davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
| Meet
a Covered
Stretcher

to the morgue. had to bite my lips to keep back an
exclamation. Only too we'll did l know who it was
'hat was dead! The elevator boy threw open the
iron gate with clang. | started. He grinned as
stepped inside.
Did scare yer? Yer look like you'd seen ghosti'
he laughed aloud at his pleasantly "O-hl" he went
on comprehendingly noticing the disappearing order
lies, that's it. is it? Amt you got used ter it yet?
Arrived at the door of the mems medical | tried to
cross the threshold, but it if invisible hands
pressed me back. At last l forced myself to enter
Looking neither to the right the left went in to
get the report from the night She busy.
applying poutice, so | waited for her at the head
nurses table Against my will my eyes sought Bnrkes
bed-it was, had feared, vacant.
determined to get through my mornings work
somehow, medication and all, anyway until the mad
rush of getting ready for rounds at O'Clock was
over, and then, when there was lull would go down
to the superintendents Office and make clean breast
of the affair Further than that my mind refused to
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04


losing timei What is to be done?"
Nothing"
His voice sounded very far away. 1 must have mis-
understood him.
"Nothingg'
mol am sorry, but there is antidetei"
The room reeled around me. But 1 must keep my
head, They seemed to have lost thers
But the stomach pump!" l suggested, wild with
impatience
1t would do good NitrogIycerin is a muscle
poison. 1t is Immediately taken up by the muscular
tissue We can only treat each symptom it arises y
Then hope left Two and half grains, Two
and half grains rang in desparing cadence through
my tortured brain.
The house surgeon. somewhat cynical fellow for
whose personality had had no great liking, though
/ admitted his skill, said with real sympathy, which
shall never forget
Don't be too cut up over it. Well stand by you,
You may pull out! Who else knows?'
Nobody! l am in charge this afternoon"
Good. Then keep your COUNSEL
That's it. Don't show the white feather" put in
the acting house. Go back to the ward, act as if
nothing had happened, and I'll be up presently and
will hang around to do what l can. Burke has
not a friend in the world and his life is but burden
to him and likely to end at any moment from natural
We will to it that you not blamed
for his DEATH he added. with kindly intent
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

He MEDICINE HAD BEEN DRAINED 10
hand but mine, though it is prob's work to
rands But needed caution from him. | was
quite alive to weight of responsibility handled
the bottle with respect and took that my
urement Of each dose should be accurate to minim
thought had safeguarded against possibility of
mistake and then--IT happened
One day the head nurse had matinee engagement.
my time off from 10 to II in the morning
went to first dinner at noon returning to the ward
at 1890, in time to relieve the head nurse for the
afternoon. She in hurry to go and there was
nothing to tell me, she said. She wbisked out
of the door and l sent the junior to second dinner
and then proceeded to put up the half hourly nitro
glycern.
Now, the two IN G's,' among ourselves we
jocosely called the for whom this was prescribed
were in adjoining beds at the farther end the long
ward. went TO the first, gave him the glass; which
was covered with card bearing his name and the
dose, and fingered to answer question of his
offered the other glass to his neghbor in the corner
who sitting up in bed with outstretched hand
1t takes but day two for patient. with little
else his mind to learn at what hour to expect his
medicine, and it is only recently admitted patient
very i'll who is not ready waiting for his
Dose
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

performed their appointed tasks my brain was clear
again and in control l was like automatic piece
of machinery which will run its course although the
hand that wound it and set it going may again
nave the power to do so. And the hand is ex-
traneous to the machine, so my inner self walked
apart inert upon the unquenchable desire that
Burke might live. Let talk of suspense to me,
have experienced it to the full have been beaten
upon by the whirlwnd, shaken by the earthquake
scorched by the fire. and have listened for the STILL
small voice.
The hours wore on Burke ate his supper with
relish But was not reassured by this and the
geon did not encourage me to build on hopes that
might prove to be false. Some poisons are slow in
their action It was wrench for to go off duty
leaving him with a night who in ignorance
of any special need for watching him carefully But
! went without word. The surgeon made me- He
promised to look in the ward often until midnight
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
l Make
a Dreadful
Mistake

