New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-21
GIRL SAVES MANY LIVES.
LOCKED IN BLAZING CELLS
Worhhoase Patients Rescaed-1he
Brennan Fails to Meet Emergency.

A keen sense of danger and rare ability TO act
promptly displayed by young nurse, saved the
lives of $50 prisoners confined in part of the
Worlhouse On Blackwells Island, which was swept
away by fire. early yesterday morning. The citys
loss is less than $4,000 but if the cell doors had not
been quickly opened the loss of life would have
been appalling.
The fire broke out in the sewing section of the.
womens wing, and spread with alarming rapidity.
Miss Smith, one of the nurses in the women's hos
pftal, was the third floor. when she was suddenly
almost stifed by the dense smoke that spread
through the place.
Her first thought of the $50 women. She
sounded the alarm the officials. and Joined by
Miss Slattery, the chief matron and Mrs. McGrath.
another employee. she swung the lever the turn of
which throws open every cell door Had she been
a moment later. Commissioner Lantry of the Cor
rection Department admitted yesterday, not soul
could have been saved.
There are scores of old women, out with
dissipation and sickness. who unable to walk.
These had to be carried. and that took time. But
Miss Smiths quick sense of danger saved the day.
The Board of Estimate met yesterday and granted
Commissioner Iantrys request for appropriation
of 1900 to repair the damaged building. The upper
two stories and the entire roof of the structure
were destroyed. The women prisoners will be kept
in the penitentiary pending other arrangements.
The fire would have undoubtedly been controlled
quicker and with less loss had the Brennan,
which is supposed to be in readiness at all hours
haitian fire companies across The Brennan was
not only not ready for action. but its engineer
away and no one could say where he was.
The flremen were furious Chief Croker got
with the few at his command, worked
hard for nearly an hour all the while wonder
ing what the matter with the Brennan.
Finally, after hauling engineer out Of bed, the
panies me rs Vas a then Under control Of the
scanty force under Chief Croker.
The Brennan belongs to the Charities Depart
naent, and lies. usually at the pier at East 26th
Correction and Charities departments that it Is
there for emergency purposes. such as prevailed
yesterday morning.
The responsibility for the delay in getting the fire
engines over TO Blaclwells Island on the steamboat
will be probably fixed to-day by Commissioner Tuly
Of the Charities Department, who Immediately be-
gan an investigation into the story of the delinquent
engineer.
The responsibility, however IS also shared by the
Department Of Correction, notwithstanding that
Commissioner Latry expressed his anger over the
delay in getting the apparatus across the river.
The Thomas F. Brennan belonged to the Charities
Department and while it is equipped with fire fight
ing facilities and is supposed to lend its services
when needed outside Of its department. there was
yesterday who could explain why the boats
Of the Correction Department were not on hand to
convey the engines The local fire company and the
fireboat Zophar Mills which responded to the
alarm, were ably assisted by the fire brigade from
the Workhouse This force drilled by fireman
who inmate of that institution
Commissioner Lantry, who installed the lever
system of locks for the cells, in place of the old
pattern with key and lock for each CELL said that
II the latter had been still in yesterday there
would have been appalling loss OF life.
The Commissioner was summoned from MS nome
early in the morning, and crossed to the island IN
rowboat. He assisted in removing twenty pa
tients from the hospital in stretchers He said It
was the most ptiable scene he had ever witnessed