Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-07
INMATES PAN|C-STR|CKEN
As HOSPITAL BURNS
Insane and Blind Patients
Fight Attendants in Phil
adeIphia Institution.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April IA fire
started in the laundry Of the Philadelphia
Hospital, S4th street below Spruce street,
last night, which for a time threatened
the whole institution and caused a panic
among the inmates. Hundreds of the in
sane and those confined in the general
hospital ward. and scores of the blind
battled with attendants. shrieking and
calling to be liberated, while band OF
doctors, attendants, nurses and students
of the University of Pennsylvania vainly
attempted to quiet their fears. and carried
hundreds to safety. The loss is estimated
at seS5,OOO.
The fire was first noticed by DR.. Law
renee Freescoln, assistant chief resident
physician. who was returning from the
isolated ward on his first night round He
saw a blaze in the northwestern corner
of the laundry building and called to
Waterman Lawrence Mccarthy, who
rushed to the scene Of the fire while the
doctor telephoned an alarm and set the
hospital whistle blowing. The four city
fremen who are continually on duty at
the institution responded, but before the
first hose was in play the western end Of
the building was in flames.
The blind department is directly across
from the building, approximately fifty
feet away. The inmates. mostly women.
could hear the crackIe of the flames the
crashing of glass and the calls of the
fremen below. A panic ensued. Scores
fought madly at the doors, while nurses
and attendants blocked the passages and
endcavored to pacify them. Many crawled
under beds. others got into bed, pulling
the covers over their heads and sobbng
like children. while the more hardy con-
tinued the fight at the doors.
Cries for Help Pitiful.
There were 200 patients in the tubercu-
lar building, the majority Of whom were
in advanced stages OF the disease and
were unable to move. Their calls wore
pitifuL as they pleaded to be taken to a
place of safety
DIR. Frescoln called all the attendants |
and nurses together, and. with a score of |
university students. rushed into the build |
ing. which by this time was completely |
enveloped in thick black smoke coming |
from the burning clothing in the laundry. |
All available StretcherS were pressed |
into service, and the patients were car
ried into the general wards Of the hos |
pital. This method was not sufficiently |
fast. and scores were huddled into blan-
ketS or wrapped in sheets and carried to |
safety. Dozens of the patients endeavor-
cd TO make their way out. but in the ma
Jor1ty of cases were too weak and fell ex-
hausted i'm the Railways or at the steps.
In the insane department which is fifty |
yards from the burning building, another |
panic was in progress. The inmates at |
their grated windows could see the flames |
and smoke. and. maddened by the noise
from below. pounded at the gratingS and !
rushed madly at attendants and nurses.
The crowds in the various wards were
held in check by force, returning to the
corners of the rooms and budding in
small groups. sobbing or calling for help,
while the women. I'm the further wards, |
hearing the strange noises. set up pierre
ing shrieks.
University Students Assist.
The shouts Of the inmates and the thick
pail of smoke. which quickly f1oated over
the campus of the University Of Penn
sylvania. set the rumor anoat that the
medical laboratory was on fire, and a
general call was made in the dormitories
of the university for aid. Hundreds Of
students left their dinners and ran to
the laboratory, but saw the smoke in the
distance.
George Walker, one Of the firemen of
the hospital. was overcome by the smoke.
He was discovered in the ruins by a fire.
man. who carried him to safety. He was
the only one hurt.
The fire started in a hurricane dryer,
was probably due to short circuit in
the electric current. In the building at
the time was the complete washing of
the hospital. today being the day the |
over 100000. representing the suits Of the |
doctors, nurses and patients, and the
linen Of the institution, which houses
over 1000 persons.
In the University Hospital which is |
close by, another panic started The
hospital has a number of persons suffer-
ing from nervous complaints and the |
physicians fear that the result of the |
fright may prove serious to some pa