The Asylum Fire

A telegram, willen reached Trustee Frederlck Sehinid, Of this city, on Thursday last, that the Pontiac asy him was an firc, caused considerable anxiety in this plaw, for all of the patiënte sent trom this county werc in that building. Details oí the fire show that th woi'k done by the 'firemen from Pontl ac and Detroit, who went to the reecue, was oí a remarkably good eharacter, and that their eflorts saved the entlre structure irom de struction. As it was the administra tlon building and a .portion of the Xorth wing wore bnrned, .entailing a loes of upwards of $100,000 to the state. Every patiënt was taken out of the building in safety, but had the fire occurred in tlie night a different story would undoubtodly have to be told. How the fire occurred is a mystery, as it took in the attic, where no one waa allo wed to go except the proper oificials. The building, it is said, will be rebuilt at once, though there was not one cent of insurance, and there are no funds to build with. The trustees may go down in 'their own pockets and put lip the necessary amount. but a trouble has occurred from eucl action in the past, they will proba bij not be very anxious to do so. This fire ought toprove to the 6tate tlw bad policy of not taking out in eurance upom its property. Ite great etructures are inflamable, and quite as likely to burn as any other build inga, and in this instance, if the fire insurance conipanies had to pay, say half of this loss, it would give the tméteea enough fund to work witli until the next legislature meets, and provisions eould be made to complete the repairs. Trustee Schmid, Who returned from Pontiac Monday evening, thinks tha $75,000 wlll cover the damage done to the Eaetern asylum by the fire. He says that nearly all of the furniture was saved, and that everything is moving along in as good shape a.s could be hoped for. Some thirty pationts have been takon by friende to the private asylum at Flint. The board will go ahead and rebuild the burned wings, using a surplus fund they liad accumulated to make the start witli. He thinks the authoritics will be able to (fel along all right until the damages are ropaired. The blossoms of the New Year's crown Bloom from the ashes of the dead. - Helen Hunt Jackso