THE BATTLE CREEK SANITARIUM FIRE.
By John Harvey Kellogg
The whole country has learned of the destruction of two of the main buildings of the Battle Creek Sanitarium by fire on the morning of February 18. The writer was at the time on the way home from California, and met the news in Chicago on alighting from the train at ten o’clock on the evening of the same day. Half an hour later he was aboard the train for Battle Creek, and an hour later, after dictating replies to a bundle of urgent letters, began making plans for a new and better structure to take the place of the old one. This institution was planted in Battle Creek nearly thirty-six years ago by a wise Providence, whose fostering care has prospered and developed it from its small beginning to the proportions of a work of world-wide magnitude, which fire cannot consume. The newspaper announcements have given the impression that the entire establishment has been consumed, and that the work of the institution is suspended. This is by no means true. Fortunately, there was left one large building, the Nurses’ Dormitory, which has accommodated about two hundred of the three hundred and fifty nurses employed in the institution. In addition to this, the Sanitarium managers have leased the three large buildings just across the way from the Sanitarium, which have been occupied by the Battle Creek College. The Sanitarium also has about fifteen other good-sized cottages and other dormitory buildings which have helped to house the eight hundred employees and one hundred and fifty doctors and student physicians connected with the institution. The doctors, nurses, students, and other members of the Sanitarium family have surrendered their quarters to patients, thus making it possible to accommodate in the four large buildings nearly as many patients as before the fire. The only lack is bath and treatment appliances. Several of the buildings are already well supplied with bath facilities. Electric light baths and other appliances were on hand, having just been completed, while others are in progress of construction for branch establishments which are being equipped in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and other parts of the country. By utilizing these, and fitting up bath rooms and private treatment rooms in the several buildings mentioned, the institution will in ten days be able to care for four hundred patients as efficiently and comfortably as before the fire. The medical work was not seriously interrupted for more than one day as the result of the fire. Since the first day, every patient has received regular treatment. Plans are being rapidly prepared for a large, modern, fire-proof building, which will be erected at an expense of about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The work will be pushed with all possible dispatch, and it is hoped that it may be completed within six months. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be required to erect this new structure. The buildings were insured for one hundred and fifty-one thousand dollars. One hundred thousand dollars more must be raised to put the institution on a proper footing by the erection of a fire-proof building. The old Sanitarium building was constructed under difficult circumstances by the aid of borrowed capital, and it was necessary to build as large as possible to accommodate the sick people who were waiting to be received. The buildings have never been large enough to hold the whole Sanitarium family. During the past summer the two main buildings, which are now in ashes, accommodated only about one half of the patients who sought the institution for relief. At the time of the fire, the buildings, which were full from top to bottom, accommodated about two thirds of the patients who were here under treatment. It certainly would not be wise to erect buildings of less capacity than those which have been destroyed. Plans are being arranged for the raising of the one hundred thousand dollars necessary for the construction of the building. Old friends of the Sanitarium, chiefly wealthy patients and business men who have become interested in the work of the institution, are already offering money in considerable sums, and it is believed that it will not be difficult to raise the amount required to erect a new building without incurring debt. If such a building can be constructed and set in operation without incumbrance, it will be a great encouragement to the work everywhere; and such an edifice, standing as a temple of truth, the headquarters for a world-wide movement, represented by hundreds of physicians and nurses, and many thousands of interested friends in all parts of the world, will be a fitting tribute to the cause of truth and reform from the multitudes who have been helped and blessed by the beneficent influence which has gone out from this work, and the glorious principles for which it stands. The managers, doctors, and nurses, who are placed by this catastrophe in somewhat trying circumstances, appreciate most heartily the kindly sympathy and appreciation shown them by the citizens of Battle Creek, and by the friends of the institution everywhere, as manifested by a perfect avalanche of telegrams and letters of sympathy and encouragement which have poured in upon us since the publication of the notice of the fire, and by multitudes of kindly acts too numerous to mention in detail. Although two of the largest buildings have burned, the four buildings remaining still constitute, with the equipment for treatment which will be completed within a few days, the largest and most thoroughly equipped Sanitarium in the world. The several hundreds of patients who remain in the institution, are receiving and will continue to receive thorough-going treatment. New hospital quarters have been provided, and all patients who may come will be cared for, and can be as successfully treated as heretofore. The doctors, nurses, and other employees are all alive and well, and full of energy, courage, and enthusiasm. Buildings may burn, but principles survive. The Battle Creek Sanitarium is going on with its work, temporarily crippled a little; but with the blessing of a kind Providence on the efforts being put forth, it will soon be better prepared than at any previous time in its history for the great work which has been placed in its hands. An account of the fire will be published in some form, with numerous thrilling and interesting incidents connected with it. J. H. KELLOGG.