 10:15 p.m. West wing Tennessee Central Hospital, Nashville. Origin – unknown. Loss, $50,000. Eight lives lost.”
Newspapers
March 13: “Nashville, Tenn., March 13 – Fire broke out at the Central Insane asylum, one mile from this city at about 11 o’clock tonight. It started in the rear of the male wing, which has been destroyed, and the flames continue to rage. There were twenty-eight patients in the wing and six of them were burned to death. The fire has reached the main building. The inmates are escaping. Governor Buchannan has ordered out the state militia and will leave for the scene on a special train.” (Laredo Daily Times, TX. “An Asylum on Fire.” 3-15-1891, p. 1.)
March 14: “Nashville, Tenn., March 14….The scene within the quadrangle in the rear of the superintendent’s office was all glare and confusion at 1 o’clock [a.m.] when an Associated Press representative arrived. In the hall connecting the east and west wings and in the corridors of the east wing the unfortunates were huddled together – men, women and bed-clothes being so intermingled that it was hard to distinguish between them. They did not seem to comprehend the awful situation.
“At 3:17 the inmates, who had been huddled for several hours in the yard in front of the main building, were returned to the east wing. About 25 had escaped, the majority of whom were harmless. The dangerous lunatics were kept locked up all the time in the east wing, and none of them were subjected to exposure or danger during the progress of the flames.
“At 3:47 the fire was reported fully under control, and the inmates were comfortably housed, and all was quiet….” (Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, ME. “A Pile of Ruins.” 4-16-1891, p. 1.)
March 14: “Nashville, Tenn., March 14. – The Center insane asylum, situated seven miles from here, was almost entirely burned last night. Half a dozen unfortunate inmates were burned to death. The following is a corrected list of those killed [9 names]:
Dr. Frank Hollowell of Davidson county,
John Poindexter of Wilson county,
- R. Goodlett of Davidson county,
John S. Johnson of Rutherford county,
- J. Settles of Wilson county,
- H. Beasley of Hickman county,[1]
- Brooks of Davidson county,
- Kelly of Wayne county,
John Nance of Smith county.
“Those who escaped number between thirty and forty, many of whom have been captured, some of them many miles from the scene of the fire. Loss to the building is estimated about $50,000, fully insured. The fire is supposed to have been caused by Lee Alford, an inmate, who in some mysterious manner escaped. It is reported that he was recaptured today. About 125 of the inmates will be transferred to the West Tennessee asylum until the asylum here is rebuilt.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Insane Asylum Burned.” 3-15-1891, p. 4.)
March 14: “Nashville, Tenn., March 14. — Fire last night, partly destroyed the insane asylum seven miles from this city. There were about 500 inmates, and of those six were burned to death, as follows:
- S. Johns,
- Burt Dexter,
Blue Preston,
John Kelly,
- H. Bearsley, and
- F. Holloway.
The loss is not known, but the insurance — $75,000 — will cover it.” (Goshen Democrat, IN. “Six Lunatics Cremated.” 3-18-1891, p. 1.)
March 14: “Nashville, Tenn., March 14. Today the beautiful central insane asylum, situated seven miles from this city is almost a mass of ruins; beneath it are the charred bodies of nine of the unfortunate inmates; in the outhouses nearby are huddled the poor demented creatures, who found an asylum in the grand old structure now laid low; and on the lawn the long, parched trees, denuded of branch and foliage, stand; the spectral trunks with gaunt outstretched arms marking the spot where stood the massive building, alive with human beings, the observed of all who passed that way, and one of the most beautiful and attractive spots in lovely middle Tennessee….
“There were twenty-eight men in the wing when the fire caught, and twenty-two of them were quickly removed to the main hall, the other nine [?] being left to the fate behind their impassable wall of flame….[provides names of nine male fatalities]….
