The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-18

nent. Urou goi,g TO the place Ne found block OF
buildings OF very pretty fnish, with fron.s of about
sixteen fets each, bat 10 order 70 give all the
inch val, leaving Only four irches Of br X between
tee fae &C d the adjoining hcusa. Tbs kit hen fus
from No. IL ran against the partition wall Ct N, IL,
and 1t was the Ia all the othe- buildings Ct ths
block. The heat hcm this connection Ia No. III
was very great and spread over iarg, sWfa,e;
the base beard lad split apart from ihs wa.i, sod
the latter wss too hct to Keep ones hand npon. 10
fact, we were informed that ZONE days On Gpplyicg
water 70 IT, ibe water wculd b sc aud steam avay.
We could rot icl'aw the fns oil the way 70 tao
sb ~ It the nSass s' o.. sso's rs hess
US thai she had en- that day o1ly moderate dre 10
the rsree; on other occaross she had much "hot-
ter fires" We next v,s ted No. 3, the reAideoce OF
lar be ated condition from the range Hre Of No IL
He tod u that his fsmiiy would have to abandon
the back rooms ~ the heat sas too great for erdu
rance. The resnlt OF our i.ytsHgation vas that we
No. II were in danger OF takirg fire. from an i'm
proper conr ection OF chimney fues. The Jadg, 70
fused TO occupy the hiuse, although he had hired it
TIE a, 1t tucjecs to which would direct your at
tcrfcn is the necessity OF Insisting upon some cias
sificatlon OF dIues. Toe recent fire ia alden lane
Illus rates forciby the mischiefs resulting care
tssres in this respect. Wholesale Druggists
srein the habit generally, Of storing the upper
fcogs az tie buildings occupied BY them poison
Gus tr5 combustible materials, such as psists, lamp
black, catches: DC, and on the frat floor their
vaiuate msdicinef. Although a fire occurring in
the upper stories may soon be extlnguishad, the
large vusrsiiy q water thrown into sae building 70
put 1t cur carlies down with 1t s3lu'ion OF the pot
e nous drugs amongst those intended tor family use
Ih.se articles, when once dGu aged are generally
scld by auction, and are purchased by retail drug
Bstsfer medical pur ,oees more leas impregnated
with foreign and ptisor Gus substances The effects
r&SeAxx - IL 49,
are Let the less dangerous because they cannot be
traced Many OF the singular phe nomena exhibited
BY ieItrt diseases are probably to be attributed
to psesciif tons made mp from these damagst in-
the recurrence Of such accidents, all drugs Of
ptisonous qualities should be stored either
on the frat floor or on tie basement. Thus, all
in tie maprer that have indicated, would os
obviate d. and large amount Of property saved for
the underwriters. If an ordinance compelling the
Classification Of drugs cannot be carried into effect.
there is no doubt that By proper understanding
amer gst Themselves the insurance companies might
theii ate ntion.
guessing my ate ndance to examine premises no
puted to be dan rigorous. In oil these cases forth
with make N examination, and give such insiuc.
tons as in my jud gmert the circumstances seem to
order the removal Of beams the disuss Of furnaces,
ard the repair Of chimneys, all Of which recon-.
mendatiors are readily complied With by the owGers
Or occupants. Wen . fire takes place, either Ia
tie day or night am immediately ON the SCOT,
and when the accident is t1ifiDg, always make It
point 10 explain its origin clearly to the occupant
and to give such instructions as sili prevent Its
recurrence.
In again acknowledging the ready aud efficient
aid rencsfed me on ell 0c asions by the Fire Dc.
paltn ara police auth ,Iites especially in the
investigation and dete ton OF incendiarism, feel it
Necessary to recommend some modii cation Of the
law, in cases which fall under the bead Of arson In
the first degree. The Death psns'ty in the event OF
conviction teters juries in general from finding
verdict CT suilty although the culpability Of the
party may be clearly proved. Wheie no fatal a,ci
d Mt results from the crime, aries are apt to
sjter tie perslty excessive; their sympatbies are
enlisted on behalf of Il prisoner and thus the Law
Sense Therefore suggt ITS the expectancy Of aledng
the law 80 as to make the puLishment capital only
where life ID DESTROYED. Were this done, have no
doubt that the offtDc would become one Of raro
occurrence. Thcle is no greater en- enlargement for
crime than uncertainty in the operation OF penal
eEactMeLts
The tables show the arrest Of twelve persons
cha gsd wi,ha,sop: OF this number upon thorough
liberated from custody for want OF evidence; five
were committed for trial by the magistrate but
eubes Quently discharged By the Grand JUICY and one
give as I nsar a. possible ss c bs
fire and water, the amount Of insurance, aud the
origin Of each fire. arc It Will be seen that out OF the
tota number IS we're evidently the acts Of design,
and l06 the rseut Of accident. Il Is shown BY the
comparative table that there II decrease OF 81
,ncendiAiy fires IN the lastkix months, snd reduc-
tion Of a fires on the total amount, - conn pared
wit1 my previous report, and that too at season
of the year when accidents arc usually more ffe-
quent, and opportunities for the incendiMy more
readily ut hand.
Amongst the numerous causes TO which res may
be traced, Il will Be seem from this report that tho
mcst general ere carelesmess In the use Of lucfer
match es, escapes Of gs. imperfections In the con
stru ton Of chimney and furnace fucs, the storing
Of oiled cotton goods in compact form, tho uss q
lighted candles In closets where clothing is kept,
ard the employment OF wooden barreb - rscep-
tacles for cinders. Should not be fortunate
enough to su:ceed in having the measures which
have recommended carried into effect, the publca.
ton Of these facts will at oil events do some good
by inducing greater caution on the part Of the
public. Your obeeient servant,
ALFRED =. BAKER, Fire Marshal