The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-01-23
THEIR HORRIBLE FATE,
Twenty Cripples Roasted
IN an Indianapolis
Conhagration.
THE TERRIBLE SrENE

Fafhet'c Incidents of the Appazin!g
Occas'on-We Story of Little
Ethel Plat.
By the United Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. %. The
Indianapolis surgical institute burn
ed last night, the flames breaking
out just before midnight in the cid !
annex, block separated from the
main building by just narrow
escape. Before the fire was discover
ed the whole interior was a blaze.
The institute had about 500 inmates
most of whom were helpless Grip
pies. When the fire department
arrived the windows were full of
screaming, moaning cripples
and the scene was one of
horror beyond description. The
inmates were removed with great
rapidity but nearly twenty lives
were lost and a score or more of
the crippled inmates were seriously
injured. The fire originated in the
East Annex and burned that build
ing, spreading from it to the main
building. The patients in the main
bui ding were all gotten out amid
lndescrlbable sceLes of ex-
citement and horror. Many
were rescued from the annex. The
attendants barely awakened all of
the patients, and in the halls and
upper rooms pandemonlum reigned,
Shrek after shrek for help went
up as the inmates realized their
terrible situation. In a few mo-
ments white .tAd thoroughly fright
ened faces appeared at each window
Of the large building and the lips
could be seen beseeching succor
from those below, yet their voices
could not be heard.
The police and fremen and at
tendants all worked diligently and
in perfect accord and many were
the patients taken from the upper
floors by means of ladders and car
ried to places Of safety by them
No attempt was made to save any
thing but life. The halls and the
stairways, just before the fire had
communicated to the main building
were filled with inmates wrapped in
bed clothing who crawled and help.
ed themselves along from one floor
to the other. The citizens turned
out to help in the work of rescue,
An immense crowd gathered about
and great anxiety was felt, for il
seemed improbable that everybody
could have escaped from the burn
ing building alive.
At Weddell's restaurant where
seventy or eighty of the patients
were carried, the sight almost de
fled description. Stretched upor
the improvised beds, spread OF
the tables, were little children
: moaning, crying and coug b
, ing, their faces blanchee
with fear, their throats rasped will
!: the pungent smoke they had inha]
: ed. One of the most pitiful case
was that of little eighteen-year-ol
i Ethel Platt, of Pinckneyville, Ill
$ Little ethel was found in her be-
on the third floor, half strangle
t with smoke and helpless from spina
trouble. Wrapped in blanket sh
was taken up in the arms of fire
man, carried down to the next foo
through dense smoke and pas
,. roaring flames and to wlndo'
II and as the crowd gathered belo'
It and extended their arms she We
d thrown out. With a broken lie
II she was taken across Illinois stree
e. pla ced on a table and covered wit
IS blankets, She suffered desperate]
t. and frequently screamed out fro
t. her desperate agony. A pillow WI
,r placed on the outstretched arms
is q gentleman and the child WI
1oood thoraon and moved