The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-04-30
ANDERSON HOSPITAL
DESTROYED BY FIRE
PATIENTS CARRIED DOWN LAD.
DERS FROM BUILDING.
Lighted Match Carelessly Thrown,
Ignites Can of GasOline-Thrill.
ing Experiences of Fire.

Anderson, April 25.-The Anderson
county hospital, three-story, brick
building, constructed four years ago
at a cost Of $4,000, was completely
destroyed by fire late this afternoon.
The, fire originated from lighted
match carelessly thrown by white
man, an oil wagon driver, near a can
of kerosine which he had just deposit
ed on the side porch. The kerosine
was ignited and a tank of gasoline
nearby exploded, throwing flames in
every direction The negro orderly
was the first to discover the fire, and
he hurriedly informed the superintend-
ent, Miss Utes, who in composed
manner instructed the nurses to help
her get the patients out of the build
ing. All patients who were we'll
enough to walk were led from their
beds to the elevator and were taken
+, to the ground in safety. Six other
patients, who had undergone opera
tions in the last day or so, were too
weak to help themselves, and these
were carried to the ground by ladders
put up to second-story windows. The
flames so rapidly spread over the
building that no time was given the
rescuers to even bring bed clothes
around the patients as they passed
them through the windows. Four pat
tents were brought to the ground in
nude condition.
Miss jamie Langley, of Mt. Carmel,
a nurse, who was operated On this
morning, and who occupied room on
the second floor in the rear Of the
building, narrowly escaped being burn
ed to death. She screamed for help
and DR.. Lee Sanders and Charley San
ders attempted to reach her room
through the hall, which was in a
blaze.
Met by Flames.
AS the men opened the door leading
to the room of the patient the flames
burst through and drove them back.
They hurried to the ground and by
means of a lader reached window Of
the room and through the window the
sick woman was taken to safety. A
few minutes delay would have been
fatal to Miss Langley.
Judge w. F. Cox, who was operated
on yesterday, was taken from second
story window, as were Mrs. ]. H. Fer
guson, Mrs Bush Adams, Mrs. E. K.
Todd, Miss Corrie McCauley and Miss
Langley. Miss Clinkscales, a nurse,
who remained at her post on the sec
ond floor until all the patients were all
safe, descended On the ladder just in
time before being. cut off from escape.
Mrs. Adams, one of the patients
brought down a ladder, was in dying
condition, and it is feared that she
| will succumb tonight The fire did not
add to the seriousness of her case, as
she was in condition past apprecia-
ting the excitement.
A negro woman had just been taken
off the operating table and had not
recovered from the anaestheSia, In an
unconscious condition she was remoy-
ed to safety
Other patients in the hospital at the
time were: Mrs jamie Hancock, Mrs.
A. C. Sloan, D. J. Watson and four
negro women. For time it was fear
ed that Mrs. Hancock had lost her life
in the flames, as she could not be 10
Gated. 1t developed later that she saw
the flames, and, although in a sick and
weak condition, she managed to escape
on foot, and proceeded to a house next
door, where she was found after a
search.
An incident of the fire was when
Miss Utes, the superintendent, held a
ladder in her arms to lengthen it to
enable a man to get in window on
the second floor to rescue some of the
patients. Miss Utes, who is of excep-
tional strength, held the ladder by
herself as the rescuer and the patient
came down the ladder to the ground.
Two patients, Mrs. J. P, Massey and
Mrs. Fannie Couch, had been dismiss
ed from the hospital and had not got
ten out of sight of the building when
the fire was discovered. In all there
were 12 patients in the building, and
every one Of them was rescued and
no serious effect upon their condition