The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-13
THE CRYSTAL PALACE FIRE.
The Exhibitors Mass Meeting at Cooper
Institute-FormatiOn OF New Society
Speeches by Peter Cooper, DIR. Chaplin, DIR.
Schneslley and Others.


Institute-Formation OF New Society,"
Speeches by Peter Cooper, DIR. Chaplin, DIR.
Schneslley and Others.
mass meeting held last night in the Cooper In
sttute, by the exhibitors at the thirteenth annual fair of
the American Institute which was being holden in the
Crystal Palace at the time Of the fire. Some three
four hundred persons were present.
Mayor Temann was appointed chairman Of the meet
ing On taking the chair he stated that he understood the
purpose Of the meeting adop, for still hold
ing tho fair this al and also taking ncpicpt steps
towards forming an American Union for the encourage
! ment n agriculture and the arts.
Messfk James Bugards and Thomas Winfield, were ap-
| pointed secretaries Of the meeting
| John L. Kicker then called upon To address the
| meeting lie spoke substantially as follows
spEEut l.
AT the request Of the committee appointed by the ex-
hbitos OF the late Fair, vii, make few remarks in re
lation To the object Of assembling together this
ing, and give, well the brief time allotted for
preparation will permit the general views OF the commit
tee, both in regard to the that have led this
movement and an outne Of the proposed National lnst
tute. will endeavor to be as brief as possible con
sistent with the importance and magnitude of the sub
jcct-asking your orbearance gentlemen, for few
| ments while proceed First the American Institute
was chartered May 1922 for the purpose Of lin the Ian
guage OF their charter encouraging aud promoting
domestic industry in this state and the United States,
in agriculture, commerce. manufactures and the arts
| and any improvements therein by bcstowlGg re,
| wards and other benefits those who shall make
branches, and by other ways and means the
corporation or to the trustees thereof hereafter
toned shall appear u be most dent The following
from their laws of 1857 shows how they propose u
carry ont the objects for which they organised
Sec q There shall be held in the autumn Of each
the board Of Il ~ Fair in The city Of Ssw York
COMMITTEES xsrieasurs e%sracins
stock also, in he Vicinity OF he city OF New York
implements and spadng MATCH unless otherwise ordered
/ by the institute.
BY reference to section 81 We lind that scientific club
for the discussion Of subjects relative manufactures
arts and Sciences may be formed OF the members OF the
Science and Arts These extracts embrace the objects for
which the American Institute organized and by the
above will be seen what its duties are also that
not organized as permanent national institute. Now
gentlemen although am willing TO accord 10 the Amer
can Institute the praise deserves for what has done
for the promotion Of the cause for which it
ganiZcd yet must speak OF facts in reference TO the
management, chat have occurred recently as they
alone can explain the feeling OF dissatisfaction thereto
IL well known that tho late Fair abruptly and pre-
aturey terminated on the afternoon OF the 5h instant by
the destruction Of the Crystal Palace and its by
fire. The Of said IRE has yet been sscetained
it was frst discovered in room in which old patterns
boxes, lumber, &c, were stored. The hose mme
datcy attached to the hydran,s but there being heat
ofwater and the Palace full OF nfammabc material, the
y admit Of the escape OF the occupants with their
lives In short hour the Palace and the property Of
| the exhibitors was but mass Of burning ruins The
morning OF the 9th arrived and with came the exhibitors
| to get what remained after the ccnilagraon Some
Of the machinery was comparatively uniniured;
| many could have recovered the metallic remains
| Of their machinery, models, &c, in such a
| state Of preservation that little labor expended
thereon would have rendered them OF for exhibition The
grounds which the ruins enclosed by high
iron fence and the gates guarded by policemen; and
when the exhibitors ATTEMPTED 10 enter our 1aGcs of the
Institute demanded Of them the white ticket which
| demand many complied with and entered. Now the
white ticket IS the only receipt the Institute gives 10
the deposcr Of goods for exhibition and consequently
It's delivery to the Institute relieved them of all respon-
sbiiiy IN reference to the Same: Bat, 70 pro.
