The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-30
NEED FOR CENTRAL
F|RST-A|D HOSPITAL
SEEN IN ACCIDENTS
Boy Dragged Out Of Canal Has
to Wait Half an Hour for
Surgical Treatment.
DIES AS SOON AS HE IS
PUT ON OPERATING TABLE
Man Knocked Down by Broad
Street Car at Busy Corner Also
Unattended for Long Time.

Two accidents today, in one of which
n hoy was killed, emphasized the imme-
diate necessity of better ambulance and
emergency hospital facilities.
Four months ago a movement for
better ambulance service was started
by the members of the Board of Health,
but unfortunately the movement was
only started. 1t went as far as being
voted a good thing and something that
the city ought to have. A committee
of two was appointed to look into the
feasibility of hiring a building or part
of building below High street to be
used as an emergency hospital. This
committee consisted of DIR. George
Kent, of Eighth avenue, and John w.
Dobbins, member of the Board of
Health.
The committee settled on one of. the
fire buildings in Branford place.
Upon the decision Of the committee
being reported the Board of Health de-
cided that the matter would lave to
rest. as the appropriation of the board
would not stand any such expenditure.
Mr. Dobbins said to representative
of THE EVENING STAR today:
"I am heartily in favor of an emer-
able to meet the expense 1 myself
would be satisfied If they would place
an ambulance in the centre of the
city.
"The thing to do is to divide the city
into two parts, the line to be drawn at
High street, all calls below High street
to be answered by the ambulance sit
uated in the centre of the city. and
Tfext, -4~ r.
by the ambulance at the City Hospital.
"The cases below High street might
be taken to the City Dispensary, where
there are six beds available for such
cases."
After being mortally injured on the
Summit street incline of the Morris
canal. Benjamin Ridden. 15 years old,
of 43 Wilsey street. lay for half hour,
bleeding and in frightfuI pain, waiting
for the arrival of an ambulance.
John Wardner, of 1O4 Warren street.
was struck by a Broad street car at
Cedar street and for a half hour lay
on the sidewalk in front of l.. s. Plaut
& Co.'S store waiting for an ambulance
while thousands of persons in the busi-
est section of the city witnessed his
agonies.
Benjamin Ridden was one of the boys
who ride UP and down the inclined rail-
way when the moving platforms carry
canal boats up and down. He was
riding up with others today when he
slipped off and was struck by the lower
part of the platform.
His back was broken and one eye
destroyed. His skull also was frac-
tured and he had sustained internal
injuries.
James ]. McMapus, OF Grove street,
was one of the men who ran to the as
sistance of the lad and helped jack up
the movable car supporting the canal
boat to get the boy out.
McManus first telephoned police
headquarters for an ambulance, and
he said that he got an impudent reply,
asking why he did not call on hos
pital. There was much delay there.
and when he finally got the City Hos
pital there was more delay.
Returning to the boy McManus tried
to ease the lads pains. Rudden was
conscious all the time but he seemed
to realize he would die. He begged |
that a priest be brought, and several
Continued on Second Pase)