The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-24

departments reported every morning in writ
ing to DR.. Allen or in his absence to DR..
Wilson. In that manner DIR. Allen kept
himself well informed as TO the condi-
ton of all departments, and in addition
he personally inspected the house almost
every day and frequently at unusual
hours OF the night TO satisfy himself, when
least expected, that nurses were attentive and
the Waterman attending TO his duties. The
buildings were all heated by steam heat and
there we're radiators in every room occupied by
dodgers, and the building lighted by illuminating
gas, no lamps being allowed in the building.
Smoking in the building was strictly prohibited.
On each hall of the building were placed good
hose OF sufficient length to reach oil parts OF
the building on such hall, and the hose was at
tached TO water pipes and so placed as to be
easily and quickly utilized TO extingnish fire.
Hand-grenades, bottles and cans, containing q
solution of water, salt and molasses were well
distributed in ell the halls, and in addition,
several Babcock fire-extiuguishers were con-
veniently located and accessible in case of fire.
The lodging rooms were furnished with plain
but comfortable bedding and furniture. and
rooms. halls and building were kept clean and
wholesome. Patients were as rule, required
TO board in the building, but there were ex-
ceptiOns to this general rule. The general rule
was adopted in order that patients might be
more carefully watched and successfully
treated. Those which treated in the
building remained there usually for several
weeks and sometimes for months, and all soon
became familiar with the building and passed
almost daily through the occupied parts and
down to the first floors. There were no printed
notices posted up In the rooms directing oc-
cupants as TO the location of the fire
escapes, and best means of reaching
them, but all the patients had verbal in
formation covering the same points which in
my judgment was better than printed notices.
although not literal and technical compliance
with the law. The landlord in charge of the
hotel department slept In room 90 located on
the third floor near the east end OF the corner
building, and 1t was the duty OF The night
Waterman upon discovering fire in the night TO
first notify the landlord and then take key
and turn in q FIRE alarm and arouse the inmates.
On the night of the fire in the early part of the
evening, some young men In their teens, and
patients of the institute had been at work in
the circular room" folding and preparing for
the mail some circulars ami pamphlets,
and about 9 o'clock all of them left the
room except William Ramstack, who remained
IN that room at work until about fifteen or twen-
ty minutes after 10 o'clock. Ramstack had
been known TO smoke occasionally, but no one
saw him smoking that evening. Nor did the
Waterman that evening remember TO have
smelled any cigar smoke in the hall. About
IL 40 clock the night Waterman was in the
hotel Office on the first floor of the Georga-st.
building, and hearing in back room a crack
ing noise as a breaking stick, went back and
at that time was burning along the shelves at
one end of the shelving and about half way up
the shelving He Immediately ran to room 50
and awoke Landlord.Wilson aud informed him
that there was a fire in the circular ROOM"
Thereupon the landlord jumped out of bed
aud directed the Waterman 10 turn in the
alarm. The Waterman started Immediately
and taking the key went out the front door OF
the GeorgiR-st. building and ran 10 the corner
OF Georgia and Meridiansts, turned in the
alarm and returned quickly 10 the building.
In the meantime the landlord hastily pulled
on his pants and shoes and ran down to the
first floor of the Georgia-st. building. giving
the alarm OF fire as he went. When he
arrived at the circular room almost the entire
shelving was Involved in flames. He first went
TO the telephone and teephoned the fire de-
partment of the fire and then ran back up to
the third floor Of the corner building, giving
the alarm of fire as he went, and getting fire
eXtinguisheI returned and attempted TO put
out the fire. but his efforts proving fruitless, he
turned back and met the Waterman returning
from turning in the alarm. The landlord di-
rected the Waterman to give the alarm TO the
patients. while he 1.-THE landlord ran to the serv-
ants quarters to arouse them 20 assist in getting
out the patients. The Waterman ran first TO
the third floor of the Georgia-st. building and
cried fire and pounded aud kicked on
several doors, and the patients coming out
he assisted some down the stairway and called
out for others to come that way. he then be-
ing toward the stairway. The lire department
was upon the ground in a few minutes, and
when it arrived flames were bursting out of
the windows of the second and third floors and
roof of the GeOrgia-st. building. Ladders
were run up to the windows and the officers
and men of the department first directed their
efforts to rescuing the inmates. and well and
calamity did they perform the work OF rescue.
The flames spread rapidly and soon enveloped
the roof and top floor of the corner building.
y rfr inf md mn oft IN
peared almost simultaneously with the fire de-
partment and all, including servants of the in
stitute, Wed with each other in the work of
rescuing the inmates. Many acts of heroism
were performed and at first it was thought that
all had escaped then the fire department
turned its attention TO the suppression of the
fire, which was soon brought under
control, when it was discovered that
several persons had persisted in the
flames. Their names follows:
B. A. Pryor, Minnie Mcdonald, Fred Docken-
dort. Hannah Brooks. Fanny Breeder, Irma
Payne. Minnie Arnold, William Ramstack,
Mira Charles +. Earl, Maggie Earl, Mrs.
Samuel Lazarus, Lotte Lazarus, Stella Spiece,
George NJ. Ellis. Kate Burns, Frank Burns,
Martie Declow and Arthur Bayles.
These persons persisted in rooms upon the
third floor of the GeOrgia-st. building and the
fourth floor of the corner building. Most Of
the bodies were more or less burned and some
OF them beyond recognition. All, however.
were certainly suffocated by the smoke and
death eRsued before the bodies were burned.
Two of the persons named In this inquest, viz.
Mrs Lazarus and daughter, died OF injuries re-
ceived in jumping from the third-stOry window
of the GeOrgia-st building. There was great
deal OF excitement among the patients on the
top floors of the two building and OF those who
persisted in the building they were oil found
in rooms; but few seemingly made an effort
to escape, although in almost every one of such
rooms other inmates who were more calm
escaped.
The following is a brief resume of the facts
developed by the evidence and personal exam
nations of myself of the buildings. My con-
cIusion aud verdict is first:
/. That B. A. Pryor Minnie Mcdonald,
Fred Dockendorf, hannah Brooks, Fanny
Breeder, Irma Payne. Minnie Arnold,
William Ramstack, Mrs. Charles E.
Earl Maggie Earl, Stella Spiece. George NJ.
Ellis, Kate Strawn, Kate Burns, Frank Burns,
Aartie Declow and Arthur Bayles died from
suifocation while in their rooms on the fourth
floor OF the building situated on the corner of
Georgia and Illirois-sts. on or about ~
o'clock OF the night Of Jan. Fl, 1892.
That Mrs. Lazarus and daughter died
OF injuries received in jumping to the ground
from the third story of the Georgia-st. build
ing during the fire, aud that if they had not
become stricken with fear and not have jumped
would have been rescued without injury.
g That the buildings occupied by The
National surgical institute were well provided
with exits, fire escapes and facilities for fight
ing fire, and as sale such buildings
which are not fre-proof.
3. That the proprietors used more than ordi-
nary precaution for the protection of the lives