The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-30
Board OF Aldermen.

JAN 2oIsaac o. Barker Esq President in the chair
The minutes Of the last meeting read and approved
FIRST SEMI ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MARSHAL
The FIRST semi-annaai report OF tho Fire MARSHAL AL
fred L. baker, presen led by Alderman Howard and
ordered on fie The following 10 copy OF the report
SEMI AsNUAL REPORT OF rHE FIRE MARSHAL.
TO THE MAYOR, COMMON COUNCIL AND PoLica JUSTICES OF
TIE Cry AND COUNTY OF NEw YORK.
GFSTLEMEs-ihe undersigned respectfully reports
the result OF mia Investigations vi hres, from the
first day June to the drst ay Of December 1854 He
appreciation with VII CHI the inves,ig .tons have been
met by him Throughout the city AMI the facilities
dered on every occasion y al either directly iud
rectiy concerned; which an evidence that the lns
tuition Of inquiries into the origin OF res, loog called
for and so necessary to the city has been sustained aud
1t IL wleoged chat since the have
been onm.nced ncend aries OF peculiar character in
the mercantile portion Of city have greatly dimn
hed; they act not only as preventive, but greater
degree Of care is observed, which much eiel
amongst certain portion Of our citizens, who have
heretofore been too careless in the use OF IRE and
bustibe materials
In the OF the Investigations hot air furnace
aues shown TO the OF several buildings
ing fire. t would therefore b. important IL all ba,kers
take decided action the matter and Adopt
some me Ant whereby they may prevent the danger
manifest in tn. present plau Of construction. One
giater should be- made to remain permanently open SO
TO aan 1t of free passage OF the hot air by closing
all heat is prod between the work. rendering
it at once liable to take fire. 1t is conceded that tne
most perfectly constructed apparatus not properly
attended to very ansaIe plan for heating buildings Of
pipes used in factories and machine shops for heating
the buildings will cause dre, II oiled cotton, waste
rage are paced in contact With tsem.
The report shows the o. twelve persons charged
with arson. Out Of this number, merchant has
convicted OF an attempt to dre his own premises, aud
sentenced TO four years and SIX months in the state p
hon another OF the accused convcte o. setting lire
to dwelling hoase, receiving sentence OF ten years
the State PRISON tried and acquitted;
remain prison awaiting trial; the others we're
discharged Tor the want of evidence The
give as near as can be the oss by Ore ami
Als0t ha nriO NJ aash fra
and II will be thu out o. the whole number sixty
were beyond doubt the work Of the acendary; thir
six the result accident
The fire department and the police authorities have
rendered very efficient in the prosecution Of the 10
the very fact Of having some person to
follow up the necessary inquiries into the origin Of Area
has greatly increased the vigilance OF tie police in the
detection OF iEcendiaries tnroug hout the city Your
ALFRED E BAKER, Fire Marshal
Here follows complete list OF the des which occur
during the six montas, with Names dates losses,
insurance, cause, &c.
July 3-ANo. % Amos street: James Turner vas ar
rested for setting dre to the basement OF dwelling
Of the said premises: he was tried and acq ped.
July STAT Front street occupied by Charles A.
Prverely for storage; attempt was made by him TO
Hrs the premises having purch ased SIX half barrels OF
camphene anl turpentine for tnat purpose he mad
bezzled several thousand collars worth Of
entrusted ~ bis destruction " the
would have concealed the defacason. His trial
meDc.d on the 9Th Of November, and resulted
vietion on the 10th. On the 2ld OF December Judge
Beebe sentenced the prisoner 10 term Of four years
Sx month"; bard absr in the State prison, Sing sing.
Theodore L. Peverey eeu years VI age brother TO the
prisoner and an accompace in the offence, admitted
TO BAH N the sum OF SO o0O
July 1o-s257 Froot street: two women arrested
charged with setting fire bale Of rags intent
to burn the premises; the eydenoe before the msgs
late did not IN his opinion justify their detention
charge
July l1-srwen.y- third street, between Seventh and
Eighth avenues A negro set nre to q stable, Which
spread to several others and destroyed them was ar
rested and committed to prison, Ia day or 40 after
the ply clans pronounced aim insane ana he sent
to the Lunatic Asylum On Backweus lslsnd
July ll-sg3 Maiden lace, VINE and liquor store. Tue
police discovered lighted candle standing in pecs
Of corks In the cellar a. about O'Clock this
evening the candle had just burnt down, and firing
the aud when extnsuishel by the police.
1he store hai been closed for upwards OF tso hours IL
shown by the evidence that the lighted candle had
been caresy lefs 10 the b. the porter There
considerable, straw and other ina mmabe stuff Ia
the cellar this candle, but Its timely discovery
doubleday prevented tne burning OF the premises
July 2e-s10s Charles street: Mr.. aud Mrs. Thompson
arrested charged with roobins saloon
and then dnng the premisss; articles cla med by hs
Dpanants found In their posse ,sion. The
parties held py Justice Clarke. The complaint
subsequeo'y ignored BY the Grand Jury.
named Martin Shpton arrested for setting dre 70
the tnemeat house situated In the rear OF the above
named premises, the day time; he had quarreiied
the agent Of the premises aud oat OF reveage Tor
being elected from the house he attempted TO barn 1t
down y setting 5s 90 the saosc s'0, m
court sentenced hun TO serve term Of ten years at hard
labor in the state prison At sing Sing.
September 17-s1s9x Sixth avenue. This was gro
Gerry store and the FIRE occurred under suspicious
cunees the proprietor Of the store Was arrested oy
the police on suspicion very lengthy examination
gone before Justice Stuart but the evidence did
the opinion Of the Justice sustain the charge, aud he
was liberated from custody.
October $50 White street; this was . French
tAurAnt the FIRE discovered at both ends Of bar
at the time, AMI no Ore In the middle. The pro-
prietor arrested BY the police the whole
natter WAS Investigated before Justice 0,oorn but there
not sufficient evidence shown 70 warrant tho mags
trate In holding him for trial. aud he discha sed
October 1l-sSo Rector street THIS WAS grocery
store In which the Ere discovered At about o'clock