The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
SMOKE INSTEAD OF FIRE
WAS CAUSE OF PANIC At
ST. V|NCENT'S HOSPITAL
Danger Which Induced Disaster
Gave Impression that Entire
Structure Was in Flames.
PERIL OF SUFFOCATION
Staircase Acted as a Vent for
Smoke. Which Filled the
Upper Floors.
LOSS IS ABOUT $4,000
Panic Only Escaped by Presence
of Mind of Brave Men
and Women.
PERIL OF SUFFOCATION
LOSS IS ABOUT $4,000

one death 10 its doors and that involved
possibilities Of immensely more death and
tragedy. St. Vincents Hospital gave little
outward indication yesterday OF the danger
with which il had been threatened or OF
the peril in the fire of yesterday morning.
which its inmates had undergone. Within
but a few hours after the tragic blaze OF
Sunday morning. the hospital had returned
TO its normal state. with all of the patients
back in their wards. and with only the
smell of smoke and the excitement under
inmates labored to remind one of the
tumult and danger OF the night.
With the calmer moments that same with
daylight yesterday careful survey Of the
hospital disclosed the fact that the IRE
had been confined to the east end Of the
large building. and TO the basement and first
floor. 1t is supposed TO have started from
an electric wire in the basement. where the
flames spread to the first floor through
the stairway.
SMOKE FILLS HALL.
The only damage by fire was to this stair
way and TO the woodwork in the vicinity,
and the stairway not even sufficiently
damaged to render ii unserviceabie This
part of the building is away from the pa
tients. and is given TO the chapel,
Kitchen ana dining room.
The loss will probably amount TO about
$2.co0. supposed to be fully covered by in
surance There was some damage to other
parts af the hospital by smoke and water.
Although the fire was confined to very
small part of the structure. the smoke from
it was so bad within a few minutes of it's
discovery. as to penetrate to every part Of
the hospital, and in the central part of the
@l, a,fr
is was so thick that it was impossible to
reach the telephone booth to call for aid
This great volume of smoke naturally rose
by every available channel to the top of
the building. giving the impression that the
fire was burning on the fifth floor. When
the inmates were aroused and rushed to
their windows. opening them for fresh air
and relief from the langer of suffocation.
smoke poured from every window in the
hospital. causing those who first arrived on
the scene TO believe that the entire build
ing was in flames.
ONE NURSE FALLS.
Dr. O. G. Pfaff. speaking for the man.
agement of the hospital. told the Journal
yesterday that, aside from the death Of
Harriet Leany the employe of the hos
pital, who jumped from fourth-story
window. there was but one person injured.
Miss Katherine Beach. one of the nurses.
who fell from a rope of sheets and sus-
tained serious bruises Sister Superior
Stella's condition, a result of the shock.
coming after illness of several weeks.
Dr. Pfaff stated TO be serious. but not one
of immediate danger. The statement that
Sister Stella had recently undergone
serious operation denied by DIR. Pfaff.
While Sister Josephine. accountant at
the hospital and assistant in its manage
ment TO Sister Stella, and Sister Monaco,
the aged woman who carried from the
top floor by a Journal reporter and police
men, are greatly weakened by nervous
strain and the shock of the tragedy. they
are not in a serious condition Others be-
lieved Sunday morning TO b. in precarious
condition a result of excitement and ex-
posure. were said yesterday afternoon 20
show almost no i'll effects from their ordeal.
80 far as we can now tell. said DR..
Pfaff, none of the patients has been SER
iously injured, nor has any suffered ser
ious relapse. While cannot be abso-
lutely certain as to the condition Of all OF
them for day or two. we believe that no
serious results will follow in any case"
BUILDING NEARLY FIREPROOF.
All of the nurses, except Miss Beach.
were again at their duties yesterday. and
the affairs of the institution moved along
as usual under the temporary direction OF
Sister Regina. Countless telephone in
quiries as to the condition of patients were
made by anxious friends and relatives from
the time that news of the fire first spread
throughout the day. Most OF those making
inquiry were content with the assurance
that their friends relatives unin-
jured, but many called personally TO re-
ceive information. Only the relatives OF
those who were seriously I'll were allowed
to enter the hospital and visit the wards.
as usual
Had St Vincent's Hospital been OF light
er construction than il is. it is probable
that the fire would have spread with great
er rapisiity and would have resulted much
more seriously. The hospital building prob
ably Is more soldly constructed than any
other structure i'm the city. with the
ception of the Statehouse and new federal
building. Every partition wall i OF brick.
and runs frcm the ground 10 the roof OF
the building. while between the floors and
ceilings * a concrete nlling. making the
entire hospital nearly fireproof
Although the exact number OF patients In
the hospital was not known Sister Regina
yesterday afternoon said that il was about
l50-neariy its capacity