“The scene within the quadrangle in the rear of the superintendent’s office was all glare and confusion at 1 o’clock when an Associated Press reporter arrived. The flames in the west wing were towering above the parapeted walls and guards were hurrying hither and thither. A moment later the inner wall of the burning building fell in with an awful crash, and clouds of sparks covered the entire visible heavens. In another instant a shower of cinders and charred fragments of wood fell upon the roofs of the remaining buildings and rattled upon the stone-paved court. In the hall connecting the east and west wings and in the corridors of the west wing the terrified unfortunates were huddled together like sheep…
“Dr. Callender sat in his office with an expression of despair on his features and great beads of perspiration stood upon his brow. Crouching in the corners were the figures of inmates, who, perhaps, had a clearer appreciation of the impending danger than their companions and had stolen in, thinking themselves safe with the superintendent. By midnight nothing remained for the men who had fought so nobly to do but stand aside and await the coming of the engines of the city. It was a heartrending sight to see hundreds of men who had gathered from the country for miles around talking in groups or gazing helplessly on the work of destruction while within the hall, a few steps away, the wild eyes of a mass of miserable creatures glared about in the unearthly light, and the minds behind them were too weak to know that in a short while they might be out in the cold night wind with nothing but the sky for a covering.
“When one of the reporters was about a mile this side of the conflagration on the way out, he met a couple of lunatics in shirt sleeves trudging along the highway with their arms locked about each other’s neck. As they passed one of them cried out: ‘Fire, fire; cold, cold.’ On his return the same pair was overtaken just within the corporation line. This time they were heard to say: ‘We are free, we are free; but don’t you tell, don’t you tell,’ and, turning around, saw that their arms were still locked about each other’s neck. Hiding in the shrubbery immediately around the asylum were many who had escaped when the sudden exodus was made from the west wing. Most of them were partially dressed, but almost without exception their faces were covered with smiles, as if the downfall of their refuge was a source of pleasure to them and the biting wind a thing unfelt….
“It was reported at 3:30 this morning that one of the women inmates of the asylum had been drowned in the lake on the lawn, but her name could not be learned. The fire was at this time reported entirely controlled and the inmates were comfortably housed and all was quiet.
“The escaped numbered between thirty and forty, many of whom have been captured, some of them many miles from the scene of the fire…
“The fire is supposed to have been caused by Lee Alford, an inmate, who, in some mysterious manner, escaped. It is reported that he was recaptured today near Lavorgne [La Vergne]. About one hundred and twenty-five of the inmates will be transferred to the West Tennessee asylum at Bolivar until the asylum here is rebuilt.” (Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis. “Freed by the Flames. Lunatics Rejoice at Their Misfortune and Gaze on the Burning Asylum with Glee…Only Nine Lives Believed to Have Been Lost. A Sleepy Fire Chief Responsible for Much Loss.” 3-18-1891, p. 1.)
March 14: “Nashville, Tenn., March 14. — This morning the Central Insane Asylum, situated seven miles from this city, is almost a mass of ruins, and beneath it are the charred bodies of half a dozen of the unfortunate inmates. At 10:15 last night Watchman Fitzhugh discovered an ugly tongue of flame breaking through the roof of the western main wing of the building. How it caught none could learn, but it reached from the ground through the second and third stories, and cut off the few rooms that were behind it. In a moment the alarm was given, and the 400 inmates of the institution were thrown into wild commotion. There were twenty-eight men in the wing when the fire caught, and twenty of them were quickly removed to the main hall, the other eight being left to their fate behind the impassable wall of flames.
“The city was telephoned to for aid, but Chief Carrell of the Fire Department could not be found, and his subordinates refused to move without instructions. Finally, after two hours’ delay, the Chief was found, and he, with two engines, left for the scene of the disaster. In the meantime the west wing had collapsed, the fire had spread, and the inmates, made frantic by their danger, were beginning to break from the guards and scatter like frightened animals over the surrounding country. The fire engines arrived on the scene at 2:15, and in a few moments a stream of water was playing on the main building. Previously, the inmates of the asylum, the servants, and the guards had rendered fire service with buckets and succeeded in holding the fire in check to some extent. The doomed inmates were in the west wing. They were all males and white.” (New York Times. “An Insane Asylum on Fire. Eight of the Inmates of a Tennessee Institution Burned to Death.” 3-15-1891.)
March 14: “Nashville, March 14. — The insane asylum, seven miles from this city, caught fire at midnight last night and was entirely destroyed. There was about 500 persons in the asylum at the time, but it is believed that all but six were rescued.” (Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Insane Asylum Burned.” 3-14-1891, p. 1.)
March 16: “The work of removing the bodies of the victims of the fire at the insane asylum, Nashville, Tenn., Friday night [March 13] was begun Monday morning [March 16], but at an early hour only one body had been taken out. This was so badly charred that it could not be recognized. It is thought all the bodies will be taken out soon, when the coroner will begin his inquiry.” (Banner Plain Dealer, North Vernon, IN. “Delving for Charred Corpses.” 3-18-1891, 6.)
