Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-09-21
/ WO LARGEF FIRES
Vlncents Hospital Totally Destroyed--- {
Norfolk Flour Mill Destroyed

! houses IS IN the neighborhood temporarily.
The Sisters went to st. Mary's Asylum
after their work was done.
Percey Halstead. one of the patients.
ms leg cut OFF. rolled himself down
s sell Other patients rushed out of
their rooms. some fainting on their
way to the stairway.
THE POLICE ASSIST.
Chief l(izer had fifty-two policemen
on the ground With the police patrol,
winch did valuable service in removing
me SICK. making about thirty, trips.
III attending To various duties which
arose: The Fire Department was es-
peclally assisted In the moving and
handling of the hose by the policemen
and citizens.
BIG CROWD GATHERED.
Despite the carly morning hour four
or five thousand people gathered in the
streets and on the hospital grounds.
The crowd swelled as il by magic and
by > o'clock the streets on either side
OIL the burning were impossible almost.
mere was no attempted lootinE or the
building or the trunks saved by van
dnls. though the chance afforded was
an excellent one before the crowd grew
to such proportions. Only small per-
centage of the private property was
saved. There was no time for it's re-
moVnl. as the flames spread through
the entire building within thirty or
forty minutes, and the halls were soon
impossible.
HOW 1T ORIGINATED.
The contlagriltion Is believed to have
originated by IL lamp setting fire to a
MOSQUITO netting on u bed. The street
cleaners who ran over ut the discovery
OIL the flames broke open the door to
the room The Sisters spoke Of them
afterwards rs heroes such was their
brave work in rescuing the patients in
mat immediate part of tho building.
The firemen raised ladders to the WIN
dows and thus saved many who other
Wise could not have been reached.
Chief Ryan was exceedingly active
and was praised for the manner in
which he worked
The first policeman to discover the
fire was Officer Martin. He then
dashed into the building ana went to
The Fourth story. after bfeiiking the
fire eXtinEuishers. He started to carry
down one OF the patients In his arms.
Sho had been operated on yesterday
He tainted under the load us lie reached
the door, overcome by smoke. Sergeant
Stevens and Officers Taylor, May Saw
yer and Wolff also did good service.
Sergeant Dalton rendered valuable SER
vice in many ways, and his example
him.
One OF the Sisters, in assisting pa
tlent. had one hand and one foot fear
fully burned. She. however, refused all
medical aid until her patient was saved.
Chlcf l<izcr says that the men on tho
force deserve much credit for the val
liable work rendered by them.
BULLETINS.
1910 Il. mat this hour It was re-
"a fiya Of
tum and of the main building was on
fire. and that the firemen, being en-
gagged elsewhere, were unable to play q
stream OF wafer on the roof.
MISSING REPORTED FOUND.
1t was also reported that the missing
had been accounted for.
AT the present writing 1t looks rs if
doomed. Desperate efforts are being
nude 10 save the chapel and bath
house. -
All the instruments in the clinical de-
partment and operating room were
saved. These constituted the most
FIREAIEN FATALLY INJURED.
One of the boarders at the hospital.
temporarily deranged rushed into the
building under some delusion. Two
firemen. Bob Foster and Frank Barrett,
bravcly entered The room and succeeded
in getting him as far as the front door.
when the immense timbers of the roof
fell upon them, fatally injuring Barrett
and seriously injurlng Foster.
$3.50 n. m.-Thb annex, erected about
two years ago. the bath house and ma
chinery building will be saved.
The engine and hose cart has lust
arrived from the nayy-yard.
The entire main building Will be de-
stroyed. Nothing but the walls will be
left
The hospital probably represents an
lion dollars.