New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-04
DOCTOR BALKS PRIEST.
Fireman Vas Not Dyimg-Death
after Thrilling Rescue.

cue in the midst of flames and the Right Rev
Monsignor John Edwards, P. r., one of the
diocesan consultors OF the Catholic Church. and
DIR. PIunlley. of Bellevue Hospital, had dispute
over administering the last rites of the Church
to one of the fremen the priest insisting on the
rites and the doctor the immediate removal
of the patient. The doctor carried his point
The priest says he will complain to the proper
authorities.
The fire started from some unknown cause In
the cellar of Frederick Truelsen's bakery. Truel-
sen. who lives the second hoor. was aWak-
ened by the screams of two servants, ana all
escaped. BY that time alarm had been
sounded, and when the firemen arrived they
found that the flames had ascended the dumb
waiter shaft. the whole building being mass
OF flame
Thinking that ali the occupants were out or
the house the firemen began to give their atten-
ton ~ putting out the blaze. Suddenly the
crowd that had collected set up shout. Some
in the crowd yelled THE fourth floor, the fourth
foorr' while others shouted. There's man up
there.'
William McNally twenty-four years old, or
No. 425 East Sixty-ninth-st.. of Hook and Lad
der Company No. 3. mounting a ladder De
fore it had been braced at the bottom He had
TO pass through sheets of flame that beicneu
from the second and third floors. McNally had
was Henry McWilliams. fifty years old. who
lived on the top floor, was seen by the crowd 10
fall back into the room. AS McNally got TO the
top a sheet of flames burst out of the window
He ducked his head. and after an instants hesl-
tation plunged through the window AS luck
would have it. a draught drew the flames from
the window, and In moment McNally ap-
peared at the window with McWiliiams in his
arms Cheer after cheer went up from the
throats of the crowd.
McNally started to climb out of the window
with his burden He was seen to totter for a
second, and then with McWilliams in his arms
fell back into the room. Another sheet OF
flame Ieaped from the window
James C. McEvoy. twenty-six years old, OF NO
80 Jane-st, and also attached to Truck s.
had started up the ladder by this time When
he reached the top. he. too. jumped into the
room He reappeared in an instant with
McNally in his arms. He managed TO CLIMB
out McNaIly was nearly unconscious, and had
TO be practically carried down the ladder by
his comrade-
When they got down Lang, or Truck D.
and Mccarthy foreman OF Engine Company
16 went I'D the ladder. They got into the
room and found AIcwillfams unconscious on the
floor They dragged him to a window on the
First-ave. side, where there was a fre escape.
On their way down the fire escape McW1lllanss
right foot got wedged in a triangular space on
the first landing of the fire escape Other hre-
men had TO go to the rescue with crowbars and
hammers, and pry apart the bars that held
Mcwilliams's foot before it could be released
Several ambulances had been called, and
Mcwilliams was put in one of them. Whlch
started for Bellevue. He died on the way He
was severely burned about the hands and head,
but his death was due to suffocation.
McNalIy was badly burned about the face and
hands and McEvoy had severe burns on the
hands They were taken to a drug store, and
their burns were temporarily dressed by Dr.
Plumley, of Bellevue Hospital
Some one in the crowd had gone to the Church
of the Immaculate Conception, at Fourteenth
st and Avenue A and informed the priests that
several persons had been dangerously burned at
the fire. and Monsignor Edwards and Father
Hughes went to the scene.
Monsignor Edwards about to administer
the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church to
NcNalIv when DR. Plumley ordered the imme-
diate removal of the patient to Bellevue Mon
signor Edwards protested and said that 1t
would not take him long, but DR.. Plumley was
firm in his determination to get the man to the
hospital because his condition was so serious
He told Sfonsignor Edwards that he could ride
TO the hospital in the ambulance This the lat
Ter did under protest At the hospital he ad-
rninistered the sacrament
McE,vov was also taken to the hospital, but
after his burns were dressed he was able to go
home McNally, late at night was In such d
critical condition that his life was despaired OF
Nonsienor Edwards declared that he was
barsbIv and unjustly treated by the doctor and
that he intended to make complaint against
him. ,,,o Ed
.rds az hurried Immediately to the side OF the
infured fireman McNally, in the drug store as
comes the priest. Make way for the priest
The crowd politely parted and let me tnroush
lust then 1 heard DR.. Plumley remark .,a
with the priest! L want tiiiS peh ~ ~
.ssncb man is wholly unfit for the place he
holds I could not have been more uhJuseiy %
harshly treated in Russia or Iufk1s ar ~ Ch,rch
Going to administer the last rites OF the ChuIcn
11,btcb would hardly have taken a minute, anu
there was no need of the surgeon nuII yihe ~
a+ient away But / saw that McNally was
storoh eertousIy burned not in danger OF uyihs
ar once and / submitted to going win .t the La
20 the hospital 10 administer the sacrdiilelt Ia -
,.,,,ich 7 did But If that man had peeh us 5 @
-, 7 got to him and there had been daige5
" bte euccumbing within few minutes,
have administered the sacrament Vi
nct,or ~ him doctor no doctor
ssyee indeed, I shall make compliant ae u -
t,n1 shall see Superintendent MaooIi u VI go, 81
hospital or somebody In authorlty. enoord- st
rai policemen of the East twenty IA hie
.t;a ,rbo heard the doctors remarks anu M nI'
1,nnannerIy talk and who VIII testiIy IL "e
sary. s,..,,a about this and 1 don't
~ ,niure the young physician put ne. ne We va,
are nd s,,rly and his CONDUCT was e,i'iN =, Ni' ~
called for / shall certainly n,nrd Of Rellevue
Assist is r,Shf that no formal complaint ia nad
su fanr made bv Monsignor Edwaros. "a, M 90 the
DR. Plumley had MADE a sta'eie
incident.
,,s,u IANoeER WANTS REDRESS.
-. May s-The United States Sohsui ., "a
Sa,ngen Joseph ]. Landger VINO was as,,.t .