FIRE AT AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 2

FIRE AT AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. Further particulars regarding tho fire which broke out m the nurses' quarters of the isolation wards at Uio Auckland District Hospital shortly beloro midnight on i'nilay snow that considerable damage was done, practically half the, building being destroyed belore tho ilanics were extinguished by the Auckland Ji'iru Urigaile. Two of the junior resident medical staff, .Uiv. Grant and Ardagli, who are in (he habit ot sleeping on tliu balcony of their lesidence, wliich stands in the hospital grounds adjacent to the isolation wards, wcro awakened by hearing a crackling noire. Looking across, they were alarmed to see flames issuing from what at first they took to lie tho scarlet fever ward. Dr. Abbott was aroused about tho same time, and the throe doctors, only slopping lo put on dressing-gowns, ran as fast as they could towards the burning building. Finding it was the nurses' portion of tho block, a detached lioiito containing eight rooms, Drs. Grant amd Ardagh proceeded to wake the inmates.' Two of the nursing stall"', JSurscs Wylic and Ilorrocks, together with Miss Williamson, dispenser, were asleep in the biazing building. They were speedily awakened, and go'i out in safety, although they had no time, to save any clothes. Tho three doctors proceeded to snlvago the. contents of the building, succeeding in bringing out a quantity of clothes, i The fire, which originated in tho bathroom, hail a good hold when the thrco medical men arrived on the scene, and was beginning to climb tho interior walls. In order to arouse tho sleeping women, Dr. Grant broke a window, in doing which ho cut his hands severely. It was most fortunate that, tho building in which tho outbreak occurred was at some distance from the diphtheria ward ami the scarlet fever ward, in each of which ssvcrnl patients were lying. As it was, nobody was injured, and, no alarm was created amongst the sick people. Tho patients in the main building who were in n condition to do so, thronged lo tho windows io watch the fire. Several people wero also attracted from various parts of the city. The califonb in tho bathroom was used by one of the nurses, but when the left the bathroom a few minutes before 10 o'clock she was satisfied that everything was safe. Ts'urse Sutherland was the last person lo leave the building to go on duty, and when she did so at 10 o'clock she turned the gas down in the passage. There were no signs of fire at that. time. The industry of the (hreo hospital doctors who were iho first lo arrive at the scene of tho fire resulted in the greater portion of tho contents of the "building being saved. A number of articles of furniture, etc., in the end of the building not reached by tho flames were not removed.

However, Nurse Montgomery was unfortunate in losing .ill her clothes and other possessions, as it was not known until after the fire had obtained a firm hold that her belongings wero in the building. An inspection of the gutted portion of the building provided evidence, of tho fire, having originated in (he bathroom, whom tho il.imes burst through tho roof in addition to forcing an outlet; in all four walls. In their "hnski lo attack the flames Uio firemen took a. short cut "overland" instead of proceeding along tho winding path leading to tho damaged building. Tho result was that a number of men met with unpleasant experiences. Excavation work is , in progress in -the. vicinity, and while some firemen fell into the trenches, others became caught in barbwiro fences, and sustained scratches about tho face and hnnds. The building was valued nt .£SOO. and wns insured in the National office. Thereis also a policy covering tho contents of the building.