Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-04-22
FIRE and PANIC IN HOSPITAL
ST, VINcENT'S HOSPITAL AT IN
DIANAPOLIS.
Harriet Leahy Jumped From Window
and Was Instantly killed-Several
Patients and Nurses Injured-Panic
Raced on Sd and 4th Floors-FIames
Started From a Pile of Rags.

Indianapolis, Ind, April 1S.-Whlle
the city fire department, reinforced by
companies from the suburbs. was pc
ing taxed to it's utmost fighting the
Occidental hotel fire Sunday morning
an alarm was turned in from st. Vim
cents hospital. When the first fre
company arrived one life had been
lost and several were seriously In
jured in the panic that followed.
The Dead.
Harriet Leahy, jumped from the
fourth floor and was instantly killed.
The Injured.
Miss Kate Beach, believed to be ia
tally injured by falling from the third
floor while trying to escape by means
of rope made of bed clothes.
Sister Superior Stella, seriously in
iured by shock, following a surgical
operation.
Sister Nordiea, seriously injured by
shock.
William Schneider, patient, who at
the time of the fire was undergoing an
operation.
Henry Nichols of Connorsville, just
operated upon for appendicitis, ran
down stairs.
Several other nurses and attendants
were more or less bruised in their en-
deavor to escape from what uney
thought was instant death.
For time it seemed that the flames,
which started in a pile of rags under
the east stairway, would find their way
to the upper floors, resulting in a
frightful holocaust.
Panic Stricken.
At every window on the third anu
fourth floors were crowded with men
and women screaming for help.
The panic that ragged on the third
and fourth floors continued until long
after the fire had been eXtinguished.
Patients who had just undergone sur
gical operations rushed from their
beds to the windows and attempted
to throw themselves to the ground.
In the rear men and women were
making ropes of bed clothing by which
they escaped to the ground below.
Kate Beach, less fortunate than the
rest lost her hold and fell from the
dition from internal injuries sustained
An UNUSUAL number of surgical opera
lions were performed in the hospital
on Saturday. Many of the patients
carried from their beds by the rescuers
were in critical condition. and the
physicians in charge fear that many
fatalities may result. The patients
were carried to the male ward, which
is on the first floor, and was not seri-
ously affected by the panic which
ragged on the upper floors.
Improvised cots and mattresses were
for medical assistance sent throughout
the city. Within a short time about
hundred physicians arrived and the
patients were cared for.
Harry Nichols, who underwent an
operation for appendicitis few hours
before the outbreak of the fire, jumped
from his bed and ran down four flights
of stairs into the street. His condition
is critical.
Heroic Work by Patient.
James Dawson, an emaciated pa
tient, worked heroically among the
panic stricken men and women on the
third floor. One after another he pull
| ed away from the windows those who
| were preparing to jump to the street
below, and plotted them through the
smoke to places of safety on the first
| floor. After saving q nurses and pa.
TENTS from possible injury in this man
ner, he lost consciousness and was car
ried into the male ward, where medical
attention was given him. For time it
was thought he could not undergo the
terrible strain to which he had been
subjected.
Owing to the fireproof construction
the actual loss to the building will not
exceed 10000.