Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-02
Fire at the Cumberland Hospital.
ONE OF THE INMATES BURNED
TO DEATH. as
Great Destruction of Property.

A IRE broke out yesterday morning be-
tween IL and o'clock, in one Of the Wards
Of the Cumberland Hospital, used AZ Dis
pensary, destroying four Wards and the
kitchen before il could before il could be ex-
trguished. From Asst. Surg. s. A. stor-
row, Z. S. A, in charge, we learn that night
before last, he made his usual midnight
rounds, and found everything quiet and in
perfect order. Ten minutes after, he heard
a cry of fire, and on arriving at the Dispen-
sary, found the flames issuing from the win
dows and the fire spreading rapidly
The ire apparatus Of the Hospital, con-
Sitting Of only about one hundred feet Of
hose, was Immediately put into requisition.
There was no engine connected with it and
the forcing power Of the water in the plugs
was not sufficient TO render the apparatus
available at any considerable distance.
The Government fire engine soon arrived
on the ground, and under the management
of Major Allen rendered very efficient SER
vice; indeed it is said that but for this en-
CINE the entire Hospital would have been
consumed. The water in the reservoir and
tanks near by was soon exhausted, and IL was
found necessary to procure a supply from a
the burning buildings. A dam had to be
constructed across the creek before water
could be obtained in sufficient quantity, and
meantime the flames were spreading rapidly.
Shortly sfter one o'clock, however, the FIRE
was nearly extinguished, with the loss only
Of the four wards and cook house before men
toned, which are entirely consumed.
The first care of the Surgeon and his as
usu IN 81
number Of about one hundred MANY of
them were suffering from limbs lately am
putated, but they we're all safely removed.
There are about forty Wards in the entire
Hospital, and there was therefore no diff
Guilty in finding them accommodations.
A large amount of government property,
consisting Of blankets, sheets, and various
medical supplies, was stored in the Dispen-
sary; and, although large portion was re-
moved, the loss was quite heavy. Yester-
day morning large piles Of blankets could
be seen where the building had stood, nearly
consumed, or rendered worthless by being
badly scorched.
No doubt exists in regard TO the origin of
the fire. A contract nurse named Thomas
Parker, who slept in a room adjoining the
Dispensary, had gone to bed about 10
o'clock in state of intoxication, leaving a
candle burning on his table; and the sup
position is, that in moving about, as man
in that state is apt to do, the candle was
overturned, and as the building was of wood,
il soon took fire. There is no doubt that
the fire originated in his room, as an at
tendant, who was in one of the adjoining
rooms, heard the flames cracking, and
kicked open the door. He says he looked
in and saw the drunken man lying on one
side Of the bed but he only obtained a
glimpse Of him, as Immediately on opening
the door the flames singed his whiskers and
burned his face so that he was forced 10 get
away as soon as possible. Efforts were made
to save the unfortunate man; but it was
found impossible, under the circumstances, TO
rescue him, and his charred remains were
taken from the ruins yesterday morning
We understand that he was a discharged
soldier, about twenty-five or three years of
age, but we were unable to learn whether he
had any relations living, as no one seemed
able to give slrther particulars. His dread
full fate suggests a moral too plain to require
comment.
Itisworthy ofremark that the most efficient
assistance was rendered byth officers and men
of the 18th u. l., encampedne near by, both
in extinguishing the flames and removing
the patients. A building near the Dispen-
sary, occupied by the Second Battalion of
the 18th Infantry, caught fire several times,
and also house used as a commissary depart
ment, but by careful management they were
both saved.
The total loss is not known. Besides the
Eve buildings burned, four or FIVE others
were considerably damaged. Every effort
was made to remove the stores, but owing
to the progress made by the flames before
discovery, il was found impossible to secure
them all. There was little wind at the time,
otherwise il is probable that many more
buildings would have been destroyed, and
perhaps the entire hospital.
At one time the quarters of the officers
connected with the Hospital were threatened,
but fortunately they were not injured.
There were about 300 patients in all the
Wards, aboul evenly divided into whites and
blacks, and a large number of them had to
be conveyed to place of safety. 1t is but
just to say, that Surgeon Storrow has the
affairs Of the Hospital most systematically
These patients were removed
under Surgeon Sorrows immediate super
vision, many Of them with his own hands.
On an occasion of this kind great diver
sity may be noticed in the conduct of differ
ent individuals. Men whose limbs had late
" been amputated, and who were suffering
severely were heard to exclaim, "Don't take
any trouble about US, we can be removed at
any time" while those who were only slight
ly unwell, were clamorous in their en-
treaties to be carried away.
1t is certainly fortuitous circumstance
that the parties we're all safely removed, and
that the FIRE was extinguished as soon as it
was.
Since writing the above, we learn that
Military Board of Survey has been ap-
pointed to investigate all the circumstances
connected with the affair, and submit re-
port Of such investigation. laf