Evening journal., 1889-12-20
FLAMES IN A HOSPITAL.
The Presbyterian Institution AZ
1 New York Wrecked.
HEROEsM OF THE WOMEN NURSES,

HEhVicM Of 1nE " NOU EN- NtUSES.
seventy-seven Helpless Patients Rescued
with Great Dinlcuity-A Terrible Holo-
caust Narrowly Averted-Four Firemen
HnJured-The Losses.
NEW YoRg, Dec. 2o-The entire top floor
md roof OF the Presbyterian hospital on
'eventy-frst street, between Fourth and
Madison avenues, was entirely destroyed by
Ire between and O'Clock There were
peventy-seven patients in the eight wards Of
the hospital, Of which thirty were women
and five were children Of both sexes under
six years Of age All were removed IN
safety within few minutes after the alarm
was given.
Discovery Of the Fire.
Gen II T. King who was riding on the
front platform Of Madison avenue car
going south, noticed flames coming from the
northwest corner OF the building 'lst before
the car reached Seventy y-first street He
called Policeman Beck. and with him hur-
ried into the hospital through the basement
entrance on Seventy-frst street, and ran
along the halls giving the alarm
The attendants did not seem at first to re-
alize the danger and after giving them warn
ing that the building aud the lives Of the
patients were in imminent danger he rushed
70 the frebox and Policeman Beck sent in
the alarm.
Some twenty men, who were soon rein
forced by a detachment OF police from the
Twenty-hfth precinct, in command Of Capt.
Gunner, and several firemen In charge OF
Capt. Duane, Of Engine 80, made their way
TO the sixth ward, where the fire was raging,
and soon succeeded in carrying the ten
patients all Of whom were males, TO safe
quarters.
Four Firemen Injured.
As the last patient was being taken out the
burning walls and ceiling fell, and Capt
Duane and Firemen Ryder, Dunbar and Levy
were caught in the falling timbers and badly
burned about the face, head and hands
All this time the fire was steadily gaining,
and the flames had broken through the
rnansard roof in spite OF the score or moro
OF engines that were pouring tons Of water
on the burning pile. Police Capt Gunner
sent out general call for ambulances 10 the
different hospitals, aud the patients many
Qf whom were unconscious, were conveyed
TO other hospitals club houses and private
residences
AhNNNHNtoNA AAAAthtH AhtAuoNtNs
There were on duty at the time the fire
was discovered Orderlies Scott, Putnam,
Reed and McInhill, and female Nurses Raf-
ferty, Dunleigh and Gardner Mrs. Nc
Michael, who is superintendent of the Ad-
ministration building, which is located on
Beventieth street, and is connected with the
hospital portion by covered bridge rum
ming from the second story across an open
space heard the cries Of those OF the patients
who were able 20 move without assistance
rs they came running across from the burn
ing building
Her efforts and those OF the female nurses
were principally directed toward attending
to the safety Of the female patients, who
were all on the first floor The first panic
having now somewhat subsidized, the work Of
removal was carried on without Interrupt
ton. In some Of the rooms two aud some
times four patients were found unconscious,
and the greatest care was necessary TO avoid
any being overlooked.
A Patients close Cain.
Dr. J. A. Lohman and ex-House Surgeon
Dr. Simpson carried a man out Of a room in
Fard six who had fallen asleep with fever
thermometer IN his mouth. and a moment
ater after they left the room pile OF burn
hg plaster and timbcrs fell on the bed and
-et fire 70 the covering. Louis Flanders and
Officer King carried between them five
patients downstairs from the third floor on
mattresses.
The Goodness OF the Nurses.
Leo Schlesinger, the trustee OF the hos
pital, was one OF the first TO render assist
ance in carrying out the patients. To
reporter he said: ''When l entered the large
room where the patients were ! was struck
for the moment by the GOODNESS displayed by
the nurses The female attendants particu-
larly displayed heroism and GOODNESS in the
very teeth Of the fire. l might say these
heroic women worked like a disciplined
corps They made rapid preparation for
the removal OF the patients, collected the
various medicines used by each patient and
slowed these medicines away alongside OF
each patient When about half the patients
were in places Of safety the fire began to fall
from the roof overhead.
citizens to the Rescue.
"Citizens from the street made their ap-
pearance and did noble work in carrying
out the patients Now and then during the
excitement we could hear the crashing Of
the falling beams overhead as the fire ate
away their fastenings In an Incredible
short space OF time the flames crept down
ward and were blazing at furious rate in
every direction. The poor patients who had
not yet been removed cast agonizng glances
from one to the other and implored those
who were already busily engaged to rescue
}hem from the building. The heat grew in
tense. and / tell you we did lively work in
getting out those patients, and only for the
assistance rendered by the citizens it would
have been utterly impossible TO have saved
ell the patientsn
'Oh, Amt This BulIyl"
The scenes about the rooms in the south
wing, where the patients had been put pre-
paratory to being transferred TO other hos
pitals, were at times both pathetic and hui
morous. In one room were five children
suffering from injuries to their lower limbs,
They were delighted at the excitement
Frankie Mitchell, with two other children,
were placed on stretcher and taken to st
Luke's hospital On going through the door
the youngster called out; "Ohl amt this
bully
Women Reluctant TO Leave.
The women were very reluctant to be
taken out Of the nurses rooms, where they
had been put Some were obstinate and
pleaded TO remain; others were too fright
ened &c speak
Jessie Adamson, a young woman Of 90
wanted to remain, saying that she wa