The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-23
THE CRIPPLES CREMATED
TWENrK INyALTDs ROAsTED ALITE
In the Indianapolis Surgical Institute.
Hcart-Rending Scenes Among the
Cripples Crying FOR Help.

Cripples Crying FOR Help.
INDIANAPOLIS. IND.. Jan. 22-The lndianap-
oils Surgical Institute burned last night. the
flames breaking out just before midnight in
the old annex. q block separated from the
main building by just narrow space. Just
before the fire was discovered the whole in
terror was ablaze The Institute had about
900 inmates. most OF whom were helpless
crippes. When the fro department arrived
the windows were full Of screaming. moaning
cripples, and tho scene was one Of horror
beyond description. The work Of rescue
was begun a. once with ladders and
the inmates were removed with great
Iapidity. but nearly twenty lives were
lost and q score or moro of the crippled IN
mates were seriously injured. The fire Origi-
mated ia tie second loor of the east annex
near the east wall and burned that building,
spreading from 10 o. the main building. Tho
patients in the main building We're all gotten
out, and amid inlescrbable scenes " excite
mcnt and horror many We're rescued from the
annex. The attendants barely awakened all
OF the patients and I'm the halls and upper
rooms pandemOnium relgned. Shrek after
Shrek FOR help went up as the inmates re-
allied their terrible situation. IN Few MIN
utes white and thoroughly frightened faces
appeared ct each window Of the large build
ing and the lips could be seen beseechng
succor from those below. vet their voices
could not be heard. The police and tiremen
aud attendants al worked diligently and ln
perfect accord. and many were the patients
taken from the upper floors 10y means OF lad-
dcrs and carried O. places OK safety by them.
No attempt was made 20 save anything but
nf fIfn TVInfInfrl ur rN
doors IN bedclOthes. who crawlod and helped
themselves along from one floor % the other.
The citizens turned out 10 help in the work
OF rescue.
An immense crowd gathered about and
great anxiety was felt. for 10 seemed lmpfob-
able that everybody could have escaped from
the burning building alive st Ned o 8
restaurant where seventy or eighty of the pa
tients were carried, the sight presented as
one entered and looked upon the lndiscrimi-
nate gathering of suffering crpples, many OF
them maddened by pain and anxious for
friends, was one that almost dehed descrip-
tiOn.
MANY TOUCHING SCENES.
Stretched upon the lmprOyised beds ana
snraad on the ia les We're little children.
moaning, crying and coughing. their faces
blanched with fear. their thrOats rasped with
the pungeut smoke they had inhaled. on,
Mister. please don't touch my leg 1t Will al.
most kill me If you do. pleaded lttle giri
whose bandaged ieot extended over the edge
of table.
Said William Kimbau, young man with
both legs crippled. with his hea thr WI to
one side by a distorted shoulder Joint II
was sleeping on the fourth floor ] don't
know how 10 was, bat ] aw0ho with a sense oi
strangulat %. rom less than loot above
my lace and mp TO the ceiling was dense
mass of smoke. i just rolled ont 0l bed
q ...n.f IFU 81. 81
took them of, lying curled up my side. lt
was go hot thought / was going % die.
called a. loud as b could. Help help here
just then there was "a crash OF the door aud "a
blg c0lOrel man fell over me. Tie picked me
up bodily, dashed through the halls and down
tie stairways and brought me here"
One of the most ptiiul cases was that o.
little e.. hteen vear-old Ethel flstt. daughter
of james NJ. Ilatt OF Pinckneyvile, I'D. it
tie Ethel wa found I'M her bed Oh the third
floor half strangled with smoke and helpless
from spinal trouble wrapped DO blanket,
she was taken up in the arms of fireman,
carried down 20 the next floor through deuse
smoke. and past roaring lanes through VIII
dow. and as tie crowd gathered below and
extended their arms she Wa. thrown out
With a broken leg size vss taken across
illinois street placed on table and
covered with blankets. She suffered des
peratelv and ire lucnuy screamed out
from her desperate agony a Ili4'"
was placed on the out-trctched arms
of gentleman and the child was placed
thereon and moved to more pleasant
quarters When raised She cried ont ON,
please don't III me; you'll Kill me Oh, my
Lee is broken; want mamma and
the cries Of the little sufferer CON
tnued TO rng out Us she was taken
out into the street and removed to Mrs.
Glberts room. Mamma Just Jeff me last
Saturday and went home because she was
sick murmurel the child. Won't you
please telegraph her To- mo back, don't
want to die Ch. / cannot die until / see
mamma"
Mrs. T.. D. Purdy was sleeping with her
little daughter in a room on what is know as
the "A. B C." floor. and had only time to
spring from her bed throw quilt over the
crippled child. and with nothing but her
night robe % protect her. commenced her
es ape from the horror that was close pressing
her. cut in the hall she rushed, fell to the
floor. recovered hei- feet, and then
STOPPING dragged her little girl about seventy
five feet TO the top Of q stairway.
REMARKABLE RESCUE.
Again she took her child. now unconscious,