The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-05
Destruciiun oil 81. Svsei,h - hospital
BY Fire.

~
Last Sunday afternoon about half past
four our citizens were startled by the cry of
fire, and soon after the bells pealed forth the
alarm. Smoke and flames were seen issuing
from the attic windows of the building
known as st. Josephs Hospital, in charge
of the Sisters of the House of Providence.
There was a rush of citizens and soldiers to
the burning building, which was at once
emptied of it contents in the cellar, first and
second stories. The engines arrived as
quickly as possible at the reservoir on the
corner of Main and Sth streets, but had to
lay nearly 1000 feet of hose to get to work,
which occasioned some delay, and want of
practice also showed itself. All was done
that could be, by firemen, citizens, soldiers,
and even many women aided, but the build
ing could not be saved, and in an hour
burned to the ground, with surrounding
sheds and fences. The Court house, be-
longing to Clarke county, was threatened
with destruction, but was kept wet down by
the engine, and did not take fire
The Sisters of Charity bought the build
ing, which was mere shell and erected in
1885, on the 9th of March, 1868, entirely re-
fitting and repairing it. 1t was successfully
used as an Orphan and Lunatic Asylum, till,
when the lunatc patients were transferred
to Steilacoom it was transformed into hos
pital In 1865 large addition to the build
ing was erected, and in 1872 the then exist
ing hospital was nearly doubled in size by
the addition of a new building at the eastern
end of the hospital. For many years it was
the only hospital in Oregon or Washington,
and drew its patients from far and near; as
Portland grew and built its hospitals its i'm
portance as a public institution declined. 1t
cared for during the years it has been used
as a hospital about 1900 patients, male and
female; besides, it has been the home of
about so poor old men. Considering the
amount of blankets, bedspreads, clothing
etc, burned, and the furniture damaged and
destroyed, the total loss will not fall short of
s., O00 The origin of the fire has not been
positively ascertained, but it was undoubt-
eddy accidental, probably from the careless
use of tobacco pipe. 1t is the intention of
the Sisters to rebuild the institution as soon
as available funds can be procured, and such
an institution is really necessary in our city.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
The wood shed OF the College took fire
from flying cinders, and it was put out by
Father Schram, who made the shingles fly
in anything but ministerial manner.
McMullen's fences and his woodshed We're
damaged some, but he is content it was no
worse.
Several persons boarding in the house lost
their trunks and clothing, and some lost
few dollars in coin.
AL bateman mad his leg hurt by falling
raftcr, and has been laid up all the week.
During the early progress of the fire
ladder which had the hose and some eight
or ten men on it broke. and all fell to the
ground, but fortunately no one was seriously
injured.
b. n. Leverich cut one of his hands Sc
verely on a broken window.
All the fruit on the trees within one hun
dred feet of the burning building was
cooked on one side by the intense heat.