The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-03-21
HOSPITAL BURNS
PATIENTS SAFE
DIR. Pryor Suffers Loss at Chester.
FLAMES GAIN GROUND
Fire Sweeps All Before 1t i'm Mad
Rush-New Building Soon.
Special to The State.


tion in Chesters history. The loss is !
roughly estimated at between $4,000
and $4,000, about two-thirds COW
cred by insurance. While many of
the patients had narrow escapes. they
were all brought out safely on
stretchers and in their beds. To-
night all of the patients are resting
comfortably, except for the fact that
many are very nervous after the fire
shock.
The alarm was rung in about 10
O'Clock this morning. At that time
the entire roof, which was wooden
one. as was the entire structure. was
a mass OF fire. The Stonewall fire de-
partment was quickly on the scene
and in few minutes eight streams
of water were playing on the fire,
which was speedily gnawing its way
At first the water pres
sure was not satisfactory and the
powerful pumps at the water station
were then started TO work, and water
then came with force that carried
everything before 1t.
Business of the city was practically
suspended. Many OF the stores closed
their doors tight and turned their
salesmen and office force into volun-
teer fighting brigades. The main
thing uppermost in the peoples minds
was the rescuing of patients and they
were carried out to many Of the
nearby homes, which were turned
into temporary hospitals. At first
before the citizens arrived on the
scene the nurses played heroic part
in trying to assist the patients to
make their escape. Several nurses
tainted just as dozen men rushed
in to help them.
At the time of the fire DR.. Pryor
and his assistants were in the oper-
ating room and had just finished OPP
Grating on Mr.. Evans Of Abbeville,
Another patient, small boy, Ernest
league, was still under the influence
OF ether, from an operation for apen-
"itis. BY skillful work these pa
tients were removed and It is thought
that their hurried removal from the
institution will prevent any after
effects.
Tonight some of the patients are
at the Chester sanatorium. BY to-
morrow morning DR.. Pryor will have
the former DaVega private hospital
on Wylie street equipped and ready
to receive his patients, or at least
most OF them. number of patients
had gone home we'll from the hos
pital Saturday and Sunday and few
were to arrive this afternoon. Those
in the hospital at the time OF the
fire or the best list obtainable at
this late hour were as follows:
Miss Ethel Jay OF Chester graded
school faculty. Mrs. Baskin Of Rich
burg, Mrs Lollis of Honea Path. the
Rev James Sharp of Chester, Mr.. b.
p. Lilly of Tampa, Fla. Olein Hardin
of Dunbar Mr.. Evans OF Abbeville. H.
X. Hough OF Chester, Mrs. w. NJ.
Estes of Rockton, M. T. Austin OF
Chester, ernest league and Lee Nc
Cay of Chester. r. L. Douglas. M. D.,
of Rodman, Miss Mary Boulware of
Chester, r. s. Calhoun of Abbeville,
Miss Mary Stroud of Chester, r. G.
Mills Of Chester, Levi Gill Of Chester,
G. Chisolm OF Chester and John Jack
son OF Chester.
One big loss was the $4,000 X-ray
outfit. Parts of 1t were saved, how
ever. but Il will cost several thous-
and dollars to repair It,
DR.. Pryor said tonight that the
hospital would be rebuilt at once and
be constructed entirely of brick. ce-
ment and steel. and would be as near
fife-pfof as II Is possible to make It.
DR.. Pryor is bravely holding up
under the tremendous strain, Through
which he has gone to-day. He had
built up hospital that drew patients
from all over the south and his repu-
tation as surgeon to-day extends
over the country. Many kilograms
received this afternoon from former
patiep>s all over the south attested
co the nigh esteem in which he was
held and general public sorrow at his
great loss.
A careful investigation was made
BY DR., Pryor of the origin of tbs
fire. bpt without avail. The only