San Francisco Almshouse Burns, A Few Patients Lost

1908

FIRE IN ALMSHOUSE

Two Patients Frightened to Death and Another Dies Later

San Francisco, March 10 — One of the buildings of the city and county almshouse was burned this morning. In it when the fire broke out were 141 persons, mostly patients recently removed from the city and county hospital. So far as known all were removed in safety, though five are reported to have been injured. The almshouse is located near the Lake Honda reservoir of the Spring Valley Water company.

The fire broke out on the second floor at 9 o'clock this morning and is supposed to have been caused by a defective fuse. It quickly spread to the roof and the whole building was soon a mass of flames. Good work was done in removing the inmates to places of safety.

Three patients lost their lives. Two of these were old men, whose names are not known, who died from fright. Edward Korn, who had just undergone an operation, died soon after being taken from the burning building.

It was only by the most strenuous work that the aged people were saved. The nurses and attendants formed brigades and carried most of the old people from the building, as many of them, on account of their extreme age and their minds being dulled, refused to leave their rooms.

But one building was burned. The fire was caused by a defective chimney.