WILD FIRE PANIC IN CHICAGO ASYLUM.

AT LEAST 15 DEAD.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. NEW YORK, THURSDAY.

At least fifteen persons lost their lives at Chicago last night, when fire destroyed a portion of the State Hospital for the Insane, including the “Death House” Ward, in which are confined patients in the last stages of mental decay. Six bedridden men were carried from this ward before the flames, heat, and smoke made further work of rescue impossible, and twelve bodies were found later so badly burned as to render identification impossible. Three others killed were an attendant and his wife and child, and as two wings of the hospital were completely destroyed it is believed that other bodies will be found later.

From 500 to 600 patients were seated at dinner when the flames, which started in the cellar, broke through the flooring, and quickly converted a scene of comparative peace, with a touch of holiday cheer, into a wild spectacle of fire-fighting and valiant attempts to prevent a mad panic. The frightened and whimpering men were coaxed and threatened and finally all were got safely outside into a drizzling rain. The hospital grounds are unwalled, and the patients wandered about unguarded, so that many escaped. The hospital attendants ware most troubled by the violent cases in the other section of the hospital, who, driven to frenzy by the noise and excitement, crowded the windows of their cells, and sent piercing screams into the night as they madly shook the steel bars. Three thousand five hundred patients are housed in the hospital, which is composed of seven buildings, many of which are constructed entirely of wood, and are old enough to constitute veritable fire-traps.

A telegram from Chicago states that seventeen bodies have already been recovered from the ruins, but the death-roll will probably be increased, as many inmates are missing. It is hoped, however, that these may still be roaming the countryside, having rushed away from the burning building in fright. Large gangs of searchers are now beating the countryside.

At the moment the origin of the fire is. a mystery. Presents had been distributed to the patients before the dinner, and it is feared that many of the deaths resulted from some of the patients delaying flight through efforts to save their Christmas presents.