New-York tribune., 1873-01-03
THE FIRE At BARNUMS.
HE pRopRrEroRs' THEORY OF ITS ORIGIN.

THE PROPRnETORS' THEORY OF ITS ORIGIN.
TO me Edttor Of The Trtbune.
SIR: The report of Fire Marshal McSpedOn
on the supposed origin Of the fire which destroyed Mr.
Barnum's FOurteenthst. establishment the 2lth inst
should not be too confidently accepted conclusive.
The Importance Of knowing how carefully We are
guarded against accidents by tn into whose charge
we place the safety OF life and limb while enjoying
sevesat any place Of entertainment cannot be over
estimated; and any one who correctly cautions us
again. wiful careessncss insecurity should receive
our most grateful appreciation. Still behOOyes 70
derstand beyond possibility OF mistake, that in such
report as the one made by Marshal Mcspedon ujus
tice should be done those who in the in the
present instance after having done all that could be
conceived suggested to prevent accidents, and being
themselves the victims almost irreparabe loss,
accused Of perstcnty dsregardng the warnings Of the
authorized supervisors OF the public safety.
II will he by careful perusal Of tae testimony
taken by the Fire Marshal that the statements OF the
several employees and others examined were most con
Trajectory. One stated that the fire came from the
boiler or heater ROOM while another equally early at the
spot where the fire first discovered asserted that the
flames were coming through the floor the coaroom,
several feet distant other witnesses contradted each
other in the Of the location Of the ppee adjacent
TO the heater some saying that they passed the
boiler while others equally positive that none
passed over the heater except one TO the aetyyalve
The most importan; witnesses, however-Mr Ball, the
"master mechanic" il were, Of the alterations and
refttings of the whole building and the engineer the
two men Of all most likely 10 know and thoroughly
derstand the heating apparausgive connected inteli-
gent and II not cODfrmatory reports at least those
that are corroborave OF each other Both state that
the heater or boiler was inclosed in brick-work II
inches thick and that there open space Of from
Is TO 1s between the top Of this brckwork and
the flooring above tho only woodwork at all near the
boiler thus rendering fire from that source impossible.
They further testify that the connection, or pipe con
vevjng the steam from boiler TO the radiang pipes
and after running for feet horizontally, s inches
above the asE S 9fsqSS gfs pSs e 70 ai
important statement then follows Boththese men were
preseut when Fire Marshall McSpedon's deputy, Mr..
Eooney offered his objections the proximity of the
rada ting pipes to the woodwork IN the amphheater OF
own testimony admits the only defect that he could
ana pcT made Strictly iD ccoEanee with r
MONEYS suggestions and that in no place dd the radi
atng pipes approach any portion Of the wood
WORK 't}ian rom ono-half TO il inches. ard when
at the smaller distance the Woou-wrk was
covered with tin additional protection.
Fire Marshal McSDedons conclusion as TO
the orn Of tue fire. therefore, seems to have been
or terIn that sounds WELL okes the fancy OF the ut
terer and Geuaes the unnitiated listener in0 belief
that he understands thoroughly its import. Super
heated steaD in the present investigation is Just such
word. The theory OF supeT~heated steam ls one but
lately generally advanced, ahd perhaps Is as much
Gonbted as believed by scientists practical men, but
If seems well 40 times to explain that which cannot be
expiaued. Fire Marshal MCSpedOn IN the matter OF
super-beated steam, declares himself an OK
pert The Barnum heater was ADJUSTED TO
"blow on at from three 10 five pounds pressure
An the evidence agrees In one essential aud all
ant particulars yz the fire did not originate at
auy polut In the building wherein Deputy Mooney OBJ
eced 90 adjustment OF the heating apparatus, and
Ihs clears the barnum management VI any wllfi neg
Icot OF the Deputy Marahas IiJunctions
III did start without doubt either In the bollerrOom
or coaroOn but not from the boiler that the best evi
dence shows was impossible much more likely Sou-
ton OF che mystery might be found m the testimony
which shows That gas JET was always ieit burning IN
the boierroOm protected only by wire screen, which,
though 10 shielded the fame from contact with clothing
did not prevent from shooting up through the top This
iet. though not dangerous while the gas burning
elsewhere the building and neghborn0Od might pos
sbly when the gas turned of In that portion OF
The city generally from the greatly increased
consequent have shot up through the open top OF the
screens aud caught the unprotected woodwork above
which, being we'll seasoned and dried. would burn
randy as savngs aud speedily burst forth with the
accumulated headway which seems unaccOuntable
With a watchman continually present In the building
1blg theory the fires OrgiD, though Impossible
~ proye is Inucn entitled 10 consideration than
tbt uut forward by the Fire Marshal since The pOss
hiiiiv OF Ignition from gas existed while all the evil
Ience dsproyes the Likelihood Of ire communicating
from the healer. a. d Y.
Ne0 York. Dec. 81 1874