The San Francisco call., 1904-07-22

OAKLAND, July 2L-Dr. NJ. Lewis
Emerson performed an operation yes
terday afternoon under conditions that
seem almost incredible. With flames
raging around him he sought no escape
until his work had been done and an
incisiOn closed; then he carried his un-
conscious patient down a burning
stairway TO a place of safety.
While DR.. Emerson was operating on
Mrs. B. Robinson at her home, Sixth
and Harrison streets, two small chill
dren set the premises on fire. To have
deserted his patient would have re-
suited in her death, so the plucky ply
sician completed his work, though the
smoke became so binding that he
could scarcely see
DR.. Emerson and Miss Alice Flynn,
trained nurse visited the home Of
Mrs. Robinson early in the afternoon
for the purpose of performing an alb
dominal operation. The anesthetic was
administered and all went well until
the patients children-one two and the
other four years of age-caused a great
deal of trouble by running in and out
of the room. Finally Miss Flynn sue
ceeded in keeping the children away,
but not until they had procured a box
bureau drawer.
SMOKE GIVES WARNING.
Soon the physician detected the odor
of smoke. Looking through a window
he saw that the side of the house was
on fire. He also observed the two
babies standing near by, gleefully
watching the cracking flames
When Dr. Emerson discovered the
fire the incision had been made and
he could not desert his post. His first
impulse was to give an alarm, but he
realized that delay with his patient
might result fatally and he bravely re-
mained at the operating table. The
nurse could not leave the room and,
With the doctor, displayed courage in
completing her work before the flames
were upon them.
Had DR.. Emerson attempted to re-
move his patient from the burning
building when he discovered the fire
the danger of septic poisoning would
have been great. The wound was open
and there seemed but cne course for
him to pursue. Smoke puffed through
the crevices in the walls and the room
became hotter and hotter, almost to
a point of unbearable temperature.
Meantime the unconscious woman lay
on the table and the physician and
nurse worked with agility.
ACROSS BLAZING BOARDS.
Time seemed to pass slowly. The fire
had gained headway and spread to an
adjoining residence, that of r. Bern
hart, and the atmosphere was sitting
Help seemed far away, and it appeared
as il no one would ever render assist
ance. DR.. Emerson had just placed
the last stitch in the wound when a fire
engine drew up in front of the house.
Some one had seen the blaze from a
distance and turned in an alarm.
The physician hastily wrapped
blanket around the unconscious woman
and started with her for the street. He
walked over burning boards and strug-
gled through binding smoke. Reach
ing the sidewalk, he hastened to res
idence opposite and Mrs. Robinson was
put to bed. DR.. Emerson says the wo-
man will recover, and that the opera
tion, notwithstanding the fact that it
was performed under extenuating cir
cumstances, Will be a success.
The children started the fire under a
porch. The damage is about $780,
In speaking of the experience, Dr.
Emerson, deprecating personal hero
ism, said: Il simply used what 1 be-
lieved to be the best Judgment in re-
manning with my patient 1t was very
fortunate that the operation was near
Ing completion when the fire took