The state herald., 1892-01-29
a FIRE AMONG oRlppLEs.
An indianapolis Surgical Institute
Burned and Many Inmates
Lose their Lives.

Lose tnelr kivees
The Indiana Surgical Institute ut
Indianapolis burned Friday morning, the
flames breaking out Just before midnight
in the old annex, block separated from
tho main building by narrow space. Be
fore tho fire was discovered the whole In
500 inmates, most Of whom wero helpless
cripples. Before tho fro department ar-
rived tho windows were full Of screaming,
moaning cripples, and tho sceno was one Of
horror beyond description. Tho work Of
rescuing them was begun at once with
ladders, and tho inmates wore removed
with great rapidity, but at least thirty
were injured, some terribly. Ono lady,
Mrs. Gales, jumped from tho third story
window with her crippled babe in her arms,
and will probably die from her injuries.
The child was uninjured. Ono girl was
seen to come to window and moment
later to fall back into the flames. After
the fre had been In progress half IN hour
twonty women wero discovered on rear
roof Just ready to jump. They had cs-
screaming at the top Of their voices. Thoy
wero rescued In safety.
AT o'clock u. m. sixteen bodies had been
recovered from the ruins.
Tho building wus but poorly supplied
with oxits, and what poor ones were there
vert completely barred by tho flames; SO
nearly all tho immonso number OF cripplcs
had TO bo carried down ladders by the
fircmen and volunteers. The scene around
tho building was heart breaking.
The suffering Of tho people, many OF
them haddened BY excitement, pain nnd
anxious friends, was ono that almost de.
fed description. Stretched upon improvlscd
beds, spread on the tables, wero little
children moaning, crying, coughing, their
faces blanched with fear. their throats
rasped with tho pungent smoke thoy had
inhaled. "oh, mister, please don't touch
my leg; 1t will almost kill me II you do"
pleaded little girl whose bandaged fee,
extended over the edge Of table.
S. William Kimball, d young man with
both legs crippled from the knees down
and his head thrown to one side By dis
torted shoulder joint, said:
~ was sleeping in my bed on tho fourth
iioor. / don't know how 1t was, but
awoko with q sense Of strangulation.
From less than foot above my face was
dense mass Of smoke. Just rolled of my
bed. could not move with my braces on,
so took thom off, lying upon my side. 1t
was so hot that thought was going to
die. i called Us loud as l could, Help
hcro.' Just then there was crash at the
door and big colored man fell over me.
He picked mo up like baby, dashed
through the halls and down tho stairwnys
and brought me here. God knows Pm
thankful"
Ono Of the most pitiful sights was that
OF little Ethol Platt of Pickneyville, Illi-
nois. Littlo Ethel was found in her bed
on the third floor nearly strangled with
smoke, suffering from spinal trouble
Wrapped in q blanket she was taken up in
tho arms Of fireman, carried down to the
next floor, through dense smoke and past
roaring flames, to window, and as the
crowd gathered below aud extended their
arms, she was thrown out With broken
leg she was taken across Illinois street,
placed on n. table and covered with
blankets. She suffered desperately and
frequently screamed out from her dcspcr-
ntc agony. She cried continually for her
mother, who had left the city. A doctor
was called to care for her les.