San Francisco, CA Almshouse Fire, Mar 1908

THREE PERISH IN ‘FRISCO FIRE

Patients in County Almshouse Pass Away During Fierce Blaze.

San Francisco --- One of the buildings of the city and county almshouse was burned Tuesday. In it when the fire broke out were 200 persons, mostly patients recently removed from the city and county hospital. 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.

The Humeston New Era, Humeston, IA 18 Mar 1908

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OLD MEN FIRE VICTIMS

Three Patients Killed When Almshouse Burns

Two Deaths Due to Fright

Strenuous Work Saves 141 Other Persons in San Francisco Institution – Big Toledo School Destroyed Just Before Pupils Appear – Coroner Declares Collinwood Disaster Inexcusable.

San Francisco Mar 10 – Three persons lost their lives when one of the buildings of the city and county almshouse burned today. So far as known all of the other 141 persons in the building mostly patients recently received from the city and county hospital were removed alive though five were injured.

Two of the dead were old men who’s names aren’t know (sic). They 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 men and women were saved. Three nurses and the attendants formed brigades and carried most of the patients from the building, as many of them on account of their extreme age and dulled minds refused to leave their rooms. The fire was caused by a defective chimney.

The Washington Post, Washington, DC 11 Mar 1908
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Transcribed by Carol Brown. Thank you, Carol!