New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-25
, countless readers THE TnrpusES Mer,
GREAT DANGERS WITHOUT EXCUSE.

At the moment of present writing IL ls not
known that any human life was lost therein.
This is simply fortunate; not in the least de-
gree O consequence of any due precaution. Dut
rather in despite of its absence. mere dlf-
ference In the hour of occurrence is all that
prevents the festivities of to-day from being
overloaded by the horror OF great calamity.
Had the fire in Fourteenth-st. taken place
while the buildings now burnt were filled with
the throngs that usually sought evening pleas
ures in one or frequently attended the services
of religion in the other, IN immense loss OF
life would have been the inevitable result.
The bindery girls in Centre-st., at the top oil
a narrow, lofty building, barely escaped rom
its flames with their lives. IT there was any
precaution which resulted in their safety, 1t Is
more than we suppose.
The direct cause of the great destruction in
Fourteenth-st was the palpable disregard OF
the simplest rules of safety in architecture.
Following right on the heels of the burning
of Mr. Talmage's church, it displays in the
lurid light of its own flames the criminal folly
of iron veneering on wooden walls. we 90
not envy the mental faccidity which accepts
these occurrences as mere dispensatlon or
Providence; which believes that if the build
ing was to DO burned it would be, whether
built of brick or stone or wooden boards
veneered with iron. AT least, If Providence ID
to be called into the matter, let it be that
Superior Intelligence that takes tins method
of teaching us TO exercise common sense. we
knew that safety against fire depends chiefly
on correct construction. Capt Shaw, Chief of the
London Fire Brigade, hes but repeated in a
formula well known principles in declaring that
uniform strength of walls cannot be obtained
except from uniform materials, and If the
inside is different material from the outside
of a wall, the parts separate in fire, and the
draft between them adds to its intensity. 1t
needs no demonstration to prove that build
ing of wood with thin shell of iron is no
more fit for human use than is tin trunk to
do duty as cooking stove. When you have
expanded the tin trunk till it covers 125 feet
by 10, and fitted it with the painted and
fretted pine Of tho decorators art, and dried
its tinery with the flames Of thousand gas
lights till, as good authorities say of wood
work 80 exposed, at becomes mere touch
"wood-a finder ready to light from o
"spark vt is time for some authority to in
terfere before human lives are risked therein.
Elsewhere we relate the measures vainiy
taken to prevent the erection Of this cheap
and gaudy Fourteenth-st. Undertook in prox-
unity to so much valuable property. We
have before alluded to the fact that if the pro-
visions of the building law are strictly en-
forced, there is little or no danger Of great
fires in this city 1t is clearly evident in this
hot tbo OF
complied with. Whether the Superintendent
neglects to enforce the law, or is withheld
from carrying it out by some restrictions or
permits obtained from cOurts-whether there
is fear or favor in this matter-must be made
as clear as MONDAY. The public cannot and
viii not endure the present condition Of af
fairs. 1t is in no mood for tri1ing. Danger
Gus buildings throughout the city must be
reconstructed without further bubbles or
delay.
There is another word to be said about this
business. When Sidney Smith had grayely
listened to the details of o mad dogs course
through the streets Of London-how he fright
ened bishop and was at length dispatched
with difficulty-the clerical wit remarked that
ne "should like to have heard the dogs side
"of the story.n Similarly we may want but
never shall have the autobiography of tho
poor beasts that persisted yesterday morning
in the burning menagerie. 1t is all very well
to say that it would have been frightful if the
wild animals had escaped from the inclosure:
was MT it equally frightful that they should
be left inf 1t is awkward, we admit, to find
ourselves sorrowing over calcined hyena, or
roasted lion, or frizzled grizzly. Small respect
would they have had for our sympa-
thies if while they lived they could
have got at us. We have less diff
Guilty in rejoicing with the performing
elephants who knew enough to seek the
opened door, or the camel who retired from
the fire in good order, with his extra stomach
full of water. But whether, taking it alto
gether, it is humane and praiseworthy act
to rescue these rare animals from heather
jungles and pagan plains, from what they find
Of luxury under torrid suns or in polar SHOWS,
and drag them through Christian lands to
have peanuts and tobacco thrown at them by
gaping crowds, and then perish, as they
mostly do perish, in some miserable disaster
drowned, shot, or burned-is at least open to
question. Except in the geological collections
of professed naturalists, the habits Of these
beasts are but little studied out Of their ma
tive haunts. Science, as such, gets but scant
advantage, except in an occasional skeleton,
from the travelling menagerie. If there be
any who gain knowledge of animal nature
from the showman's exhibition which would
not have been otherwise acquired, it's value
should be weighed against the infection of
great deal of animal suffering We knew
private citizen who, though not naturalist,
wanted to own private menngerie. But his
case is rare. We think the question we have
indicated is worthy of Mr. Bergh's consider