did that he had medicine this time of day. but
only in the morning and at night. He swallowed two
and half grain Of nitroglycerin, and he had not
had before much the minimum dose.
l was too overwhelmed to speak What was up
perInost in my mind was, He must not know, He
must not be alarmed" In supreme moments all Of
us who have force at all develop into
demeanor. l have, for l met no look of sur
prise. | set down my tray, told the third nurse in
the absence of the junior, that going to report
one in charge which excites curiosity in those
der her authorty-and picking up the order book
passed the head nurses table, which it lay, 1
crossed the ward with trace of excitement in my
Once in the hall, though, and away from prying
eyes, let my anxiety give wings to my feet did
not wait for the elevator but at breakneck speed
down the winding fight of stairs and to the ply
sicians corridor Breathless, arrived at the house
physicians door. 1t open RE was not there.
Opposite his first assistants room. One hand
clutching the order book and the other clenched
that the nails dug into the PALM 1 knocked, and did
not wait for second summons to come in" The
first assistant entertaining the house surgeon.
They lolling in easy chairs, their pipes in their
mouths but | burst in upon them, shutting the
door behind me, both sprang to their rect. | know
my soul in my face. The first assistant came to
where | STOOD holding on the knob and swaying
uncertainty.
What is the matter?" he demanded, snatching the
order book from and reaching for his fountain
pen. You want order? | give it, | am
House,"
Yes" I painted. Quick. Write II have
given Burke an-an overdose! A mistake. lit
was nitroglycerin-two and half-grans!g
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
Story o. a MnakeC Caused by
Torture the Nurses Soul

[[TN every science and every art in every busi-
ness and every trade, mistakes made; they
are part of all men. But physicians practice
their science and their art on life With that
material mistake is irreparable You, who
a student, keen over your work and
one Of the best men of your year at the hospital,
what viii you do when that disaster happens? >
This fear of doing harm, which is called the strain
Of practice does not pass with the passing of youth
it is acknowledged by a famous surgeon in a letter
written when he was Sc
What happy hours they were,' he says of a holi-
day just in their contrast of careessness care-
freeness) with the care of mind with which, here one
goes from responsibility another. and always
with the thought that, while meaning to do good one
quote the above extract from recent book whose
author is physician because it is fitting preamble
to what I about to say. The strain of practice is
great in the nursing profession in the medical
and mistakes likely TO occur, though. thank
God, in both professions rarely enough to make them
stand out with startling vvidness.
And it is because mistakes are a part OF all men
that dare confess the that l made during my
hospital 1t nearly put an end to my career,
and is carved in ntaglio my memory so deeply
that its impression can never be entirely efaced
have kept ii to myself for years, and the telling it
IS not easy now. But unfurl the fiery scroll
in the hope that it may serve as a danger signal a
warning against blind self-confdence. There may be
others than that need the admoniton Let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" For l
was very sure of myself. And then came my abase-
ment and in that dark hour learned, in all humility
the lesson Of tolerance for the faults of others.
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

| looked him straight in
the eyes.
IF he dies" | said. very
slowly but very firmly, 81 do
not wish to be shielded,
though l thank you for
your willingness to help me.
l shall tell the superintend-
ent. [ am not afraid of
Q punishment-only of being
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

Turning to take the empty
glass l found that the medi-
cine had been drained to the
last drop by the wrong man.
Not by the man with Bright's,
but by Burke, who had been
in the ward for weeks and
weeks with a complication
of chronic diseases, and
who knew Just as well as |
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
A Task
That Tries
the Nerves

ward. and many of the drugs are put up in solu-
uons of varying strength; each dose must be math-
ematically calculated according to the number of
grains contained in an ounce
II is TO the credit of my hospital that no nurse is
allowed to measure out the medicines until she has
been at least six months in the school and has sue
cessfully passed the difficult examination in materia
medica- was so well equipped for my new duties
that felt no misgivings about them. / prided my
self my thoroughness, though it might bring
upon me the fate predicted for me by grouchy old
man, who, objecting TO the with which l made
his bed, grumbled, "Ah you're too particular You'll
die an old maid, You'll die old maid"
The attending physician was a man of progressive
ideas. Experiments are the pabulum of all science
and he made several in therapeutics which aroused
the wonder and admiration of all and which added
zest to my labors while increasing them The medica-
ton list in large ward is lengthy one at best
and on average Of every two hours the senior has
interrupt whatever else she may be doing to put
up and hand around the drugs then due; but there
were weeks at time. during my period OF service
when because Of the experimenting, had no sooner
washed up trayful of medicine glasses than it
was time for me to prepare another.
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
Judge Not,
That Ye
Be Not Judged