Il Ma ng tbs VII fnt,rH Tho n
| their goods and attempted 10 tako thom away,
but the officers o the Institute refused to allow them 10
take their property out Of the enclosure, aud although
hey formally protested against the proceedings
20 give hack their rccep'he agent carrying the
the street This mssLsry pscs Of anaaeia tactics and
orshoaght exhibited by the managers to protect them
selves and the ineu,e did not meet with that aIprccia
icn that fair dealing should but, the contrary met
with the universal condemnation Of Al, exhibitors some
q The managers and, as we believe viii be viewed
with similar feelings by tho public at large
The Ere occurred on Tuesday, the 9Th. Wed
ncsday passcd. and the exhibitors waited anx
ousy, but in vain 10 obtain their property Thursday
| morning came, and with cold and drzziing rain, in
which nasy Of the exhibitors stood until drcnchcd the
day but promises, they left almost dlshcaioned On Fri
Gay morning They again a.sembl AMI then, after being
promised IN the morning that they should have an oT.
I1riuniy of searching for their property aud taking IL
away At IL O'Clock, when arrivei notice given
Ssy morning e lib n M s ben f9aAa cyary Snl MS SSe
| having yellow ticket was permitted to enter
| aud take away what his Conscience dh.ta,cd
| except the property Of the American Institute
IL The intervening Time (cin tie 9Th thc ii,h being
FIVE days all that was done or ta was suggested TO b.
done the pulling down the standing rcnans. That
could have been done equally well Wednesday that
that the exhibitors could have entered the grounds
Thursday morning. removed Their property anil returned
10 their distant homes word IN reference ~ the level
ling ~ the ruins, which must be done Fai pre-
vent their falling Tie exhibitors while searching
and removing their property Many ariiclfs eonii have
been removed without danger, and some were ia. by
exhibitors 10 places from which they could easily AMI with
out danger have b." removed ~ the ground which they
would have done, bad they been permitted, at their
| own rirk. But mo- down must como the towers, The
Ts and other standing remains Of the Palace to destroy
what little remained of value The exhibitors pieaded
~ vain With The managers to their property AMI
oi the managcrs who lid draw article short distance
at the earnest solicitation or an exhibitor gave ven,
- ny Feelings BY oxcalming that hr hopcd would be
~ reference 70 continuing The exhibition, the managers
u the Institute were frequently nicrrc-a.cd. suitable
spirited sitxcn, and $500 IN cash 10 pay for hitting
up, &c. The exhibitors generally desired tho eShib
bitten TO be renewed, and willing 10 furnish da.
Palace II the time 4 destroyed Tho managers were
waited on by committee of exhibitors. and urged
tnuc the exhibition ~ Last aftsr several days I've sup
ic~c) n dclibcraun they tssucd pronnc.dmie,o io
ihs en,ci tbs, they dccflel. - wuud invclvc
pcndiurc on their part of - Go that deeued mex
pcdicnt 20 DO So much for the delivery of goods -
I,ush ior the detention n exhibitors and destruction of
their propcry much for tho interest that Ia, Amcr
can Institute feel fat The par Inventor and exhibitor
70 whom they arc indebted for very existence, lheig
Ars;oerats quarters "a broedwsy snd their enorncis
wealth. IN reference 20 such management, can
only say, Shame, where u tsy hlusaT' (Appisasel
" Nh sixF-oS
MT SisrsoS, being calcd upon sposs " the following
ch,fi - hctcvc am the nrst person who projected
oshhhnn Tor The workshop thirty years ago
i,e means g getting upan exhibition for mechanical
veai.ns IN The city am mechanic sixty two years
ago tbs month went into the workshop, and don't call
myself an obi nan now (1aughtcr) Isympathisc
sincerely With The exhibitors Who have lost their prosperity
and the result Of their brains labor recent con
heRtet"n don think that the managers OF the Amcr
can Institute have acted the most prudent. taken the
mos iudcous course Ia regard 10 the exhibitors At onr
lest meeting when the question up for Offering
ward 81 tfo enc to I've Thousand dollars fer discovering
INC incendiary who caused the Ore said that
weuid nave =" mortgage our property 10 do said
that ihc property belonged 10 ". public and necessary
We ought 60 mortgage everything had Cor the public
good. " The subject hal been brcachcd that night 1
fhonid have advocated new fat. We received
or or money from tie public, II belongs &