The New York herald., 1872-11-13

city and State authorities. that we can certainly
iully protect every street and house,
II suppose your Honor, that you yourself saw
great, deal Of the hardship Of battling with the
gwen. the (h,ef Rncnesr of the Fire Denartment
wanted me to share with him the responsibility
OF the occasion, and accompanied him In his
he svs % Sndes The
have experienced is intense and ! need rest.
Thank God tnat 1t has been no WORSE"
INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF KNGINEER
confiagration OF Saturday night the one you win
sat Of the Fire Gsp mt and the
lack OF Judgment shown by Chief Engineer 8. Dam
nom the engines and having them worked BY
hand numerous charges have been brought y, tI
assert that il the Fire Department had been prop
the building in which 1t first broke out. The
most contradictory rumors In connection with
gentleman named Hartshorn. with whom con-
versed , said had Il not been for suggestions ne
20 the
structures would have peen engulphed. General
Burt, the Postmaster, claims that had 1t not been
for him similar calamity would have ensued, and
Mayor CASTOR, last OF ALL says he was the man
whose advice preserved SO large portion OF the
stifuton OF manual for horse labor was the primary
cause OF the dsater. Had the engines arrived In
slight out When smal orce o men had to drag
heavy steam engines through
THE PANIC-sTRICKEN CROWDS
the CONFUSION and delay caused can easily be
imagined. Among other causes which contributed
to the work Of destruction was the large number OF
were all high, most OF them six stories, and they
were supposed to be hre-proof, but the tinder
sea Of 6re and they ignited IKE wooden Boxes
relative to the state OF the Fire Department
negro soldiers who guarded the approaches to the
City Hall, and gained an entrance to the
APARTMENT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER,
Captain Damrell, by whom was accorded the fol-
lowing interview
REPoRTsR-In what condition was the Fire De-
CHIEF EN0INEER-The condition Of the depart
tSs IS sS n
ing got the distemper. Every horse In the depart
msnt was aiiiStsd @ g, on the night 8 tot Of their the fre;
horses We organized double force OF men as
first rate, and we were not delayed in our work.
The horses had been taken or one week before the
tion, as the citizens volunteered all the assist
ance necessary to keep the machines running
REPoRTER-Did you have many fires last week
men were not exhausted. When the al alarm M was vas
sounded two minutes did not elapse before three
buildings on Summer street. The engines were
pulled to the scene OF the connagration by hand.
REPoRTER-Did you put on horses at any time
CHIEF ENGINEER-Yes, when
THE THIRD ALARM WAS SOUNDED
the engines which were furthest away were pulled
by horses, which were procured in stables. The
horses were only used on account Of the extreme
distance. Some OF the engines had not far to
at distance would require too much labor to bring
them on. The Fire Department worked all through
the night and all day on Sunday without being re-
ieved.
REPoRrER-How do you account for the spread
CHIEF ENGINEER On account OF Mansard roofs.
which 9 stream could not reach What Is the use
OF building fre-prOOf houses six stories high and
then putting finder box on the top9 The flames
re had got to be lurid was only an ordinary wind.
There have never been any great fires in the dis
trict In which the fire originated up to last Satur
day night
REPoRrER-It is stated that hundreds OF men
standing around the burning buildings were will
Ing to serve as volunteers, but were not called
CnIEF ENGINEER-It is false. The services OF all
who were willing to render a helping hand were
GLADLY accepted, and hundreds volunteered and did
good work. Besides this we had plenty OF assist
ance from all the neighboring villages Immediately
after the alarm was sOunded, and during the
night many engines came in from
THE VARIOUS NEW ENGLAND TOWNS.
REPORTER-How many engines and how many
men have you In the department?
snanH 0MIss ENGSEEnnWe have TWENTY-FIVE steam
1000 feet Of hose each, seven hook and ladder
trundles ana three extinguisher engines, carrying
hose each. The regularly organized force
OF the department is 684 men, who were all in
service on Saturday night. have always been Of
up as Chicago on account OF Its Mansard roofs.
As the Chief Engineer was extremely busy, be-
sides being nearly prosptrated with fatigue he
could not further converse with me. Before left
gentleman came In with message from Jordan,
Marsh Co. and check for $4,000 for the relief
s in s O. Ps iv This
leading firms In Boston for this particular work.