gent she loved her child but in trying to re-
lieye it she made mistake. She knew that hot
bath would relax the jerking muscles. And she filed
the tub with scading water which caused the death
of her first born. In your heart have you blame for
her because she did not the temperature of the
water with thermometer?
Another mother, confusing the physicians orders,
her little daughter two pills every instead
of one every two hours and as the drug was pow
erful one only prompt treatment saved the childs
life The papers are full of instances of involuntary
suicides, caused by medicines taken by mistake, and
then those tragic shooting accidents when one hunts
man, aiming game kills his friend And the almost
daily automobile disasters. Is your discretion so
infalibe that you sit in judgment?
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

The home was con-
nected with the hospital by
a passageway on the ground
floor. | hurried through it,
and rang for the elevator to
take me upstairs. AS |
waited for it, two orderlies,
carrying a covered stretch
er, came down the stairs
and passed me ON their wav
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

| hated to be in the ward.
| dreaded going out of it,
even to the medicine room.
| did not want to look at
Burke, and yet l was afraid
not to, for fear the gray
shadow might creep upon
him unawares. My feet car
ried me hither and thither
about my work, my hands
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

I had been in training for
more than a year when
was promoted to the posi-
ton of senior nurse in the
mems medical ward, a post
of great responsibility, re-
quiring a clear brain as
well as a steady hand, for
the senior has charge of the
medication for tha u,ho1o
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

And you, before you con-
denim mine, stop and think.
In the training school of life
has no act of yours ever
threatened another's safety,
even though. mercifully. its
consequences were not ia
tai? / know Of a woman
whose baby had a convul-
sion. She was an intelli-
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

Just then there emerged
from the lavatory the usual
morning procession of such
patients as felt equal to
performing their own ablu-
tions. AS they filed past
me each bade me Good
morning" and I responded
as in a dream, until my
glance fell on the last one
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

He opened the order book
and shut it. He looked at
the house surgeon. The
house surgeon looked at
him. Both of them were
clever men. I had conf
dence in their ability. They
held a whispered consulta-
ton. The clock-(or was
it my heart?)-ticked away
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

travel What would become OF me neither Kne"
nor cared
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
The Horror
Suspense

the seconds. Why were
An order.." | groaned.
But he did not write
Don't lose your Nerves
me- Tell us. how did
"The beds were change
was not told. I did not n
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
The Doctors
Hazardous
lest

pulses of both with the accompanying headaches was
entirely knocked out. Accordingly he started them
simultaneously the average dose. one one-hun-
dredth of grain every two hours and gradually but
steadily increased the dose. AT the end of a week
zach getting grain hour.
Every little detail is distinct in my mind after the
lapse of years IL seems though it were only YES
terday that heard the druggist get his little Joke
when protesungly because of its explosive quality
he yielded my request for 10 per cent solution of
the drug because simply had not the time to count
out a hundred tablets apiece often. He said as
he handed bottle of the stuff 1T would
take brave to kick those patients out of the
building."
1t was unheard of for nitroglycerin to be given in
such tremendous quantities. And yet day by day
the dose increased as the tension persisted. At
the end of another week it had reached two and
half grains every 80 minutes, Twice a day l had
10 descend TO the drug have my bottle replen-
ished- The druggist would not allow than
an ounce at time and would trust that to other
The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

IL was a nitrOglycerin
test that | have cause foi
remembering with painful
exactness. The attending
physician declared his in
tention of pushing this drug
in the treatment of two
men, both suffering from
Bright's disease. until the
tension which marked the
The Washington times., 1909-10-27
REAL ESTATE DEAL
INVOLVES 100000
Wellington Apartment House
Exchanged for Other
Realty.

