New-York tribune., 1879-12-09
STILL A MYSTERY.
NO cLEw TO THE ORIGIN OF THE BELLEVUE FIRE

NO CLEw TO THE ORIGIN OF THE BELLEVUE FIRE
TIE wARDEN's STATEMENT.
No light has been shed upon the origin OF the
fire at Bellevue Hospital Saturday night Dy
which three lives were lost The Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction yesterday received tho
following report from Warden ORourke;
| respectfully report the following: AZ 1922
Saturday the 9th ins fire occurred IN the paVi,-
ion wards 81 aud 30, occupied rs female ana cur
drcn's ward. The nurse in charge MISS Lessohler.
reports that when she first discovered inc re sue
was at the east end of the ward about 100 feet from
where the fire was burning, which was III
n room designated rs the nurses roonll
hut not occupied by her. but was used
mostly as sforc-room for ward clohing.and medl-
cine. The nurse, on the instant, ran to the chill
drcn's warl and gave the alarm, a>sar
men coming TO rescue the children she re-
turned TO the female ward to assist the patients
escaping. When the alarm was gwen | was
Immediately notified at the same time thc hrc
alarm was given by the gateman. Not having
retired. almost instantly at the hre ana mace
every effort to save the lives OF the patents. me
flames and smoke were intense, and we were drlNeh
from the pavilion. a..
II is with deep regret that have to report the
loss of three children, viz. Thomas Sheehcv' age
10 wears: Charles Bentley, age year; Mortlna
Richlcr, age weeks. Mary Turner, who was very
i'll and not expected to live previous 10 the nit, en-
pireti shortly after being removed To an adlnlnlhe
bmlding: all the Others, twenty-five IN NUMBER
were safely carried 10 other wards.
ecien. o,% in cxtnpns6ing the fire and prevent
mo IL communicating to the main building. The
nurse Of the ward showed great presence ot iDmd
under such irving circumstances. the assistance
rendered me by the attendants in rcscung and as
sisting patients TO places OF saieN WAS ceI'aihIS
cOmmcudablc.
The house physicians and surgeons also rendered
great assistance, and every one attended TO his
duties without any undue excitement The fire
lastcd short time owing to the efforts of the FIRE
Department. but nevertheless the building has
been rendered useless aud will have TO
be removed The patients rescued have been
placed for the time III the different wards. but as
the ease Is one of emergency, have assigned these
patients TO one of the surgical wards winch can be
spared until such time as some other arrangements
can be made.
The origin Of the fire cannot be asceraned, the
nursc moi being able 10 advance any theory. There
was not any fire within fifty feet of the room, nor
any gas jet within ten feet Of any woodwurk. i
will use every mcthod to ascertain how the hrc
originated, and VIII report any discovery make.
JANIS +. O'RoURKE. Warden.
The Board requested the Fire Marshal 10 in
vestigate the cause of the fire. Fire Marshal
Sheldon visited the ruins yesterday morning
and questioned Miss Lessonier, the warden,
and several employees of the hospital who We're
in and about the pavilion prior TO tie breaking out
of the Ie and during its progress. He Will not be
ready with a report for several days, hut
he gave II as his opinion yesterday-based
ON such information as he had gathered
that the fire had broken out in the closet
in the nurses room. in which various drugs medi-
cncs and clothing kept, and that ii had been
caused by some drug coming in contact with cot
ton or other inhammable material.
Coroner WOltman cmpancled jury Yesterday,
and with its members visited the of the fire.
A date for the inquest has not set been set.