The San Francisco call., 1909-11-19
8pAvE NURSES
RISK LIVES TO
SAVE PATIENTS
With Splendid Presence of Mind
Prevent Catastrophe at Fire
in Hospital
Doctor Rises From Bed 20 Carry
Out Woman and Falls
in Faint

Ere was the escape of w. A. Smythe
of Oakland. who was overlooked in the
first rush TO the rescue. When he was
discovered TO be missing. efforts were
made to locate him. and he was finally
discovered crawling toward the main
entrance. having made the descent Of
The stairs on his hands and knees.
The fire department responded
promptly to the alarm and cid effective
work. the DANES being under control
within IS or 20 minutes after the en-
gines arrived The fire originated un-
der the building. which has no base
ment other than an engine room, being
built on wooden supports some FIVE feet
high. The theory of incendiarism is
strengthened by the fact that the fire
commenced simultaneously at each of
the four corners of the wing and in the
center II is evident that the frebug
deliberately set his matches in such a
manner as to make complete destruc-
tion practically inevitable.
TIC patients who occupied the Nils
ward and were in dire peril of their
lives were:
Miss X. Donahue. Miss Olga MaXon,
Mrs. J. O'Mara; Mrs. c. Laughlin, who
is the wife Of Doctor Laughlin Of Gold
AlEAAr -ufSs =. a AtOykS4tdufSs MIS- lUll-
ger and infant Mrs. J. 7. Dunn, Mrs. @.
Jackson. Or. J.. A. Craig. Mrs. P a.
McGill. Mrs. A J. Miller. Mrs. c. Brook
hardt, Miss +. Bourne, Mrs. j. Simp-
son and " A. Smythe.
RELATES STORY MODESTLY
White the only person injured oe-
cupies cor ia the Keene ward. suffer
ing from burned hands and face and
the results Of inhaling smoke. He
VIII be confined TO his bed for a week
or more.
he tells the story of his heroism
simply and without boast.
7 was awakened by Miss Tully," he
said yesterday. and was told that the
Mills ward was on fire. I grabbed a
sheet, dOused il in water and wrapped
it around my head. I didn't stop to
think any more than that there were
q lot OF people i'm there who couldn't
help themselves and that it was a case
Of getting them out or they would all
burn UP. II was my duty and 1 did it.
The building was burning from all four
corners and in the center, so the fire
must have been set. I don't think
there's any doubt a bout Saunders doing
it, He was discharged Tuesday and
was rlad about IL. I saw him shopping
around here and set the police after
him. I think he's crazy and besides.
=
He and I had trouble several times and
the nurses were afraid of him. he acted
so peculiarly. This was even before
he started drinking
DISCHARGED WHEN DRUNK
Dr. A B. Shields superintendent of
the hospital. and practically all the
officials and attendants agree with
White in mis- theory that Saunders is
insane. The man was employed at the
hospital only 13 days and was dis
charged by Miss r. WL.teside, secre-
tary TO Doctor Shields Tuesday last for
drunkenness Up TO that time he had
not apparently been q drinking man,
but his conduct from the first was Pc
culiar- Although he occupied a posi-
tion Of no consequence. being merely a
scrubman. he wrote the most extraordi-
nary letters to the hospital officials.
and seemed to believe himself of the
utmost Importance to the institution.
One Of his hallucinati tions was that his
services were greatly desired by other
hospitals in the city, but that loyalty
10 ST. Luke's made him remain He
was noticeabiy drunk last Tuesday, and
was discharged. He haunted the place
during the remainder of the day. and
was later discovered skulking about
the grounds at about 1880 O'Clock
Tuesday night The police were called
IN and he was arrested When searched
q key TO the door opening into the en-
gine room under the Mills ward was
found on him. When he sobered up in
the morning he was allowed to go on
his own recognizance, however, and the
next day, Wednesday, was again seen
hanging around the hospital grounds.