Involving property valued at more
than $4,000, Reginald W. Beall, vice
president Of Moore q Hnl. Incorporated,
real estate brokers, has just closed one
of the most important and largest
apartment house transactions that has
taken place in Washington in several
weeks.
The deal involves the exchange Of the
Wellington apartment house. Seven
teenth street and Park road. valued at
800. 600. for the Harvard apartments. on
Columbia Heights, valued at $4,000; the
Vernon apartments, in L street valued
at $500; a house in street and a lot
northeast, valued at $3.50, in addition
10 money paid in cash.
The Wellington is a fOur-story mod
crn apartment building erected by Har-
~ Wardman, the builder, from plans
| prepared by Architect A. II. Beers.
There are forty-seven apartments Of
three, four and five rooms and the
income on the building is about $4,000
annually. The Vernon and Harvard
/ each contain six apartments
The purchasers are local business
men, who will hold the yelling ION as
an investment.
Another large deal put through by
Moore & Hill this week was the sale
of premises 727 Thirteenth street north
west. for consideration Of about
S35. 900 The improvements consist of a
three-story brick dwelling, which Will
be converted into a business block.
from a residential to a business section,
and there are only two other houses IT
the same square which have not beer
~emodeled for business purposes.
The Washington times., 1909-10-27
FAVORS A LICENSE
FOR CITY GUIDES
Commissioners Sanction Recon-
mendation of Major
Sylvester.

Upon recommendation of Major Syl-
vester, the Commissioners will at the
next session Of Congress recommend
the enactment Of legislation providing
for the licensing and registration OF
city guides.
The bill viii make It a misdemeauOr
for any person to represent himself as
an authorized guide unless licensed and
registered, and viii authorize the adop-
ton By the Commissioners Of reguIa-
tons governing the guides. The meas
ure will be prepared by Corporation
Counsel Thomas
The Washington times., 1909-10-27

case Of the Sugar trust conspiracy that
resulted in the closing of the Pennsyl-
Vania Sugar Refinery means. IN all
probability, that the directors of the
trust viii not have to pay the penalty
for their participation in that affair.
It is admitted at the Department of
Justice today that the case against
John Z. Parsons. general counsel Of
the trust; President W. B. Thomas;
Treasurer Arthur Bonner, and Direc-
tors Charles II. Senff, John Mayer, and
George H. Frazier. stands on exactly
the same footing as that against Gus
tav e KisseI and Thomas 3. Harmed,
who pleaded immunity because of the
statute of limitations, and who are freed
by Judge Hollis decision Of yesterday.
The directors have only TO offer the
same plea to secure for themselves the
same immunity.
There is, however, another recourse
for the Government. Under a recently
passed statute the Government is grant
ed the right of appeal in the case Of
such preliminary proceedings as the
pleading of the statute Of limitations,
or of demurrers TO indictments, made
before the defendants are actually
placed on trial on the merits of the
case. It is not known definitely wheth-
er the Government will take advantage
of this law, but it is believed that
Judge Hollis decision VIII be appealed
to the Circuit Court of Appeals.
The criminal proceedings were only
begun against the Sugar trust last
spring by direction of Attorney General
Wickersham. Now, unless the Circuit
Court of Appeals reverses the opinion
of Judge Holt, the proceedings against
the Sugar trust officials Will fall to the
ground.
The facts in the case had been laid
before Attorneys General Moody and
I3onaparte. of the Roosevelt Admins
tration. several years before Oy Re
ceiver George II. Earle, of Philadel-
phia, but no action was taken by them.
The Washington times., 1909-10-27
DUTIES OF A PARENT
OUTLINED BY COURT
ather Must Not Be Satisfied Merely to Buy Food and
Clothing for Children, Declares
Judge Lacy.

