The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-19
RATTLE CREEK sANITARIUM IS
BURNED AND PATIENTS MAR
ROWLY ESCAPE DEATH
EVANGELIST sANKEY Is SAVED
Loss 100000 From Blaze Thar
Threatens Larger Destruction
for a Time-ControI1ed Only u
by Heroic Action.
MANY LOSE EVEN CLOTHING

BATTLE CREEK, Mich, Feb. 1s.-Ear-
ly today the large Adventist sanitariunl
and hospital buildings located here were
destroyed by fire, causing a loss of about
$5O0,O0O, with only 10000 insurance. be-
side great personal loss to 300 patients
VINO We're in the main building, and who
only had time to escape in their night
clothes
Abner Case, aged eighty-three years. Of
Baoh, N. ", is missing, and 1T is thought
his body is buried in the ruins. There
We're at least 300 persons in the main
building when the fire broke out in the
basement. This building was five s+oryes
hlgh and as soon as the fire was dis
covered the night attendants on each
hoor gave the alarm in the corridors and
the patents made their escape down the
Ire escapes, aided by the nurses. None
mad time to collect personal effects.
Mrs. Il. G. McDaniels, of Bath, N. Y.
jumped from a fire escape about two
stories from the ground and her leg was
Droken. She was also injured internally.
none OF the other inmates sustained in
Jurles so far as known. They were all
cared for in the Phelps sanitarium and in
private homes nearby.
Ffremen Lack Water supply.
The firemen were handicapped by insult
~ CoSuACJ dIIu III TWO nOu1S
the buildings were in ruins While fight
ing the fire from ladders Fireman Henry
A. Lucas fell to the ground and received
injuries of serious nature Fireman
Arthur Robinson also fell from the lad
der and was badly hurt about the BODY.
His lungs We're injured by inhaling fire.
Assistant Fire Chief Fred H Webb fell
from ladder His head was injured and
RIBS We're broken. Fireman Frank c.
Houghtaling also received serious in
juries.
Fire Captain Fonda saved eight lives.
Among the patients were Ira d. Sankcy,
the evangelist, and his wife who climb
ed down fire escape. When the fire
was discovered Mr.. Sankey was in the
Office. His wife was. in her room on the
fourth floor. The evangelist hastened to
her apartments and without excitement
in his voice told her there was need of
ed ground in safety, but all of Mr.. and
Mrs. Sankey's trunks, clothing and all
personal effects. We're abandoned to the
flames and destroyed.
In the destroyed trunks Mr. Sankey had
valuable manuscripts, notes and MEM
oirs which he was working on with a
view to preparing material for publica-
ton. Mr.. and Mrs. Sankey left for their
home in Brooklyn tonight
DuEACu Du1U1nS was sold
The original sanitarium building was
built about twenty years ago, and since
then annexes to the right and left and
two large wings extending back had been
added. The structure is a complete ruin
Immediately adjacent was the hospital
building, five stories high and with leo
beds. The blaze jumped the intervening
space in spite Of the efforts of the fire.
men, but there had been sufficient warn
ing to the attendants, and patients had
been carried to places of safety.
However, the building with all its appa-
ratus, was doomed. Mrs. Dillingham; of
Atlantic City, N. j., describing her es-
cape said:
Il was in my rom on the fifth floor
when the nurse rushed to the door, cry
ing fire. The electric lights were going
then, but they soon went out and we
were in darkness, but for the flames
which rushed from the tower above our
heads. My aged husband was on the
floor beneath me and had to go down
the fire escape, as did l. He was guided
by nurse and escaped safely. Scores
of people were on the escape coming
from all parts Of the building and it IS
wonder that none of them was
killed.
The management Of the sanitarium
says the institution will be rebuilt at once.
The cause of the fire is said to have
been an explosion Of chemicals.