, 1872-12-13
TIE FIFTH AVENUE CALAMITY.

The calamity at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. in
volving frightful loss of life, sends it's warning
to most important interest, Of very wide appi-
In our new era Of great hotels approaching COM
pletion, it should be needed, and bringts results
in increased care in constructionto guard against
the peril OF fire. It has been the boast Of the
great hotels of tho metropolis, filled at all
times, from top to bottom, with guests,-that
such WAS the incessant watchfu1neas at all
points, no fire, however dangerous
its outbreak, could gain headway. And
it would seem as if this should be SO. At
all events, it is singular that the exception
should bo the Fifth Avenue Hotel, which has go
long stood in the front rank OF American hotels,
and the model even among the best foreign
examples. Yet fire starts in the basement,
and eats it's way unopposed to the very top Of
the building, and there oyertakea its unsuspect-
ing victims the victims of human carelesBness,
which imperilled more lives than theirs. There
is no reason, except niggardlineas, why
every large hotel should not be watched
throughout all hours Of the night, and
in manner which would enforce faithfulness in
the night guard by methods long familiar in
great manufacturing establishments. The
tragedy at the Fifth Avenue is stain upon it's
management, for they, of all other hotel-keepers
in the country, havo been paid to include safety
among the features assured by their well-ap
pointed and prosperous house, which for four
teen years has been the Mecca Of frst-class
travel, the envy Of all landlords, and mine OF
gold to its hosts. From this sad calamity, the
warning should penetrate the entire hotel inter-
est everywhere, that cease1ess vigilance ia the
price Of safety, and that neglect is criminal
where such an appalling sequel may follow it.
Sad as is this calamity, however, those most
familiar with all the circumstances must find
their horror mingled with gratitude that it was
no worso. Tie Fifth Avenue structure, COM
menced in 1857 Us block Of residences, WAS re-
modelled at great expense into q hotel, which
has stood in the front rank Of popularity and
SUCCESS ever since. But its intricate flights Of
stairs, wooden elevator shafts, and narrow
areas have always held it in peril Of destruction
from the intensely heated laundry and drying
departments beneath, while it's dark and tortu-
GUS corridors have always brought unpleasant
suggestions as to the possible event should the
fire, thus invited, produce panic among the
| inmates on the upper floors. Sad as is the
fate Of the poor housemaids burned, out OF the
reach Of rescue, in their garrett, there is reason
for thankfu1ness that tho holocaust did not in
clude, with the entire destruction Of the edifce,
q doath-ron among guests rs well US servants,
that would have sent grief and mourning
throughout the country.
The proprietors of the Fifth Avenue Hotel
owe it to the public, since restitution is impos-
eible, to make tho recurrence OF such calamity
impossible. The elevators should be made fire.
proof shafts, stair-caseB Of incombustible
material should run to the topmost
| floor in the building and every modern
safeguard should be set about the e1tra-haz-
ardous departments Of tho hotel laundry and
kitchen. When the Fifth Avenue again offers
its accommodations to the travelling community
it should be safe as we'll IS luxurious. And the
new hotels Of Chicago should take the lesson tc
heart. One Of our capitalists is carrying the
question to the extreme of perfectly fre-proot
house. Let all tho others initiate him ut least
| in all essential points, or the list OF hote
horrors will hayo fresh illustrations in our oWr
city at no distant day.