and that they have been In the habit OF
holding secret meetings in a loft in
Southeast washington, where they would
take beer and whisky, and often spend
the night there.
Last night the police were notified that
a regular wake" was to be held in the
loft They raided it, capturing the lead
ers of the gang, whom they claimed
were considerably under the influence of
liquor.
BouIger's mother, with tears in her
ewes. confessed that she was unable to
manage her son, and that he would
stav away from home for two or three
nights at a time, much to her sorrow
mn CIarkson's father sought to excuse
himself, and received the reprimand
from the court.
The boys were sent TO the Emergency
Hospital BY the court, TO undergo a
physical examination, and their fate will
be decided tomorrow.
The Washington times., 1909-10-27

"a fathers duty toward his son is not
fulfilled because he supplies him with
bread" declared Judge De Lacy, in
Juvenile Court today, when Eugene
CI1rkson and Michael Boulger we're ar
raigned, charged with vagrancys and
CIarkson's father sought to excuse him
self on the plea that he supplied his
son with food and clothes.
Neither is he free to bury himself
behind an evening newspaper and don
easy slippers just as soon as he comes
home from work. 1t is his duty to know
how his son is spending his evening,
and to be sure that he is in the house
before he himself retires.
Clarkson and BOulger are. the police
say. leaders OF the Pudding Gang"
the terror Of all Southeast Washington.
The police testified that they also are
members of the Sunday Pool Club"
The Washington times., 1909-10-27
TRIPS DOWN RIVER
WILL BE FEATURED

Quick, as well as enjoyable, trips be-
tween washington and Norfolk VIII be
afforded By special weekend trips which
have been inaugurated by the Potomac
and Chesapeake Steamboat Company.
This service is designed especially for
business people who cannot be long from
their offices. The steamer St. Johns, re-
fitted and Offering every comfort 10 the
traveller viii leave her wharf at the
foot of Eighth street on Saturday at .
%. m, and returning will arrive in Wash
ington at a. m on Monday. The man
ayers of the new line have exerted every
effort 10 satisfy the public and TO make
these weekend trips 10 the Virginia
metropolis popular.
The Washington times., 1909-10-27
Government Attorneys De
clare But One Phase Is
Considered.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
SAID TO BE READY
Charges of Fraudulent Weighing
of Raw Sugar When I'M
ported May Hold.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27.-The special at
torneys for the Government and the Of
ficials of the American Sugar Refining
Company today are carefully examining
the decision of Judge Holt, filed with the
clerk of the United states District Court
late last night, UNFOLDING the demurrer
fnterposed on behalf of Gustav z. Kissel
and Thomas B. Harmed, indicted for
conspiracy in Connection with the closing
down Of the Pennsylvania Sugar Rein
ing Company plant at Camden, which
threw Adolph Segal into bankruptcy and
resulted directly in the suicide Of Frank
Nipple, in Philadelphia.
It was declared the effect of this de-
cision would be to 'whitewash" all OF
the officials of the Sugar trust, several
of whom were indicted with Kissel and
Harmed for the same offense.
Not Disconnected.
Representatives of the Government in
sisted today, however, that the decision
of Judge Holt bears only on the trans
actions in connection with the Pennsyi-
vania Company. and, while It may re-
suit in the indictments on record at pres
ent being dismissed. II can have no bear
ing on the present grand jury investiga-
ton of the actions Of the sugar COM
panv officials in conducting the affairs
Of thit concern.
a new set OF indictments growing out
OF the fraudulent weighing of raw sugar
when imported are reported to have
been voted against officials of the trust,
and will be reported to the court when
the Jury completes its work.
one effect the decision of Judge Holt
Is likely 10 be the commencement of an
action against the American Sugar Com
Danv under the antitrust law, similar
in every respect to the proceedings
brought against the Standard oil Com
panv in the Missouri courts.
More Evidence.
Ever since the Department Of Justice
began consideration of the alleged fraud
ulent weighing cases its agents have
been investigating the manner in which
the sugar company opposed competition
and it is reported that evidence mas beer
uncovered which indicate violations OF
the antitrust law.
The Government may appeal from thC
decision Of Judge Holt Hollis declara-
ton that the offenses complained OF art
barred by the statute of Limitations
was a distinct disappointment TO the
Government which cOntended that the
shutting down of the refinery Of the
corporation and keeping II closed was
n conspiracy in restraint Of trade,
and as such. the criminal indictments
were properly drawn.