The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-17
TIE TENEMEgV HOUSE D.siyTER.

The EaGues. Concluded by the COrOner-The
Owner and Agent Censured by The Jury.
The inquest in the case OF Robert Muller, Mary,
his wife, and Josephine his daughter whose deaths
were the result Of burns or leaps from the upper
windows OF No. 205 Rivington street while on fire a
few nights ago, was concluded yesterday by Coroner
Rollins at Bellevue Hospital when the following tes-
timony was adduced:-
James NJ McGregor, superintendent Of Buildings,
testfcd-l have examined the building No. 2o6 iliv
ington street and find it to be n frame building, -
feet 'front.' &c feet high and l33 eet deep, three stories
in he .9ht with brick extension of sixteen feet. the
entrance was two and half feet wide; the whole
building contained ten rooms; this class OF building
does come under the tenement house law, aS 1t IL
not considered tenement house; the law demands
scuttc and ladder 10 every house but nave deemed
such means OF escape insufficient; had the law so
amended as to compel owners to build the stairs to
the roof in houses being BUILT and in those already
built, but lind IL very difficult to enforce the law
have only eighteen Inspectors to inspect buildings
and 10 facilitate business have adopted the plan OF III
spcctng by blocks; the inspector OF the district IN
which No. POS RivingtOn street Is situated had
reached within one street OF II; the law competing
fire escapes 10 be put up was passed In 1850 and that
Law only referred TO buildings to be erected and not
to those already built; but in 1867 the law was so
amended ~ To Apply 10 buildings already erected
and IL has only been In operation since last june,
consequently many OF such class OF houses as the
above have had escapes put up; but with the oppo-
sition | meet with by owners and the small force at
my command II win take me NJ least three years to
go through the city.
and Sixth avenues, tcstihed-l AN agent or landlord
of the building. leased the house to Mr.. Spiegel,
who sublet 1t W several families; there was no scut
Tie to the house and no means Oh escape III case OF IRE
by the roof; did not deem II insecure ON that account
ordinary ladder could reach the top door; have
never been notified by Mr. McGregor to put up any
fire escape this building; some six or eight years
ago rented the house to nine iamies knew there
were several families IN the mousse This year; the
house was insured for $1,000.
Roundsman Deeves, OF the Eleventh precinct, tes-
fed that he heard the alarm Of fire and ran TO the
entered the alley from which the stairs led and found
IL impossible to gain the upper floors OF the building
az the staircase was all on re; saw Mrs. Muller jump
from the Windows she struck on her head her husband
followed and struck violently on tile sidewalk; the
| other inmates made their exit IN the same manners
from the time he first noticed the fire until all the
inmates had left the building about five minutes;
there no unnecessary haste displayed, for had
they remained any onter IN the building they would
doubtless have been all burned to DEATH the entrance
10 the building is about two and half feet wide;
the staircase Is Of the same Width the ilrcmcn were
promptly on the spot; a hook ana ladder company
was The first 10 arrive but too late to rescue any OF
tho inmates, suddenly did the flames rush through
the building; mad there been q fire escape on the
building did not think there would have been life
lost: did not think the inmates could have made their
escape by scutle on the roof when the deceased
were aroused The flames were already AZ their door
Hannah housenmeyer testified that she lived In the
rear Of the top no0r Of house No. 2O8 Rivington
street: retired to bed at eleven O'Clock on Monday
night and was awoke by the smoke IN her room
the names at nv door: threw some beds out Of the
window and then threw my children on 70 them and
jumped out myself.
Drs. T.. c. Lockwood and T. d. II. Cross, house
surgeons at Bellevue Hospital aud DIR. John Beach
| Deputy Coroner, who attended the deceased and
made the post norton examination testified as u
the nature of the injuries which resulted III death.
Amer due deberation the jury rendered the follow
| ing verdct:-s'ihat the deceased came 10 theil
deaths by injuries received by burns ana jumping
| from the third story OF house No. zoo Rivingtol
street to the pavement at the burning OIL sau build
! ing, on the 18th inst. We further censure James M
| Cromwell, the landlord or agent, for not complying
with the law and negeclng to provide proper iaclll
ties Tor escape in of fire. We further earnestly re
| commend the Legislature 10 clOthe James McGregor
| superintendent u Buildings with more power am
! give him additional assistance TO execute the law
! requiring lire escapes TO be furnished la houses.