New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-30
TIE FALL RIVER FIRE.

THE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE IN THE con-
sTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.
FALL RIVER, Mass, Sept. 29.-The jury OF
inouest in the Granite Mill disaster met at $3.50 a. M
Felix Mckinney. jr Fourth Assistant Engineer or the
Fire Department testified as follows: arrived at the
fire about 705 they just raising the extension
ladder saw a woman fal-my first knowle dye that any
one Jumped out Of the windows saw rope hanging
lust below the fifth story from the sixth 1t either
broken or burned Off think 1t was broken gave orders
to a hook and ladder company to remove the ladder
and place 1t under the rope there were not many fire.
men there went to the Antelope Hook aud Ladder
Company and asked some OF !them to come and help
move the ladder Of the Reindeer Company,
when Capt Kelly ordered his to bring
The hook ladder; the men brought it, and
went up the ladder. followed by an outsider !;
the intention waso hook this ladder to the sill Of the
sixth story window; IL reached about twOthirds the
way I'D; the outsider smashed in the window OF tho
fourth story; then such volume Of smoke came out
that it nearly smothered us, aud we could hardly
the flremen sang to Capt Kelley OF the Reindeer,
suffocating something to that effect; the Captain
then ordered them down the people were not jumping
from the attic at that time when the smoke rolled up
into the sixth story windows the people began to jump
one woman came down, striking the ladder breaking
four rounds OF IT. then came three or FOUR one after the
oher hung the ladder, some did not; turned
to the crowd aud SAID Go fetch all tho beds you can
get then gave orders to the hook aud ladder men 10
take down the ladders; the ladders were killing
ladders the people continued jumping from the windows
got orders at all from the Chief Engineer Of tine Fire
Department. saw q stand-pipe out OF which water was
coming; did not any hose attached never was 10
position 10 that there was water IN the hose In the
mill; think the Fire Department did everything IN their
power with the apparatus they had TO work WIN;
thought it would take five minutes TO raise the exten
sion ladder and another minute or two TO connect the
hook ladder herewith; think II the windows had not
been broken might have got the ladders uD.
Charles o. Shove, Treasurer OF the Granite MIL tes-
titled: got the fire should Judge about ten min
utes past proceeded at once 10 my Office and was
could not be saved was obliged TO look after my
books and papers in the Office soon saw Mr. McCreery
who told me he had shut of the gas that the pumps
were running. and everything was right set my
clerks to assist in getting together my papers, etc;
did not know any particulars OF the fire until mad
secured my papers knowing the power OF the Fire De-
partment in OF lire, did not feel that had any
knew nothing Of any loss OF life till some time after IL
al over IN the construction OF the mil 1t was our
desire make IL frstclass mill In every respect L
drew the plans under the supervision Of Mr. Lazarus
Borden we put in all the fire apparatus We deemed
necessary all the insurance commissioners aud experts
have ever recommended aud more the system Of piping
which has beeu much talked OF was put III our mill
before IL put in any other; there was nothing but
the standppes FROM the force pumps we ADOPTED tnls
system OF piping which has been SO much approved by
insurance agents and has been adopted by other mills
we very much under the SUPERVISION ana direction
of the insurance agents In the KIND OF lire appliances
which we introduce these agents, when any fire has
occurred within their circuit. inform us Of II,
and TO see II We nave any defects
WIN. b. Whiting of Boston WAS here on Monday, aud
said he bad been asked TO select six Of he best pro
yded mills New gland with regard 70 the fire app
pauces, should nave selected Granite Mill as one OF
the SIX; Mr.. Whiting is Secretary of the Parent Mutual
Insurance Ofce in Boston; these agents have always
expressed themselves In complimentary terms aSlS our
arrangement Tor the prevention ana eNthgushmeht Oh
res confederation OF lhis they have given us the
large line at the lowest rates; know of
reason why the apparatus should not nave Deen IN ne
OF order at the time OF the fire; my instructions To
the superintendent ana master nechahc were 70 Keep
the apparatus i'll such order as they wOhld tney eN-
peced fire the next moment the apparatus is IN con-
slant use for variety OF purposes there was no set or
special time appointed on this account FOR the examn
ton of the apparatus the mills IN the cts are mutually
asd TO have Oo9 ho best apple
ances; we have had no fixed time for the exam
nation OF the water tanks at the top OF the mil;
have used holidays for this purpose If the tanks are
out OF order at any time we should know Of 1t nl-
was very much used that got filed II had no fan TO II.
