FIRE AT ST. DUNSTAN'S.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15229, 29 May 1920, Page 6

FIRE AT ST. DUNSTAN'S.

BLIND SOLDIERS RESCUED

COOLNESS OF NURSES. LONDON, March 30. — Extensive damage was caused by a fire which broke out shortly after midnight on Friday, at the college annexe of St. Dunstans Hostel for -blinded soldiers and sailors. Three of the V.A.D. nursing staff were injured, namely, Effle Grevlltnk, who was overcome by the fumes; Esme Collingwood, who was injured m the leg and Sava Franklanrl, who was partially suffocated, and rescued by firemen ana taken to, hospital. A sister returning from ",the theatre discovered the fire, and at once gave the alarm, and a few minutes later a score of fire engines were on the scene. The hostel Is situated some 400 yards from St. Dunstan's proper, and is a :hree-storeyed building, used as dormit. ories, mess-rooms, offices and stores; aim it was m tne stores that the fire originated Mr. Ralph May, of Dargavllle, was the only New Zealander of the five at present at 1 St. Dunstan's whose safety was m question, but he was fortunate m occupying a ward well away from xne immediate source of danger. ■ The local fire brigade arrived as the flames were bursting out of the first floor windows. A district call was made, ana the fiye was prevented from spreading to other build'pgs. All th.c staff and inmates were asleep at tlie time, but the blind men were awakened and marshalled with precision and coolness by the V-A-D-'s, and led out intp safety. The discipline of the blinded men wa-j perfect, and nothing approaching panic was seen. Many of the s.aff only reached safety by means of the fire escape, but there were no t casualties j Seme 150 blind mm occupied the annexe, and about SO of them were sleeping m the- wist wing, the .actual scene of the fire. The V.A.D. sisters— about fifty— were on the top floor, and they made a hurried escape by the emergency ladders. The fir? hr-'-frride was summoned by special telephone, and a smart rescuo by means of a motor fire escape ytands to its credit- A sister, enveloped m clouds cf smoke, and clad only In her nightdress, was seen appealing for holn from, one of fhe upper windows^ A fireman (lashed -up the nibtpr escape and aniit} the chgerg of the on}poHe?s brought her to safety. ; I THe matron, yesterday, spplfe of the remarkable courage of the bUnfl men {n ; her care. On ' receiving the alarm she at once hurried to the wards, and got the lads up, and they, 1 with the utmost sang - frold, proceeded to dress, . and . i were m clue course, taken to the lounge, •where theyj stayed until the outbreak was quelled, when beds were found for . them m other wards. | 1 The college annexe is a fine old build* ' ing, standing m beautiful grounds and has acponjmpdatlnn fpr over 250 patients, V.A.D. sisters, and staff.