The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-02
ORDERED TO DUTY
WITHINJURED SPINE
Fireman Complains That He
Was Forced to Work Over
Surgeons Protest.
Is BEDFAsT IN BELLEVUE
The Good Government Bureau
Takes Up Case of Engineer
Hurt Answering Alarm.

Henry F. Williams, an engineer-fre-
man attached to engine No. Is, who
SAYS he was ordered back to duty in the
Fire Department when he was suffering
from an injured spine, Is again in Belle
vue Hospital with a plaster cast from
his ankles to his arms and Is supported
BY a block and tackle harness.
The story was made public by the
Good Government Bureau. OF which
William Bullock Is the head. Accord
ing to the report made to Mr.. Bullock
by.hls investigators. williams was sent
back to an engine in spite of the fact
that he had a note from DR.. Reginald
II. Sayre of Bellevue Hospital saying
that he needed six weeks rest and should
spend that time in bed. The order. II Is
said, was issued by Joseph e. smith,
chief medical officer of the Fire Depart
ment, and was concurred in by FIRE
Commissioner brennan, to whom Will
Jams appealed.
On January IL. while the engine was
going from its house, at 22S East Twen-
ty-ffth street. williams was 'knocked to
the pavement at Thirty-first street and
Lexington avenue when the engine was
struck by a motor truck of the American
Railway Express Williams was relieved
and spent six weeks in bed at home.
When he got up he found he was able
examination was considered necessary.
Ordered to Remain I'm Bed.
DR.. Smith, Mr.. Bullock states. gave
him a note to a firm in Third avenue
bearing Williams's name and stating
'for X-ray," and signing his name as
Chief Medical Officer. Here, according
to the story. he was told that the three
plates necessary would cost $40 each,
90 Dal1 w
lie had heard there was a free X-ray
laboratory for such cases as his.
There DIR. Sayre wrote this diagnosis:
Henry +. williams has a sprain OF his
spine and of his right shoulder, with
some effusion of his shoulder joint. and
pi obably liberation of some of the fbres
OK his erector spinal muscles" The med
ical examiner recommended baking in
an electric oven every day for twenty
minutes" DIR. Smith asked Williams to
obtain confederation of this diagnosis
in writing and did SO, according to the
story of Mr.. Bullock.
After several weeks OF treatment 1t
was deemed necessary to put Williams
in a plaster cast. 1t was put on March
10 and Williams left Bellevue Hospital
with instruction to remain motionless in
bed at home for six weeks The next
day he reported to Dr. Smith In person.
A statement of his interview with DIR.
Smith and Commissioner brennan, as
given by Bullock, with the notation that
X had been written out by Williams for
his lawyer, Frank Case Hayden, follows :
when DR.. Smith arrived he called
for me and asked me how I was and /
started to explain how j still had pains
and that Dr. Sayre put plaster Jacket
on me the day before. and told me I
should go home and lay in bed for at
least six weeks, not to leave the bed for
any reason. Whereupon DR.. Smith said ::
How long have you been sick now 1
answered since January IL. He then
said Engine Company 16 is a double
company. is 1t notT I answered yes
He then said that l could take care of
the second company engine.
II replied that ! was unable to stoop
and could not see how 1 could stoke
the fire to keep UP steam, and the cans
of camel coal weigh about 100 pounds
alone. Whereupon he said: You will
DO as 1 order you.
II then asked for his permission to
see the chief OF the department or the
commissioner. He said: You can see
BOTH
Ordered Back 10 Duty.
when was before the Commissioner
said: Commissioner. on January IL
OF this year 1 was injured in the service
and have been on sick leave since. DIR.
Smith has ordered me back to duty. He
calls ii light duty to take care of second
engine in quarters which Is a steamer.
told DR.. Smith that would be unable
to stoop to stoke, &C., as was wearing
a plaster cast that was put on me the
day before by DR.. Sayre, one of the best
doctors in the country; and that as DR..
Smith would not even investigate my
statement, that I had come to him to
ask him for square deal Whereupon
the Commissioner asked me what seemed
to be the trouble. I answered that
did not know unless 1t could be that
Dr. Smith was sore because was going
to bring suit against the owner of the
vehicle that caused the accident
THE Commissioner told me to wait
outside his office He then called Dr.
Smith. After few minutes the Com
missioner came out OF his Office with
Dr. Smith and said: Young man, my
advice to YOU is to obey the doctors
orders
The following day Williams reported
to his company. According to Mr.. Bull
lock- he tried to move short length
of hose that was in a rack He exerted
enough strength to draw 1t out a few
inches and fell to the floor unconscious
When he recovered he was sent TO Belle
vue Hospital, and has been there ever
since.
DIR. Reginald II. Sayre said last night
that Williams was a patient of his at
Bellevue Hospital. suffering with a
broken back. He would not discuss the
case and said he knew nothing of the
interest Of the Good Government Bureau
in II.
Fire Commissioner Drennen could not
be found last night His secretary,
Thomas Il. Kelly, said the Fire Commits
sioner had numerous personal appeals
from fremen and doubted that he would
remember Williams case. He said that
in any event the Commissioner would
not take 1t upon himself to overrule an
order of the department medical officer.
Efforts 20 locate DR.. Smith failed