Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-02-23

manu- mt IHdl scdipel-no, no, the other
one--hold those forceps here-that's it,"
and he began one of the most difficult
and dangerous operations known to sur
gerry. lie saw nothing but the neck of
the patient. Not once did he look at
her face; all personal feeling had gone
and he was once more the cool, imper-
turbable surgeon whose skill was known
all over the country. Benedict assisted
him, Miss Willet stood with the chloro-
form at the head of the patient, while
the two other nurses handed him the in
struments. The vein was now exposed.
Now hand me the silver WIRE" he
said to Miss Schwenll.
Just then the great electric fire alarm
OF the hospital rang out Benedict made
motion as if to run out and the nurses
began to get nervous. Miller looked at
them sternly while he placed the first
wire in position, followed up by the sec
ond, and said. in n calm. commanding
voice: Miss Schwenk, will you please
lock and bolt the doors - The nurse
hesitated
The smell of smoke was already no
ticeable in spite of the strong odor of
chlorofOrm which filled the room. From
the street below came the sound of bells
and the whistles of the fire engines
Please close the DOORS repeated Mil
Ter, looking firmly at Miss Schwenk.
She laughed nervously and obeyed.
Now, please give me the keys-put
them right here on the instrument
stand" Again Miss Schwenk obeyed.
Il thank you," Miller said, politely.
The operation went on. Miller was alb
solutcly cool and collected, the others
nervous and excited
More engines came rushing up; cries
and shouts were heard everywhere, and
a great crowd has gathered in the street
below.
Somebody shakes the door knob of the
door leading into the operating room and
calls out: Hurry up and save this; the
whole eastern wing of the hospital is on
fire.
Try not to be so nervous. Miss
Chase" DR.. Miller commanded. I'm ten
minutes the patient may be carried out,
but not before. VIII you kindly sterilize
this forceps?"
Smoke is now coming into the room
from everywhere, and sparks and embers
are falling on the glass roof. Miss
Schwenk cries Historically
You must be quiet" says the sur
geon, but Benedict, whose very lips are
white, interrupts him: Really, Miller,
this is
please hold the hemostate."
"But-but, we will all five burn to
death if you persist in staying here
You are a surgeon, please don't for
get that" was Miller's only reply, and
Benedict blushed with shame. The
4 ,e
beginning to take fire, and the smoke
laden air was difficult to breathe. 1t
was almost dark
Miss Chase, will YOU please turn on
the light ?"
She obeyed instantly, and when the
people from the outside saw the ,oht in
the operating room they thought nat
that also was on fire, and the shouts
grew louder than ever.
Miller turned to the nurses and said:
you may 60 now, Benedict and | can
finish alone. Run as fast as you can
through the sterilizing room, and please
slam the door after you"
Two of the nurses rushed out, but
Miss Willet stayed behind and looked
at the surgeon, an expression of bound
less admiration in her eyes.
Il will stay here" she said. 1T will
probably be five minutes more before this
room takes fire l will not leave you.
Please continue your work"
'Thank you, Miss Wiilet but really
there is no necessity now. All that is
to be done is to put on the bandage."
Then | will go" said Benedict, you
and Miss Willet can very well finish
alone. it is more than dangerous here,
and the ceiling may come down any min
ute. The doors are already burning. l
am going"
sit down." commanded Miller, don't
be a coward; give me the bandage and
sit down. Do you want to disgrace your
self for the rest of your life?"
With an oath Benedict rushed toward
the door.
You heard what 1 said shouted Nil
Ter, drawing his revolver with his right
hand while his left still held the silver
wire.
Il also have Il fire which kills quicker
than the one outside; you know my
ability with gun. | would never miss
YOU at this distance. That is right.
thought you would stay. Hand me the
bichloride. / must sterilize my fingers.
The revolver is not clean"
He dipped his fingers in the solution
and wiped them off on the towel. Then
he began to put on the bandage. Bene-
dict obeyed mechanically, while Miss
Willet helped to put them on.
The flames We're now coming through
an opening in one of the doors, and the
glass roof was cracked in many places
while the air was as if in furnace. A
crash was heard-it was the eastern
wing which collapsed. Only the operat
ing pavilion was left like an island in ar
ocean of flames.
Concentrate your water on this
place." came the command of the fire
chief, and several streams of water came
through the glass roof Miller kept his
body between the patient and the
flames He wrapped her up in a blan-
ket and took her in his arms just as the
firemen broke through the wall, shout