New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-05
THE BROADWAY FIRE.
INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED-SEyEyTH DAY
VERDICT OF THE Jury

VERDICT OF THE JURY.
The Jury impanncled to inquire into the cause of
the recent fire in Broadway, 10y which eleven iremen
and others lost their lives met at the Astor House NJ
u o'clock Oh Thursday morning but could not proceed
to business for nearly hour in consequence of the
absence Of the Coroner.
When the Coroner arrived he asked the foreman if
tey had agreed upon their verdict, to which the fore
man, Nh Genin, replied in the affirmative. IL then
handed up the following verdict, which he read:
The undersigned, Corcners Jury, iInpanneed fo- the
purpose of nqurng into the circumstances attending the
deaths Of
h A.sisi Sik Mk Ms T s91n'1 Jas
eIy Chiman join 6Donne Georss R Dlil% ana
who lost their lives by ures received the fire at No.
23 Broadway the evening Of the 25lh OF April last
having fully considered the testimony elected during the
inquest render the following verdict
We find that the deceased lost their lives 10y two distinct
casualties first the falling Of the wall Of the front
buildings and sccond the falling of the beams AMI flooring
Tie frst Of these 'strophcs was caused b. ihe i'm
nrorcr manner in the sa.l wall was built, and in
which The prder r., upon secured both being in
cnou oftLe fire laws exiting at the time when be
budirg altered.
Tie second catastrophe caused By the fall OF the
beans and flooring upon those who were eneayofig 10
rescue the sufferers by the former accident These tnocr
were not secured in accordance with the requirements Of
the fre laws in force when they inserted IN the build
ing The whole building was in cur opinion complete
deai trap and could scarcely have been more Insecure
and dangerous had been constructed for the express pu
pose of sacrificing human life. L. moreover, decep
tive appearance and that account doubiy danger
Gus in Of fire.
We find further that the parties responsible IoE the per-
ious condition OF the building are, first: the architect
Charles H. Mountain who drew the plans AMI speelLel-
tions and superintendent the work second the mason "
r. Frost who did the mason-work and inserted the non
erder in the rear wall third, the carpenter e D. kech
nm who put tie mbers in fourth, the lessees, JOB IA
Der and James Basey for whom the alterations were
made.
We believe that the fire caused BY neend'are' ana
that thev entered on the roof for tie purpose Of pian
having obtained access thereto from the roof OF an aon
ing building.
We entirely exonera,e W. T. Jennings & Co from Al
blame in relation to tie insecurity OF the building ami the
origin of the fire. -
GO Ho 9ddkF NNhi Pnfs y Il ssPrrLE
PKTER p BUTLER, ~. N-LESt
ALE tIhEs 4 A. rB BERSs isAXo l. SEIXas
HAVING rendered our verdict on the facts o. the
far Is thew bear specifically this calamity Il may be
thought, perhaps that cur duty has ended. We th.-A
Otherwise The sacrifice Of human LIE in this City, coase
p0rt upon It Nalt - lcNs ~ "
protection and in part recruiting from the ncnenforcenent
of laws now existing has Of late years been awful The
evil appears TO increase The apathy of civil auihor-
ties. legislative Judicial and executive, has passed mo
proverbs ard SO many glarng instances Of have come
under our observation, during the late investigation ms;
We feel bound as conscientious and good citizens 10
place on record tie general conclusions al which we have
arrived during the progress OF the testimony Ii 80 doing
not cur wish impu-n the motives or unnecessarily
oensure he acts Of public bodies o. individuals in a
tbcrv but TO show that tie practical working Of our MI
ncipal system far il relates to tie protection OF lie
and prorcrv Is loose inefficient AMI altogether made
qua.e to afford hat security TO the community which iAey
have rct to expect and which they pay millions per an
nun in taxes to obtain.
Ii aJrears from the statements OF cred bic witnesses
erscd On this inquest, that there numbers OF bad-
ipc in tbs City as insecure was tie miserable shell No
2sl Broadway.
Fo- several yeas past hundreds Of these deiihrap'
have een reported by the Fire Warens and Their reports
have been annually transmitted through the regular