New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-13

lied hremen with plenty Of elbowroou il better than
| horde Of excited though wellmeanng outsiders Tho
report that strong wind blowing was erroneous
The heat created slight current OF air. The wind blew
fortunately toward the water and the cleaned out
everything TO the barbor Had the breeze blown In an
opposite direction the flames would probably hayo
swept to the city limits on the otler side.
noticed In walking through the ruins that for q
mile around the outskirts Of the burned district tho
buildings which bad wthsood the heat and checked tho
progress OF the flames we're the oldfashloned brick
houses and stores, with slate roofs believe that t
such structures these that checked the cOnfagr
tiOD for In fact the fire stopped ITSELF being unable 20
proceed because barred out by the old houses Regard
ing the Mansard roof, which Is generally
demned many false Impressions may be created. Tho
Mansard root is good and seryceable house
covering, and has many advantages. There
be no objection to the style OF the roof II
is the material which It is composed that
Is Objectionable The 19n Mansard roof is perfectly FIRE
yard Uniortnnaley most Of the Mansard roofs IN us
aud 50 they ia nearly all other cities. The law Ia
this particular Is very Imperfect ana unjust to every
citizen II provides that buildings must be constructed
OF brick, stone iron, other masOnwOrk, bur says
nothing regarding the roof, and consequently can
60 work and build brick house, according TO the law
and then ada a wooden roof containing two additional
stories The roof should be as hIepoof the body or
the building / would rather own 0uiding with Me
first stories Of wood and the remainder OF brick than
brick house with wooden ROOF. Tue strongest stream
of water will not reach the roofs OF ordinary tail bui
ngs, aud remcn therefore obliged 70 climb up mar
starcases INTO garrcs AT great RISK OF ne ana arc
then generally unable to put out fire az such an alti
tude. Steps have been taken 10 bring before the Legs
ature revision OF this portion 50 as to prohibit tLe
| building OF wooden roofs
In relation the blowing up of buildings TO prevent
fires spreading, positively assert that t - my opinion
that there Is no virtue IN inc pacce ~ loes no gO'd
and rather aids tho progress OF the fire IN any case
Chef Engineer Damre informed me mat ne pew gpgg
buildings in the fire, and is satisfied that 1t Did no
good II demOishes the building. bat causes the hos
FIRE. Chie Damrell has u subordinate enginees' WAC
constitute Board OF Engineers and IN debatlns o. .no
| afsrff Thn
ing the blowing up Of buildings. Mr. Ddmtell slated
that he was Obliged 10 10 because responsible ana M
eigent zens should be done he also
said that he had talked wltn MAJOR Cen SheFidin on
tbs subject, who, It was reported, blew up a lars3
denied report emphacaly, bat sad that some one
had blown upa lew buildings and thereby aided tne
flames While reyiew wing the actions OF the Department
Chief Danre said that he lad done his best ana Do
was that his meu had worked lac heroes ILetp
were engines in use uurng the hre, ana from oW 10
1000 men were engaged ~ coDDRStion oL ,h ~,
just such fire might occur IN New ORB, "a
it seems an inpossiOity Ide new hfe telesIapn - ~
moment to battle WIN tue most threatening coin"h''
ZION.
INCIDENTS OF THE GREAT coNFLAGRATIoN-
BRAVERY OF THE FiREMEN AND PLUCK OF
THE MERCHANTS
John Keppy, Engineer, aud J. S. Hunt,
Foreman OF Protector engine No. OF Bridgeport, Conn.,
who were returning by tue p m. train from Boston on
Monday were Visited by TRIBUNE reporter The state
ments of the former were in substance as follows:
We reached Boston at 1910 p. IN. Sunday The light
was seen long time before reached the city We
were detailed to relieve the regular company of Boston
EAgine No. TO- who worn ont. We worked I'LL tho
next forenoon were relieved by tho Boston
company and started at 8 p. m to return. Til.
need OF rest was a marked feature of the fire The en-
gines could constantly, but the men, VINO Threw
their entire being into the work. soon became exhausted
Indeed when We reached the city probably not more
than 25 Boston remen at work The fire being 10
the business part city there was little loss OF lie
and there were few OF those thrilling escapes which are
marked features most great fires. The Mansard rooh
were the bane Of the whole affair Built largely OF wood
and rapidly taking fire. their hight rendered them mac
cessiOle.
