Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-02
Papa OPERATED ON
BUT CONDITION GRAVE
Chief Lutz More Seriously In
jured In Fire Fighting Acol-
dent Yesterday.
.. ]. Papa. assistant to Fro Chief

William J. Lutz. who Ia ut the Della
ware Hospital suffering from a
broken hack, sustained carly ye~er-
day morning when ne was crushed
under portion OF the brick wall OF
the house at 220 King street. when Il |
collapsed. was alive and conscious
at noon today. but II was reported
that there wac nothing on which 10
hase the hope that he might uti-
mately recover Papa was operated
upon yesterday. after It was found
a vertebra had been shattered, and
the broken pieces OF his spine were re-
moved. He came through the opera
tion In fairly good shape, but last
night had very little slcep.
He Is completely paralyzed from the
waist TO his foot and today wps said
to be suffering much pain. II wns
thought tho operation yesterday would
relieve him OF much OF the pain ne has
suffered since the accident His
mother and brother visited him at the
| hospital this morning and he was
! able 20 talk to them for a short time
Tho directors Of the Department of
Public Safety have given orders that
| everything possible be done to save
| the mans life and II may later he de-
cided TO engage n specialist, n Il is
thought there is any possibility Of
Papa getting better.
Fire Chief William J. Luts, who uns
hurt Mt the same time Pappa was In
| jured. is confined 10 his bed at home
and his condition is not IA satisfac-
tory as at first thought He has n
bad cut on the head. where brick
hit him. Three stitches were required
to close this wound. He Is also suffer
ing from many bruises all over the
body and his left side causes hin,
much pain. es well as internal pains
which may indicate serious internal
hurts. He cannot move in bed. II
was eaid today an x-ray photogra ph
may be made Of the chiefs body, &c
determine just how badly he Is hurt
He is suffering much mental stress
also because OF the injuries 10 hi;
men and especially TO Papa. who was
his chauffeur and TO whom he wa,
much attached.
Chief Lutz was buried almost 10 hi'
arm pits under the pile OF bricks from
the wall and several firemen. in theil
eagerness 10 gave him, caught hin
under the arms and endeavored e
pull him out. In so doing they nearly
pulled their chief apart. not realizint
the injury they were doing him. II,
Is said 10 he suffering some from in
. juries sustained in this way. Chic
Lutz. II was said today. Will be unable
for n long time TO resume active com
nand of the fire department.
Lieutenant u. !. Ryrne of Fngin'
6 Company No. 4, and F1remen Chad
wick and Carroll Of Truck Compnn,
No. 2. all of whom were injured n
the same time Chief I.utz and Pappi
we're crushed. were reported today &
he somewhat improved. All of then
: are confined TO their homes. however
. and II will be some days before any O
!, them will be strong epough 10 returi
: 10 active duty. None Of them is suf
&, fering from broken bones. but all ar
terribly bruised about the body.
n That any OF the men escaped aliv
+, is considered miraculous. They wer
: caught in a blind alley. with no chanc
,, to get out when the wall crumple
4, over their heads. and those who hav
o viewed the scere since the accider
i. have remarked on the fact that any {
/ the men came out alive. The build
, ing where the fire occurred. 220 Kin
Il street. is very old structure and ma
N not been occupied for a year or mor'
a Building Inspector Preston yisite
the place and inspected the ruins an
> he said today he could find nothin
n that would warrant his condemnaiio
- from e building standpoint. but he di
say in his opinion the house was a fir
10 trap.
!. Fire Marshal Ainscow also inspecte
n the premises. but he has been unabl
o. 20 determine where the fire started {
a from what cause lie eaid he learne
:, young men and women freauentl
N went into the place at night, gainin
entrance by way Of the alley an
D, back yard and It is supposed Some
" them carelessly threw a cigarette bu
\ 10 one side and that this was the caut
\, Of the trouble. lie said he found Il
g mortar worn from between the bricl
% Of the wall and It was a marvel
him that the wall stood as long as
IN did. The second story floor part
IN gave way and il Is thought this let Il
40 wall buckle and collapse.
"a Marshal Ainscow says there is
truth in the statement that "
r. streams Of water were playing on q
9 wall from the inside OF the house. I
IA said one stream. a plug stream. w
r being used from a door On the secol
en- floor. but it was playing across I
ss room and away from the wall that (,
,.s Whether there is to be an investig
tion OF the building. the causes lead,
he up 70 the collapse Of the wall and I
I'D injury 10 the several firemen COZ
.ss not be determined today. The ac
a. dent has cast a shroud OF gloom oy
as the entire fire department and eve
Id ii'ah III mas oeen much aHected
the serious injury to their comman
,r- Ing officer and fellow flremeu.
let ~