New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-23
PRICE THREE CENTS,
LIVES SAVED BY GOODNESS.
FIRE IN THE CHAPEL OF ST. LUKE'S
HOSPITAL.

TIE PRESENCE OF MIND OF TWO YOUNG WOMEN
NURSES AvERTs PANIc-THE FLAMES Ex'
TINGUIsHED BY THE HOSPITAL STAFF
For the first time in many years the organ IN
the chapel of ST. Luke's Hospital yesterday took
no part in the afternoon services The baritone
stops were indisposed from a severe hoarsene0
caused by an accumulation Of smoke in the pipes.
rhe accumulation OF smoke was due to blazd
which had broken out in the chancel next to the
organ, and for time threatened the destruction
Of the chapel. That no lives were lost, that no
patient in the hospital suffered harm either FROM
fright or from fire, and that the damage was come
paratively trifling, is due to the admirable cool.
ness and readiness Of resource shown by Miss
Catherine Pearce and Miss Mabel Cooke.
As most New-YOrkcrs know. the handsome puild'
ing of st. Lule's Hospital takes up half block.
extending on ts Ffth-ave. front from Fifty-fourth
TO Fifiy-ffth ST. On the second floor Of the main
building is the chapel, plain unornamental hall
about fifty feet long by thirty feet wide ana
| twenty-five feet high At the north end Of the
| chapel stands the organ In front OF the organ
| is the altar and just west Of the altar Is the
| lectern reading desk. East and west OF 'hd
| organ and touching it on either side were two
| handsome treos each six feet in height which,
| had been used in tie New Years decoration OK
the chapel. The overcast skies outside the great
stained glass windows and the general atmos'
phere of gloom had compelled the lighting Of the
gas lamps fixed against the wall of the chancel.
| The spreading branches of the trees touched tho
| wall and clustered over the lamps.
| The morning service ended, >the congregation
filed out of the chapel, but the lights were burns
| inz They were burning an hour later, at half1
| past l. when Miss Pearce, who has charge OF the
| men medical ward on the same floor, and directly
to the west Of the chapel, heard sharp cracking
| noise, that sounded i'm the distance like the
| rustling Of brown paper. On the other side OK
| the chapel is the women's medical ward. Miss
| Pcarce listened for moment, and then beckoned
| to another nurse who stood near. This nurse was
| Miss Cooke, who is at tho head Of the womens
| ward Miss Pearce whispered to Miss Cooke. and
| tie two walked quietly out Of the ward and into
| the chapel. Then both uttered sharp. low cry.
| Quick as fash Miss Pearce turned and closed
| the door of the ward. The gaslight had caught
the branches Of the tree on the east side. and the
| flames were rising higher and spreading furtheT
| over the organ with every succeeding second
Miss Pearce and Miss Cooke did not scream or
| faint or lose their heads. The lives Of 200
helpless creatures rested on them, and they knew
| it, Miss Pearce ran across the chapel, down the
stairs to the Office, and quietly gave the alarm.
| Then she ran back to help Miss Cooke, who had
| seized a blanket and thrown it tho tree.
| Miss Pearce seized second blanket and then the
two girls vainly tried to beat out the flames with
their hands. while the Rev. DR.. Charles Freeman,
| chaplain; DR.. Charles iade. house surgeon. and
Assistant Superintendent Glover ran upstairs ana
| got the fire hose which Rms through the build
| ing into position. Then tire" or four heavy,
well-directel douches drowned out the blaze. ihe
hospital staff had eXtingnished the flames wins
| out the aid Of the fire department. -,
But the patients in the two wards had smelled
| the smoke and heard the rush outside and guessed
| what had happened Some who were conyalescenc
tried to get ont Of the ward, as if to help those
who were fighting the fire The . women 5. n the 6s
| cooness and auietude, but they realized the dan
ger that threatened them When DR.. Freeman
and DR.. Gade announced that the fire had been
| nut out. patients sank back their pillows with
| q sigh of relief The altar covering and ectern
| cloth had been destroyed, the east wall OF the
| chancel and one two Of the organ pipes had
been touched by the fire. involving loss OF about
| 5000