and was only hafnch pipe; this pipe was not con-
nected with any apparatus IN the mil; whenever
we have found mud in pipe it has been when the err
cnlaOn through IL has been sluggish and constant;
when 1 went into the mil l saw water was coming
through the pipes; the engine cannot work without
pumping wuter into both the tanks at the top OF the
that water wodd be turned into one tank only the
overflow the water closets is not thereby interfered
% had oas s ae SS S needsd das OF Of
fire in the neighbornood; we never thought
the center OF the ml insurance agents always
object to having starways In the fJors OF the rooms
no experience has been had in this country where
there has been fire OF the tower being cut off; have
always felt that when people gnt INTO the tower they
pensive to build one tower than two sairways inside
the mill one has ever suggested that hIe-escapes
bic had anything OF the knd been suggested and
had not adopted IL never knew OF tower having been
cut off before had he ever known OF similar and
mad not provided against IT, should have felt equally
culpable there has never been such cOnbustiOe nate
rial in the attic as TO make 1t dangerous room In re-
Tne investigation then adjourned until $3.50 pm.
At the afternoon session, James landlord, member
OF the Hook and Ladder Company, was called. The
testimony OF the witness entirely contradictory
that of superntendent Mecrgry He says he got TO
Granite Mil on the morning OF the IRE at Gao o'clock
saw Mr.. McCrury coming across BedfOrdst. from Mill
saw him on the lower stairs, and went up with him. we
went up stars to the fOurthstOry, ana when we
could not 20 through &c; We met Mrs Koveny on the
second flight, coming out OF the weaving room she SAID
her husband ives IN the top story MI McCrury told her
NTH story when we came out OF the tower Mr.. Me
Crury aud myself went toward the sonth end Of the nl
am acquainted with MT hcCruTy as lar as speaking 10
him Wneu Mr. McCrury aud went around to the
end OF the mil we saw a woman jump
with Mr. McCrury | said, "What the deuce has
started this trei' he said he could not tell; Mr. Me
Crury went up as quick as he could as high as the fourth
story he could not get into the door OF the fourth story
Mr.. McCrury did not call to the help in the as he
went up he went up as fast as lie could did not sup
pose any help IN thr rooms he up; we
went the shop and tried get up the eleya-
while gone McCrury tied around his mouth
and then went up we were IN the bottom weave shop
and | followed and drew the ladder up;
Mr.. McCrury went up into the third story
aud left on the second story he drew up the ladder
into the third story; did not him again until saw
Mr.. Bean superintendent Of the Merchants MILL and
Mr. McCreery the cotton house Jumped do wn from
the second story through the elevator slide the bot
tom shop, whore met the chief engineer; | was
ordered take ladder round to the cotton house we
found ladder IN the third story where Mr. McCreery
had left 1t have seen Mr McCreerys statement; did
not read II through
James L, McCreery, the superintendent was then re-
called, and testified rs follows do not know the last
Witness James Hanford never saw HIN before that
know Of did not refer 10 this incident OF getting M
through the elevator slide, in my first statement be
cause 1 broken of from full statement OF ali my
NOV eInents by being cross questioned.
This closes the examination There have been AZ wit.
nesses examined. OF whom We're recalled Thr iurv
adjourned 10 meet at $3.50 a m to- morrow to suin M
the evidence, when verdict Will be given
CAPT. TYSON READY TO SET OUT FOR THE POLE