The New York herald., 1871-10-15
LESSONS OF TEE LOSS.

How Great Fires Happen and How They
May be Avoiiesi-Caution 10 the rcoplc-
The Origin and PrOaress the Disaster
The Fire Marshal OF New York the
Great Calamity.
very instructive lesson may be learned from the
late disastrous connag In Chicago. and 1t be-
hooves the people Of thus city, the cold weather
approaches ana the danger Of fire becomes more
imminent, that they should not allow this lesson to
go unheeded IL has been ascertained that this tre
which has caused so much
DESTRUCTION OF LIFE
and property originated in the careless OF kero-
sene or. Some persons went into stable after
dark with Kerosene lamp. BY carelessness or
accident the lamp was upset. An explosion ensued,
and as the flames arose, nigh wind prevailing,
they spread too rapidly to be within human control
carrying death and destruction into the very heart
OF the city for miles around. Such is the story IN
briei of the origin OF the great connagration We
have ascertained in our Investigations as to the
origin OF fires, and the performance OF the duties
Imposed by law upon this, oilice that a large per-
centage OF
THE FIRES IN THIS CITY
are occasioned BY the use OF Kerosene oil and other
products OF petroleum used Tor lighting and heating
purposes and so great had the danger become that
the Legislature al Its last session, upon proper rep
reservations from this oice, passed stringent laws
TO guard in future against this danger
We ind that in many instances the people who
use these dangerous oils for lighting ana heating
purposes are ignorant the character of the mate
rial used and OF its liability to explosion. and they
are also ignorant OF the provision OF law restrict.
ing their sale and use Tor the purposes ABOVE men,
toned. In fact, they are often deceived by the re-
tail dealers IN these dangerous oils, who give
new tangled name 70
SOME PRODUCT OF PETROLEUM.
I'm vyoo tv
touching lighted match 70 some OF the Oil in an
open vessel without ignlting the same leads them
TO believe there Is no possibility OF an explosion
and therefore the people less careful than they
otherwise would be. BY whatever name 1t may be
called any Oil or huid which emits a compustipe
vapor below one hundred degrees Fahrenheit is
very dangerous indeed, and the law prohibits its
scieDtSc IN nave shown thas
very large proportion Of the oils In use are below
1t be furnsned. The people should be very
cautious In the use OF any OF these Oils. Lamps
should never be filled except by daylight II the
| vapor arising while
FILLING THE LAMP
should be carried oy current OF air, as is often
the case. to light even In distant part OF the
! room, explosion would follow. Thls is the cause
of many fires in this ciy. Another common but
dangerous practice Is that OF turning the light down
low when retiring Tor the night. BY this means
the WICK becomes encrusted and the tube OF the
lamp heated, whereby vapor Is generated and ex-
plosion ensues large proportion OF fires are
traceaDle TO this cause. Since the organization of
TINS bureau IN May, 1885, and up TO Octoper l. 1871
there have been 32l3 fires in this city of which 95l
| or 1900 per cent were caused by careessness OF
| occupants in using matches, candles &C.. ana chill
| drcn playing with matches; 450. or fourteen per
| cent, were
CAUSED BY KEROSENE
gasoline, liquid gas and other products OF petroleum.
almost In every instance OF quality below the
legal standard, aud therefore, unsafe In the hanus
OF the ignorant and careless 223, or 694 per cent
were caused by overheated stoves, stovepipes and
| furnaces making upwards OF so per cent or the
4 total number originating from the causes above
enumerated The total loss during the same periou
ut oil n
BY the provisions OF chapter 5A OF the Laws OF
1871, II becomes the duty OF the Fire Marshal 30
enter into any building or premises within said city
for the purpose OF examing or causing 10 be ex.
amined the stoves and pipes thereto ranges fur.
naces and heating apparatus OF every Kind wbatso-
ever, including the chimneys, nres aud pipes. with
which the same may be connected engine rooms
ratns or other things which in his opinion NAV ne
| dangerous IN causing or promoting fires, or dan.
geroas 10 bremen or occupants In case OF nre;' and
Sufficient authority is granted by said act enforce
the orders or directions given in connection there
| with.
We therefore invite all citizens who may be cogni.
zant OF anything dangerous In causing or pr0mOt-
lug ires dangerous TO hrcmen or occupants In
case OF fren or or any violation OF the law Tor the
prevention OF fires IN this city, to make complaint
without delay 10 this ONCE, and the same will be
promptly attended to. We cannot too strongly I'M.
press upon the public the necessity Of notifying
EVERY VIOLATION or LAW
In this respect In vast majority or cases the Of
fence IN no other way be brought To the notice
OF The proper authorities. II Will be observed by the
lOIegOlnB that curing pcT1Ou Oh nearly
three and hall years the estimated loss by fres In
this city IS less than ten millions OF dollars and yet
bv single fire IN Chicago caused by carelessues5 in
the use of Kerosene the loss Is estimated as high as
two hundred millions.
This great calamity Is a very heavy blow upon the
insurance companies OF this city "a well as Trough
out the country. Although but comparatively few
OF them may not be able TO withstand tue shock
extent afected. If not crippled. The protec
ton OF the insurance company Is the protec
ton OF the insured. In view OF all the above
facts IL Is OF the utmost Importance that every
individual should exercise the greatest caution ID
the use OF combustlble and explosive substances ant
materials. ana should without hesitation report {,
this ONCE everything considered dangerous II
causing or promoting 1res by this means NAM
fires will be prevented. anu the city may he saved
| from great conGagrauon during the coming wln
| ter. THOMAS ACSPEDON. Fire Marshal