New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-19
them on the high road to wealth. linen
the scramble for Office would be over ana
peace, plenty and good government ~oolo
bless all alike in our State.
LESSONS BY FIRE.

Altar terrible conhagration, like tina
which has just occurred in Chicago llA'
that which it suffered in 1871 and such a
occnrred in Boston in 1872, reflection Il
naturally cast upon the fire department.
of the cities devastated. To this DAY
Chief Dsmrell, of the Boston tire brigaoe
has never been able to cast the odium O
ineficiency from his name. he maze
good showing of organization, OF mer
and machines, but, with face to blaze
struggle with the burning fend, became
powerless to save The progress OF flame
could only be arrested by blowing up and
DESTROYING buildings, and this was &C
couplished by the military aad not by
the fire depart ment.
The progress of the fire of 1871 IN
Chicago was only stayed by natural
canses. the rivers and broad avenues
across which the tongues of fire could not
leap. 1t was thought the lesson OF that
terrible year would leave Chicago with a
fire department thoroughly organized; one
that could cope successfully with fire in
any emerge ncy; and capitalists again IN
vested their means in rebuilding that
wonderful city Of enterprise. To men
deemed comp etent to save, was trusted tne
security of wealth from humiliation.
The fire of Wednesday evening last III
that city has az ain illustrated the tal!acy
of human EQUATIONS. 1t cost Chicago
the loss of several millions of dollars,
many precious lives, and in its very heart
left acres of ashes, lettering walls and
smouldering ruins, to tell the sad story.
1t is but natu raj that blame should fall
upon some one. The city was lavish with
means for protection, and contidingly
expected security. II was not our fire,
and for US to say it could and should have
been prevented will not save for that dis
tressed city single dollar.
Those who know best have the
best right to speak against the trusted
men now arrayed before the bar Of
opinion and a suffering people In
this case the press Of Chicago unre-
servedly speak, and openly charge Chief
Benner with official incapacity, amount
ing to criminality. We are told that at
least forty tenements were in flames be-
fore single stream of water opposed the
fire; that the fire captains did not know
where to look for the alarm boxes; that the
first engine which arrived made its at
tachment to plug under the very walls
Of burning building, and had scarcely
commenced work before the men were
forced from the spot, leaving their engine
to destruction. This fire broke out early
in the afternoon, and within fifteen min
utes d dozen machines and as many hun
dred men should have been on the spot
and killed the fire where it was born.
What boots it now to say, "Some one has
blundered?"
Reading of these fires naturally reverts
to our own fire department. 1t
suffers nothing by comparison with that
of other cities With an impoverished
treasury and depending almost entirely
upon willing volunteers, men who fight
the flames from q chivalrous pride in their
efficiency and to save what is their own
more than for pay, we yet can boast a
better working fire department than any
other city. The proofs of this are the
limits to which every notable fire here has
been confined. Now and then a house or
store is burned out Of row or block. but
the adjoining tenements are saved, and by !
and energy our fires are con-
trolled. 1t is, then, with just pride that
our property owners, insurance compa-
nies and citizens look upon the fire de-
ment of New Orleans. 1t is more than q |
source of qualification and pleasure on
parade days. Its presence is an assurance
Of safety, a protection to life and prop
srty.