New-York tribune., 1889-12-20
GENERAL COLLIS,S PRESENCE OF MIND.
HE SAW THE BLAZE FROM STREET-cAR AND
RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL MS
WORK OF RESCUI


General Coils was seen by Tribune reporter late
last night, at his house, No. 10j5 Fifth-ave., ana
gave vivid account of his experiences. The Gen
eral was in his dressing gown, smoking composedy
and apparently none the worse for his eXerliohs III
saving the suffering and helpless
81 was on the front platform Of a Mad!sonavc car
when, at about quarter to g. saw small flame
no bigger than mans hand coming from the man
sard roof of the Presbyterian Hospital. The fame
small that the driver of the car when called
his attention TO II, believed that was mistaken
| got Oft the car and stood for a moment watching
the fame Then, feeling sure that was right l
ran up Ninety secondst. and presently met Pohce-
man King who, on my directon' ran "
the fire box and sent out the aiarIh'
II was only at this moment that learned that the
building was a hospital and then all my Thought
was for the poor, helpless patients ran round to
the back OF the building and found my way into tho
yard, where met man who said he was porter
told him the building was on fire ana he saiu ihus'
be mistaken Then met second man, the engineer
of the building told him Of the fire and asked MN
II he had hose and If to get 1t out lie said ne
could not use the hose because he had no steam l
asked him II he could work the elevator and get the
patients down. and lie said he could not. Then
told him to close all doors and thus shut OIL the drat
from the elevator, after which ran upstairs 10 the
top floor of tn building, where the smoke was very
dense
81 looked into every room ana Wdlu anu louhu INV
a soul Then | went down to the third floor, which
is occupied entirely by men patients, many Of them
In an absolutely crippled condition, and found doctors
and attendants grouped together in semi-dazed CON
don IL they did not realize the danger OF the STU
alton. These patients must be moved said, but
one stirred SO stepped into the breach. Remove
these patients instantly shouted Will accept all
responsibility
Directly assumed the command OF affairs every
one started to work with the greatest possible eager
ness. Ny orders were TO remove the patients 10 the
south wing. Some Of the attendants were running
for stretchers but told them to use the mattresses
at the same time telling those OF the patients who
could walk to get downstairs had seen al once
that the force Of men at nv command was totally
Inadequate. and into the street. where secuFeu
tho services OF half dozen gentlemen who had ar
rived on the scene and who eagerly followed me up
stairs and worked magniiicenty. The wOhson rom %
the second noor were running downstairs
them 70 90 back and put on the rest Of their clothes
as they had plenty Of time to escape. stil, lpiu
had not enough men. even with the addltl0nai hep.
went into the street AGAIN ana aShcu We Nax eyer
one volunteered, and when the pOnce hhd ihade tel
selection took the fresh force into the building ao
directed them in the work Of moving the patients 10
the south wing OF course, long before THIS the fre
had burned through the roof. and big sRyhgnI Hfo %
fallen Finally, 10 my inexpressbie relef, saw uls
last of TIE patients safely ou' aoroniisGnd oi
inside OF ten minutes Then ] went outside
and watched the ire until it was under control when
The saving Of those patients turned upon the
slightest accident added the General - II Ilaa oI
caught sight OF that small flame II Is probable tna ue
Ara yonld have burned right on until IL was almost
impossble 10 move them and great loss OF life must
have resulted As II is, imagine some OF the patents
will die from the shock and excitement OF removal