The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-22
FRENZY OF FEAR
IN The HOSPITALS
Serious Results May Follow the
Shock to the Weakened
Invalids.

Even the hospitals, filled with in
Valids, We're not exempt from the fury
of the storm. The property loss is
nothing, say the superintendent, if
the patients do not suffer evil results
from the excitement.
Panic Of the widest sort existed for
a time at ST. Barnabas hospital. The i
storm struck the building with fury,
driving in several windows and sweep
ing thru the halls and corridors.
Crashing thunder added to the disor-
der and the patients began to get
historical. Attendants ran to and fro
looking after the needs of their wards,
speaking words Of cheer and encour-
agement where they were needed.
Just as they succeeded in getting
the patients Gained somewhat there
was a terrible crash and every light
in the building went out. Nurses
screamed, patients tainted and order
lies turned pale, for it was thought
that the building was falling in.
Everyone stood still for a moment
until someone lighted a gas jet. The
example was followed and in a few
minutes the building was light. again..
Investigation showed that the tail
smokestack, sixty feet high, at the
south end of the hospital, had been
blown down. It fell upon the engine
room and stopped the dynamo, leav-
ing the hospital in darkness. Fur
j;ther investigation showed that several
windows had been blown in, includ-
! ing the skylight in the kitchen. The
loss is estimated at $500 without any
| insurance.
The Northwestern hospital, 1929
Chicago avenue, stood directly in the
| path of the storms fury and suffered
even more than it's share of the wrath.
The wind, unobstructed by trees or
| buildings, swept across the street and
picked up the huge sheets of tin
roof as tho they were but pieces. Of
tarpaulin laid carelessly across a
farmers haystack, and hurled them
clear off the building, some sections
going as far as Ninth avenue. In an
! instant the building was without pro-
lection from water and torrents came
pouring in upon the patients.
1t is easy to imagine the effect upon
two dozen persons, nervous from their
| illness and frightened almost to the
point of distraction. Miss Margaret
| Weston, superintendent of the hospi-
! tall called out all the nurses and
everything possible was done to quiet
/ the historical patients. 1t was not
until the last gust Of wind had fallen
and the last roll Of thunder heard that
quiet and order reigned in the hospi-
! tai.
i None of the patients were any the
worse for the experience after they
had >regained their equanimity, but II
some instances the physicians feal
that evil results may yet follow.
The city hospital came in for its
share of the damage, altho the panic
among the patients was not SO great
The new addition which has beer
built&to the top of the second story
} was blown down, entailing a loss Q:
nearly $1,000. This building was no
connected with the main structure
. and it's fall had no effect upon thu
: patients.
The Swedish hospital had three
) windows broken by the wind whil
: st. Mary's escaped with no damag
other than the destruction of a mum
, Der of fine shade trees that have beef
the pride of the hospital authorize
: for years. In neither ..of these insti
buttons was there any panic. Asbur,
!. hospital Jared better than any Of tn
). others for there was no damage there