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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Muskegon Daily Chronicle Tuesday, 18 February, 1902 NO LIVES WERE LOST Sanitarium and Hospital at Battle Creek Were Totally Destroyed by Fire Today There Were 500 Patients in These Institutions at the Time. Burned Sanitarium was 38 Years Old - Many Inmates Escaped by Jumping from the Windows - Was Five Stories High - Total Loss $500,000 Special to the Chronicle Battle Creek, Mich., February 18 - The Kellogg sanitarium and hospital connected therewith were totally destroyed by fire early this morning. The total loss is estimated at $500,000. No lives were lost, but two patients, a woman from Arkansas and a boy, were injured. Both had their legs broken in jumping from the windows. The fire started between four and five o'clock in the lower portion of the sanitarium and up to this time the origin of the fire is unknown. At the earliest possible moment the fire department was called, but its efforts were fruitless as the fire soon enveloped the whole structure in a mass of flames almost before it could be realized. The firemen soon saw that there was no hope of saving the building and turned their attention towards rescuing the inmates. The Sanitarium burned with terrific rapidity, and in a very short time the flames made their way across the street to the hospital. The flames seemed to be in all parts of the Sanitarium at once, and in a little more than an hour both buildings were in ruins. The efforts of the firemen were then directed towards stopping the flames from reaching the surrounding buildings. The occupants of many of these buildings had removed many of their effects in anticipation of the further spreading of the flames. Every available conveyance in the city was called into use in order to remove the patients who had found shelter there to places where they could receive care and attention. By the help of the police and citizens, they were removed to hotels and private residences which were trans- formed into private hospitals at once. At this time it is impossible to state just how many patients were in the two buildings, but it is estimated that there were 300 in the Sani- tarium and 200 in the hospital. That so many persons got out of their rooms and escaped is regarded as almost a miracle, especially when it is considered that at such an early hour very few people were out of their beds. The burned Sanitarium was built about thirty- five years ago. From time to time additions and alterations have been made in the building. The hospital was built ten years ago and was supplied with every device known to modern medical insti- tutions of its class. Many of the inmates escaped by jumping from their windows. Many heroic acts on the part of the firemen in saving the patients must be credited to them. The entire property is insured, it being the policy of the proprietors to look after this matter with great care. Both buildings have been regarded as dangerous places in respect to fires, and for this reason the firemen were kept thor- oughly informed about the internal arrangement of the buildings. This condition of things re- sulted in more effective work at rescue than could otherwise have been expected. The property belongs to the Battle Creek Bene- volent Association. There are several similar institutions in the city, but the one burned in this fire was known generally as the Battle Creek Sanitarium. The books of the Sanitarium and the hospital were saved. Most of the inmates lost all their clothing, their personal effects and their money. What money they saved was in their pocketbooks. Most of the patients have their money in the shape of checks, and as much difficulty arises from the matter of identifica- tion, the checks they hold are for the hour worthless. The injured are: MRS. H. C. McDANIELS, of El Dorado, Kan. MRS. J. BILLINGHAM, of Atlantic City, N.J. MRS. McDANIELS jumped from the fourth story window and broke a leg. She is also severely injured internally. MRS. BILLINGHAM struck a net that was spread out, but the force of her fall tore the net away. The Sanitarium was five stories in height, was 360 feet in length and 100 feet in width. The hospital was four stories high, and 100 by 150 feet in size. Both buildings stood on the crown of a hill, and the wind fanned the flames into the worst conflagration that was ever seen in this city. The Sanitarium was of solid brick, excepting the older portion. The hospital was of brick veneer, and was a veri- table fire trap. Most of the inmates and pa- tients escaped by means of the fire escapes, and many were carried down by the firemen, police and citizens. Pipeman HENRY LUCAS, of hose company No. 1, was injured in his vital organs very seriously. Driver ARTHUR ROBINSON, of aerial truck No. 1, was injured internally and burned. Assistant Fire Chief FRED WEBB had his head injured and his body bruised. Fireman CLAUDE COOPER, of hose company No. 2, was burned and bruised. The principal proprietor, DR. J. C. KELLOGG, and all the stockholders are Seventh Day Ad- ventists. The Sanitarium has grown from small proportions into one of the largest institu- tions of its kind in the world. Many of the patients will be taken to the Phelps insti- tute until other arrangements can be made. Both its Sanitarium buildings were situated in the midst of a thickly settled community. ===============================================================================