Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-22
CHARI0TS OF MERCY.
The Marvellous Speed With Which
They Dart Along the Streets.
A PUBLIC TEST MADE YESTERDAY.
Hospital Ambulances in Pittsburg Can
Outrun Fire Engines.
SOMETIMES 1T ISARACE WITH DEATH

s'Tbere comes the yellow flag; look outl''
Every day the cry rings out on some of
the prominent avenues as hospital ambu-
lance flies through the streets to the fire.
ouent scenes of accident, or to answer a
depot call. THE DISPATCH had frequently
heard marvellous stories of the fast time
made by these chariots of mercy and of their
efficiency above that of other cities.
Yesterday afternoon reporter was de-
tailed to ascertain the fastest time ever made
by the ambulances Of different institutions.
Superintendent W. A. Cowen, of the
West Penn Hospital, when the object of the
visit was stated, showed in a moment that
he had been approached on a pet theme
Come out to the stables and see the mules" {"
said he. The driver was just leaving the
stables.
Hitch up the ambulance" called out Mr..
Cowen. Then to the writer he said:
Jump in, Wen take ride" And before the
reporter realized exactly what was going on
the driver was beside them.
A THRILLING RIDE.
The superintendent simply wore his slippers
and dressing jacket but that did not matter.
The reporter jerzed out his watch, as did the
superintendent. As the gong struck the mules
bounded from the barn door as though shot
out of a cannon. The watch showed two min
utes Of 8 1t was the busiest part of the day
and Liberty street and Penn avenue were
crowded with iron trucks and other heavy
teaming wagons.
Lets 20 to the Union depot" said the su-
perintendent as the mules flew across the over
head bridge.
Down Liberty street rushed the mules, their
ears laying back and going in way that would
shame good many fire horses. The reporter
operated the gong, and every time it struck 1t
might have been on the mules backs from the
effects gained.
Children ran out expecting to see fire en-
gine, and women with soapsuds on their arms
stood still with amazement. Soon long string
of wagons was encountered, and fully one-hat
minute was wasted getting around them and
gliding from one car track TO the other. Some
of the wagons stopped their teams and gazed
on with something like wonder at the mules as
they sped past. There was whirr, short sud-
den stop, and the wagon came to standstll at
the Union depot
IN TWELVE MINUTES.
1t lacked minute and quarter to o'clock
and the trip had been made in just % minutes
fully two miles on crowded street.
The gong rang again and the wagon swung
around the corner to Penn avenue and started
on the return trip. A funeral was all broken
up as the wagon sped past. Eight or ten
wagons were made to turn out and as the
mules rushed past a cable car going
the same direction, the reporter clutched the
seat and tried to catch his breath and NUT
tered something to the effect that they were
going. Three other cars were passed-the am
bulance spanned the bridge at Twenty-eighth
streetAnd the mules drew up at the hospital
dook. The two watches had not left the hands
of the Superintendent and the reporter, and as
the mules once more raised their ears at the
hospital, the hands showed 3O5, the round trip
being made in Just Il minutes
As the ambulance sped along the reporter
noticed the driver glance back into the ambu-
lance, as if to see If he was jolting the patient
OTHER REMARKABLE TRIPS.
As the mules were unhit.N ed and turned into
box stalls, they rolled over and were apparently
ready for another trip. Their names were
Josey and Billy. They were experiment
end were brought unframed from Kentucky q
little over year ago to replace the horses.
They were trained to the work and, the Super
intendent says, never baked. The excitement
has the same effect them as on fire horses,
and they never have to be struck with the lash.
The Su1eriptendent thinks mules should be
tried iulfie lire service, and says that they far
e1rTSss horses, as they wiiifnever founder and
San stand the paved streets better. They must
Be pure Kentucky-bred mules though-no CON-
mon trash.
The mules have often made fast time be-
tween the Union depot and the hospital. but
Yesterdays trip was the fastest. 1t is a common
thing for them to be hitched up and make the
round trip in 20 minutes including the time of
hitching. One of the doctors present stated
that they had made the trip TO the Lake Erie
and Western oepots, about three miles, in six
minutes. OF the trip yesterday three persons
can testify to the time made, though marvellous
as it may seem.
HOMEOPATHIC SPEED TOO.
The fastest trip made by the Homeopathic
hospital ambulance was last New Years Eve,
when seven cases were brought into the Union
depot badly burned by an accident at the
from the Union depot was made in less than five
minutes and in Just one hour the patients were
all in bed and their wounds all dressed
Other quick trips have also been made. The
driver mentioned one time last September
when he was bringing woman from Ben
Venue who had shot herself The driver en-
deavored to reach the hospital before she died
and was baff1ed by the bad condition of Fifth
avenue. The woman drew her last breath as
she reached the hospital steps.
The horses and harness used on the Homeo-
pathic ambulance were donated by Mrs. WILL
lam Thaw. The horses are magnificent pair
of bays of the French coacher breed The
ambulance was the gift of Mrs. Robert Pit
cairn, and the stables were bought by the
Ladies Association
THE POLICE SPEEDERS.
The police patrol wagon often acts as an
ambulance, and makes fast time. The patrol |
wagon assisted the Homeopathic ambulance in |
transferring the seven cases noted above. At |
one time Jney went 70 IWenCV-tnlrQ street IN lS /
minutes in answer to the Monroe foundry ex- |
plosion-
Before the hospitals had adopted ambulances. |
Ben Matthews, a liveryman living on Butler /
near Forty-frst street, kept an ambulance and /
answered hospital calls. At one time he went /
TO the B. & o. depot in Is minutes on crowded /
streets.
1t is expected soon that the hospitals will also |
adopt the mode of harnessing used by the /
patrol and fire service, when still better time /
can be made. Ambulances were given the
right of way on public thoroughfares four years L
ago by Councils and since that time their eff
cheney has steadily increased. As Superintend-
ent Cowen said:
1--WE now stand ahead of all other cities for
fast time and efficient ambulance service"
FOR NERVOUS DISEASES
H. Ho-.rords. Acid pI,o.uhufa