There is no law in Boston requiring such roofs TO b.
made with iron framc-wOks. TIE horse disease had
been especially severe upon the horses Of tie depart
men and at the first alarm few engines went to the Dire
The police and the military kept gglant guard Thieves
were out in great numbers. The staton-houses were
hlcd with those WHO nad been arrested On th'
part of the citizens there was the utmost hospitality
private families gladly furnishing refreshments to TIC
fremen and the whole city welcoming thankfully tho
volunteer The supply OF water was anu
dant and tue management OF the Boston Department. ~
general excellent. The engines generally Workrc
well There great loss OF hose, IRON tue fact a
much had 10 be abandoned az sudden eXlgehcie. Ins
long ladders spiced in one instance, ana Lcl'
almost perpendicularly 10y those beiOw uhli sOc he
could reach the top The ladder shook fearuy Dt ne
men went up unhinchingy. Ihe mechanical cause O
the gas explosion appeared to be me eKpason OF Tue
confined uuGcr the great heat The railroads gave
Tree passage to the volunteer fire service.
A MERCHANTS ACCOUNT.
Isaac T. Campbell Of The firm OF Arthur X. Brown
CO.. manufacturing stationers, Of No. As Congressst.
described in detail tie OF the fire from the store
of Tebbetts, Baldwin d Davis, dry goods merchants
where it broke out One feature Of the fire was the
difficulty In making people believe That their property
was IN danger His store did not take fire TIL about
. a. H. Sunday. The horse disease very serious
at the time. and there many teams the street
He asked the driver Of one what he would charge "a
remove a load Of goods, and the 500
Tns lie declined 10 give. His house saved
very few of its goods TIE wind az the
outbreak OF the fire gather strong, bat
gradually died away The flames, however, generated
lions Driven from Ftderast by tie flames. he and
number OF others 10y crcdtOus route 10 point 10
Uigl-st In ten minutes the flames had eaten through
solid block aud blazing out AZ No. Sc Highest
representative or the firm " Ireddwel DiSan, of No.
So High-st. was the crowd. Finding tna he nal
moi got out his books owing dense smoke
rator and several others went with him 10 renew the
effort Feeling Their way lbey opened me siis ana g1i
the principal books The mon y was IN an in or non
box, and they lad no Key to that by this time the
10 order them OUT The clerk anxious 10 gct the
box open, and the fireman win an AK tried 10
open IT, Inc rest gathered DOCKS ana et te store
A. the flames gained Roadway, much anxiety was foii
by the crowd in regard TO the safety OF those WHO had
others then volunteered 60 20 in again. ana after some
Effort money recovered and all came uut Sai D..
II was ptltm TO see tue poor people carry lnE " NJ
effects they could gather 10 place of SAFETY Their
thieves. case, where building was 50 situated
that point OF egress Was concealed ABOUT ha'iri
window not knowing that officers were within.
They we're after another quietly seized one OF
the hardest task OF tue hiencn was 10 keep ne haho,
from crossing Westinghouse, between eummer and
Mkss street being very narrow, tho heat intense.
Post ONCE winch not completed, ana had very uu
wood abOut it, proved barrier 10 the mes ~ inat .l
come down. The GaIage to the old Post Olce WAS mn
tied bat Il involved tire destruction OF the dome largely
OF glass which ftll and completely shattered.
The txpiosOns where buildings were blown up Nrra
very severe glass beinS generally shattered ana iins