New-York tribune., 1873-01-28
TIE FIRE RECORD.


ing of five citizens appointed under order of the CITY
Council to investigate the Of the great fire. and
cement have made long report but giving few
facts not previously published and commented upon
They say:
The Commission find that tho uncontrolled spread OF
the cona grafton from the first building through the
great district swept by the flames was principally owing
10 the delay the apparatus in arriving owing TO the
horse disLemper and the generally faulty construc
On of the buildings and especially TO the exposure OF
timber 10 the flames at hight which could not be
reached by water, an exposure which would deserve
condemnation lower level The dangers arising
from this mode Of building greatly aggravated by
tho narrOwness of the and by the great hight or
the buildings This danger had been f0reseen and our
calamity foretold both here and abroad There is sad
interest in statements of State Insurance Com
missioner who tells that Just before the fire the En-
gsh underwriters spoke TO HIM at Liverpool and London
OF tho probable fate OF Franklnst. Winthropsquare,
and their surroundings and proposed TO cancel their
pOCe5 insuring in our CITY, The cnOftS OF
the remen greatly impeded by the want Of water.
especially in summerst. The insufficient supply OF
felt az the Outset, and was without doubt one
cause OF the cOnhagration.
The Commission fnd that there lack fpropor
fuel and that broken boxes and other wood had to be
substituted for coal The chief engineer and the entire
Fire Department warmly praised In regard 10 the
use OF gunpowder the Commission says:
"There is a conflict OF the testimony 10 the balance
OF good evil arising from the use OF gunpowder on
November and TO- IL Is less necessary to strike hat
balance accurately because all witnesses agree aud all
people will agree, that explosions never should be
used again they at that time, and that used at
all we should DO prepared to employ them skiliuly,
carefully and by fixed plan The Board OF Engineers
provision had been made for such an emergency When
1t at last decided to use powder 1t was done by the
Chief Engineer giving written authority 10 several pup
lie spirited gentlemen remove their goods and demOl
ish the buildings. Each man was left To act as he
pleased The Chief Engineer now heartily condemns his
error this respect, and agree with him The course
actually pursued was Objectionable, not because u was
Illegal but because 1t was dangerous and inefficient.
Among the recommendations of the Commission are
That dynamite should Explosive substance used.
because great force and the fact that 10 can be
safely transported during fire, and that quantity
he
ment be instructed In s use that she law regarding
be purchased for Boston the city have better
distbuton Of water that the supply Of fuel for steam
ers should be methodcal that bridges be supplied for
fhe protection OF hose that the Committee Fire De-
partment have larger ursdicton that the office OF Fire
inspector be created that the Building act be carefully
revised especially that elevators in warehouses be for
hidden unless having self-closing hatchways; that
extinguishers and handrhose be generally used
IN THIS CITY.
A fire was discovered, late Sunday night, in
the dry goods of s. Rubin the first floor of the
sx-story brick tenement, at No. "a East Broadway.
Stock damaged $780, An insurance OF $1,000 on the
stock and fixtures divided between the Brewers ana
Maltsters Company, $1,000; the Mannattan $1,000: and
the Relief $1,000 The fire discovered by pstrolman
James Foley OF the Seventh Precinct Police who,
entering the store. found Rubin within. Tho officer
noticed that Rubin completely dressed with the ex-
ception OF his coat ana nat Knon m sould give no % aG
arrested HIM on charge OF 1nS %as nS
detained for examination He Will be taken before
police magistrate to-day.
663 Third-aYe, near FOrty-secOndst, on Sunday,
suspected be OF incendary origin and the Nineteenth
Precinct police arrested Henry Solomon age 49, son OF
the proprietor whom they found in the store. Fire
Marshal McSpedon questioned several persons who dis
i'm the when the doors were broken down by the
bremen and although dressed he had given no alarm Of
ire Tho witnesses, however, could not testifyithat
they saw anything else which would lead them to sus
pect arson The prisoner was taken TO the Yorkyille
against him by Fire Marshal McSpedon. Mr.. soomons
stock damaged $500 upon which there was an insur
IN the London Llyerpool ana ulooe Ior wow ana
In the Metropolitan for 1000
Oil exploded in small still in the oil-works OF Lom.
bard & Ayres at Sixty-thst and the North River. at
li5 yesterday and in an instant large portion OF
the factory was on fire The bremen reached the burn,
the streets and then conhned all their efforts 70 an at
tempt to limit the flames To the wing OF the building
after many hours OF labor and finally about p m the
last flames put out. The building and stock were
A tre on the first floor of the vestory brick building
at No Orchard-st., occupied residence by Peter
Pau,son on Sunday night, damaged furniture 500; in
sued for 5000 The fire caused by the explosion Of
At Tao D. m yesterday the threestory and attic brick
building No. Al Mercerst between Grand and Broome-
sts was damaged S. by fire which originated from
an nknown cause the third floor; damage 10 stock
OF schoenmod Stein, hat and cap manufacturers oc-
cp.nts of second and third floors and attic, $4,000 by
Are and water damage TO stock of seigtz & Specht,
manufacturers OF hats and trimmings occupants
OF the lower portion Of the building $1,000 total loss
90 500 The owner OF tho building could not be found,
The Losses of occupants said To be fully covered by
Insurance. but in what companies could not Do ascer-
tained. ,-. -
slight fire in the dwelling Of George Allison, at No 40
East ThirGiethst near Fourthave, AT p u, yester-
day; ~ vos,erd,v fire Of unknown origin oc
crred in the fancy goods store OF Aaron Stern at No
100 Eighth-ave near Twenteth-st. Damage TO stock.
5000 insured; damage to building $500 AZ 1901 In
yesterday fire. caused by the ignition Of clothing from
lighted candle, occurredin the apartments Of George
Obers the top floor OF the No i4 Eaet
Houstonst., between orchard and Allen-sts damage.
sso At $50 d. m yesterday fire OF unknown origin
occurred in the apartments OF Mrs Jacobs on the nth
floor of the tenemenhouse No. Essexst, near DlVl
sonst.; damage to building and furniture. $50 each
IN woRCESTER-LoSs, $4,000.
WORCESTER Mass, Jan. 27.-The large two
,ory building on the grounds OF the Worcester West
Agricultural Society at Barre, with Its contents was de-
stroyed by fire early this morning. The building was
owned by the Society," and was valued at $1,000 Insured
for A. 900 The contents consisted Of hats placed there
Mr Powers OF Greenwich loss, teOo. and Others, who
lose snaler amounts. The fire the work OF an IN
cendary and the seectmen have offered $500 reward Tor
his apprehension.
AT LAPEER-Loss $4,000.
DETROIT Mich, Jan. 27.-A fire at Lapeer
Mich. sunday destroyed the drug of Vincent 4
Carey with its contents also the American Express
and Western Union Telegraph Offices. with large
amount OF express goods the jewelry store OF ID. W.
Hinman and the drug store OF Cannon & Bristol The
stocks OF the last two stores were mostly removed The
loss $4,000 aud the insurance $1,000 The nro was the
work of an ncendiary.
AT MADIS0N-LoSs, S35OoO.
CINCINNATI, Jan. 27.--A fire which broke out
at 1880 O'Clock this morning. at Madison Ind destroyed
the walnutst brewery, owned by John Butz Tho loss
IA t35 900 which thero The employees
ping the building barely escaped with their lives.
| The tire originated ia the malJkiln.
NEAR wEsrFIELD-Loss, $4,000
A-