March 16: “Nashville, March 16 – A list of those who lost their lives in the fire at the insane asylum is now increased to eleven. Aside from those known to be dead now only one patient is missing, James Burton. As he is known to have made several attempts to throw himself into the fire, it is feared he, too, is among those who were burned to death.” (Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, IA. “Eleven of the Lunatics Perished.” 3-16-1891, p. 1.)
March 16: “Nashville, March 16th. – The number of dead by the Insane Asylum fire has increased to eleven. One more missing inmate is believed to be in the ruins.” (Daily Alta California. “The Nashville Asylum Fire.” 3-17-1891, p. 5.)
March 16: “Nashville, March 16. – Victims of the Central Tennessee insane asylum fire now number eleven.” (San Antonio Daily Light, TX. “More Added.” 3-16-1891, p. 1.)
March 16: “Nashville, Tenn., March 16.—Following are the names of the person who perished in the insane asylum fire early Saturday morning [same names of nine male fatalities noted above]…It is reported, also, that a woman was drowned in a pond on the grounds, but it is not known who she is.” (The News, Frederick, MD. “Victims of the Asylum Fire.” 3-16-1891, p. 1.)
March 17: “Nashville, Tenn., March 17. – One hundred and twenty-five patients will be removed from the burned insane asylum here to-day to the West Tennessee asylum at Bolivar. A special train will carry the party. A corrected list of the dead now shows that ten lives were lost, all of them hopelessly insane. Several bodies were removed, but none of them were recognizable.” (Daily Sentinel, Carroll, IA. “Ten Lives Lost at Nashville.” 3-17-1891, p. 1.)
March 17: “Nashville, Tenn., March 17. – No effort has yet been made to recover the bodies of the Tennessee insane asylum fire victims. The list of the dead has lengthened to eleven.” (Waterloo Daily Courier, IA. “Eleven of the Asylum Fire Victims.” 3-17-1891, p. 2.)
Sources:
American Journal of Insanity. “Notes and Comments.” Vol. 47, April 1891. Google preview accessed 12-28-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ok0XAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true
Appletons’ Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1891 (Vol. 16, new series). “Disasters in 1891.” NY: D. Appleton and Co., 1892. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=FUcoAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, ME. “A Pile of Ruins.” 4-16-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=10071263&sterm
Banner Plain Dealer, North Vernon, IN. “Delving for Charred Corpses.” 3-18-1891, p. 6. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=198266271&sterm
Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, IA. “Eleven of the Lunatics Perished.” 3-16-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=52001361&sterm
Daily Alta California, San Francisco. “The Nashville Asylum Fire.” 3-17-1891, p. 5. Accessed at: http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18910317.2.93#
Daily Sentinel, Carroll, IA. “Ten Lives Lost at Nashville.” 3-17-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=160035670&sterm
Galveston Daily News, TX. “Insane Asylum Burned.” 3-15-1891, p. 4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=42764946&sterm
Goshen Democrat, IN. “Six Lunatics Cremated.” 3-18-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=196627303&sterm
Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis. “Freed by the Flames. Lunatics Rejoice at Their Misfortune and Gaze on the Burning Asylum with Glee…Only Nine Lives Believed to Have Been Lost. A Sleepy Fire Chief Responsible for Much Loss.” 3-18-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=198033330&sterm
Laredo Daily Times, TX. “An Asylum on Fire.” 3-15-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=111416475&sterm
New York Times. “An Insane Asylum on Fire. Eight of the Inmates of a Tennessee Institution Burned to Death.” 3-15-1891. Accessed 12-3-2013 at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9501E0D81239E033A25756C1A9659C94609ED7CF
Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Insane Asylum Burned.” 3-14-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=441362&sterm
Prince, L. H., M.D. The Fire Protection of Hospitals for the Insane. Chicago, C. H. Blakely & Co., 1891. Google preview accessed 12-28-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=CU0WAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
San Antonio Daily Light, TX. “More Added.” 3-16-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=45385583&sterm
The News, Frederick, MD. “Victims of the Asylum Fire.” 3-16-1891, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=32861902&sterm
Waterloo Daily Courier, IA. “Eleven of the Asylum Fire Victims.” 3-17-1891, p. 2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=88020635&sterm
[1] Listed as W. H. Heaseley in Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, ME. “A Pile of Ruins.” 4-16-1891, p. 1.