To the Editor of the "Nonu-Cuma Dany News"
'Si—On October 15 I wrote to the Directeur General des Services Mun!- cipaux, 375 Avenue Joffre, re an incident' which had occurred the prepious day and asked him whether the drivers of the French" Municipal Council Ambulances were authorized fo collect a payment of $3, ere they would remove an emergency case found lying in the streets. Since there has beer no reply to my letter, 1 feel constrained to make the matter: public.
The incident was as follows: About Toon on October 14, an old Russian gentleman was writhing in agony on the pavement slant across from the Cathay Theatre on Avenue Joffre. A bystander informed me that an am-balance had already been telephoned, for. After about ten minutes, a french Municipal Council Ambulance appeared, but drove on a block oF 20, although it was beyond my comprehension how the driver or his assistant could fail to see the crowd. 'On his return the former demanded, Since no one came forward and, the old gentleman was mesning pi-teensly, I took charge. The driver end his assistant unceremoniously picked up the sick man and strapped him down on the stretcher in' the ambulance. The driver very rudely ordered me to get in. Naturally. 1 did. If only a trained nurse or some corapetent person had accompanied the ambulance, some help could have been rendered the patient, who struggled hard to sit up. All I could do was to have him unstrapped and support him alone—not on easy task for woman of a hundred odd pounds. At the Russian Orthodox Confraternity it was ascertained that the old gentleman was suffering from a heart al lack. He is an inmate of the Russian Men's Shelter. The driver waited for me at the hospital and demanded that I should pay the am-Dulance fee. As it seemed incredible to me that he had any authority to do this, we went to the French Police Station, corner Avenue Joffre and Rue Pottier. On heering my story, the inspector told me I could leave, but detained the driver, when the latter started after me.
It would be of interest to know whether the driver of that French Municipal Council, Ambulance had been instructed to demand in advance the fee for Its use.
I would like to bring this matter to the notice of the Joint Committee of Shanghai Women's Clubs, I am no Tonger a member of it, but I feel sure that Mrs. John Barr, © sorority sister, will see with her usual energy that justice is done.
Shanghai, Oct 26.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.