Evening star., 1950-01-07
Hospital
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zero weather. A 10-mile-an -hour
west wind was blowing.
Nurses said the flames first were
seen in the first floor.
Witnesses said that nurses
from the main hospital building,
helped rescue several Of the
patients.
The first identified dead were
Mrs. Anna Neal, 50, a nurses aide
and three patients, Mrs. Maggie
Tubberty, IS; Mrs. Minnie Mad
den, 30, Ottawa. Ill, and Mrs.
Mary Ryan, IS. Avon, III.
Listed as missing and presumed
dead were: Mrs. Nina Schneider,
SO: Amanda Stillwell, 81; Alvina
Kruse, n; Mrs. Lillian Heating,
80; Mrs. Lydia Turner. 30, all Of
Davenport.
Mrs. Gladys Oestendorf, a
nurses aide, said she started to
take one woman from the blaz-
ing. building. but the woman
baked, saying she wanted to go|
back to get her shoes. She said
she finally managed to get the
patient to forget about the shoes
and flee the flames.
Another nurses aide, Mrs. Will
lard Bennett, said she saw two
men leap from the building as
she led women to safety. The
men jumped from the second
floor window.
Carried Down Ladders.
Three women were rescued by
firemen who carried them down
a ladder extended to the roof.
Hospital officials said part OF
the section used for the mental
patients had recently been remod-
eled particularly to care for these
patients.
The main hospital, which
escaped flames, is listed as having
276 beds.
I Two Of the rescued women had
been in the building for about four
hours. Suffering severe burns,
they were said to be In critical
condition. Only one Of them was
Immediately identified-Miss Mary
Ruth Finnerty Of Ottumwa, Iowa.
Hospital attendants said all the
survivors were calm. Some went
to sleep in the lobby of the main
hospital building.
In all, firemen said that Is or 80
persons were removed from the
blazing ward early in the fire.
From the south section OF the
structure flremen lowered the
forms of six patients down lad
ders, then 1t was learned only two
of them were alive.
Miss Josephine O"Toole of DAY.
export. a nurses aide, said she
was awakened by screams Of pa
tients while asleep In her room on
the third floor.
II threw open a window, but
saw nothing unusual, and decided
to go back to bed," Miss O'toole
said.
Then I heard some one shout
Fire and opened my door and
looked out into the hall.
"I smelled smoke and heard
more screams on floors below me.
I didn't know how long the fire
had been burning and was afraid
I would be trapped.
Windows Barred.
Windows are barred and, any
way. I didn't relish the prospect
of jumping from the third floor.
$50 I grabbed my coat, put 1t
over my nightgown, and ran down
the stairs to the basement. There
was Joined by Mrs. Neighbors,
one of the patients, and we went
out through the basement.
Il really don't know what time
1t was but 1t must have been q
little before 2 o'clock.
Flames started to shoot up
from the building a short time
later.
II guess was one of the first
out Of the building. If / hadn't
gone when I did, I might have
been trapped like many Others"
When all officers in the city
were rushed to the scene Of the
disaster, Merchant Policeman Bill
Stegen, 81, Of Davenport was
among those who responded. He
said he gained an "indelible I'M
preston Of pure horror"
This was Mr.. Stegen's story:
"I arrived about i've minutes
after the second alarm. The east
side was aflame so I stepped
around to the west. and assisted
the f1remen with. my flashlight
while they attempted to cut
through bars on the window.
Ak Used to Smash Bars.
First. we tried some Of the bars
with wire clipper but this was
in vain so we used an AK. One
woman was sitting at the window
with the flames close by.
"A fireman got her out and
then had to struggle with her be-
cause she wanted to return and
get her clothes.
In one instance q little Irish
woman ct the window was calling
for help. The t1remen finally got