The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-05-01
HOSPITAL IS BURNED
PATIENTS Are TAKEN down LAD.
DERS And SAVED.
some marrow ESCAPES
Fire Caused by the Carelessness of
the Driver Of an Oil Wagon, Who
Threw Lighted Match Near a Can
Which He Had just Delivered,
Causing an Explosion.

Causing an Explosion.
The hospital at Anderson, three
story, brick building constructed 4
years ago at a cost of $4,000, was
completely destroyed late Thursday
afternoon. The fire originated from
white man, an oil wagon driver,
a lighted match carelessly thrown by
near a can Of kerosine which he had
just deposited 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 superintendent, Miss
Utes, who in a composed manner in
structed the nurses to help her get
the patients out of the building.
All patients who were well 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 operations in the
last day or two, were too weak to
help themselves and these were car
ried 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 patients were brought to the
ground in nude condition.
Miss jamie Langley Of Mount Car
mel, a nurse, who was operated on
Thursday morning and who occupied
room on the second floor in the
rear Of the building, narrowly escap-
ed being burned to death. She
screamed for help and DR.. Lee San
ders and Charlie Sanders attempted
to reach her room through the hall,
which was in blaze.
AS the men opened the door lead
ing to the room Of the patient the
flames burst through and drove
them back. They hurried to the
ground and by means Of ladder
reached a window of the room and
through the window the sick wo-
man was take nto safety. A few
minutes delay would have been IA
tai to Miss Langley.
Judge W. F. Cox, who was operat-
ed on Wednesday, was taken from
second story window, as were Mrs.
}. H. Ferguson, Mrs. Bush Adams,
Mrs. E. X. Todd, Miss Corrie Nc
Cauley and Miss Langley Miss
Clinkscales, a nurse, who remained
at her post on the second floor until
all the patients were safe, descended
on the ladder just in time before
being cut off from escape.
Mrs. Ada rs, one Of the patients
brought down a ladder, was in a dy-
ing condition, and it is feared that
she will succumb. The fire did not
add to the seriousness Of her case, as
she was in condition past appre-
ciating the excitement. A negro wo-
man had just been taken off the op-
Grating table and had not recovered
from the anaesthesia. In an uncon-
scious condition she was removed to
safety.
Other patients in the hospital at
the time were: Mrs. Jennie Hancock,
Mrs. A. C. Sloan, D. J. Watson and
four negro women. For time it
was feared that Mrs. Hancock had
lost her life in the flames, as sh7
could not be located. 1t developed
later that she saw the flames, and al
though in sick and weak condition,
she managed to escape on foot, and
proceeded to 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 1t to
enable a man to get in window on
the second floor to rescue some OF
the patients. Miss Utes, who is OF
exceptional strength, held the lad
der 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
dismissed from the hospital and had
not gotten out of sight Of the build
ing when the fire was discovered. In
all there we're u patients In the
building, and everyone of them was
rescued and no serious effect upon
their condition is anticipated from
the fire.
A Young Grandmother.