The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-28
The Lessons OF the st. Andrews
Church Disaster.


the causes of the Duane street disaster with a
more hopeful spirit than that with which we
contemplate so much misery and death. But
no power can summon the departed, and our
duty is to search out the causes that led to
their terrible fate and to do what we can to
allay the sorrows of those who live. A move
meht is on loot as we observe in our news
columns and in the columns of other journals,
to alleviate in some way the wants of those
who are left in distress by this calamity. That
is an appeal which none of US can resist, and
we trust it may enter into the thoughts
of the kind-hearted this morning. But
the lesson to the community is, What caused
these disasters, and how can we prevent their
recurrence? This special calamity is not of
an exceptional character. 1t may occur
any day. New York is q city pre-eminently
subject to fires and high winds. Nature with
us-and especially as manifested during such
winter as the presents capricious and
severe. We never know what we may not
expect from the cold, the ice and the snow
from the gale and the flames. Consequently
our duty now is to see how far this disaster is
the fault of those in authority, and to what
extent others are liable to occur.
In all inquiries of this character it is hard
to search out the truth. It vanishes at every
step. No question is more difficult than who
is to blame This is not case of positive
moral turpitude like setting fire to hotel or
sending railway train off the track. No one
wanted to throw down this wall. 1t was to no
ones interest that death and pain should sud-
denly fall upon congregation of pious wor-
shippers, deep in Lenten devotions. Not one
OF all who are in any way to blame who will
not feel the keenest sympathy in the misery it
entailed. But, while we do not seek for abso-
Lutte guilt, as with murder or arson, the respon-
slbility is even greater. What is the use of
law and authority and police system and all
the machinery of order and society If we are
to be always in such peril as this of Duane
street? We have laws and magistrates and
officers to prevent these occurrences Nat
urally therefore, we turn to the Mayor. He
is the head of the city. 1t is his duty to see
that the ordinances are enforced. The case
is not political outgrowth of ambition
GLu IL ID uOJ d ICluCtuAI OoulptIOlcT,
resolved to ''stick, or slippery Corporation
Counsel, who will not be caught A great
wrong has been done to the people, and the
question is, How far has the Mayor enforced
the ordinances made to prevent and punish
such a wrong? Well, nothing has been done.
The Mayor has surveyed the church, tapped
the walls, walked around the ruins and will
now consider the matter. With him rests the
power to investigate and punish. What he
does, TO be efficient, should be prompt He
was not in ofice more than few days before
he could send Delafeld Smith most elaborate
Here was case demanding even more promp-
titude. AS it is the investigation begins as
leisurely as if it would last as long as the
Beecher trial We are to have inquiries and
discussions and examinations, q tedious in
quest, prolonging and postponing the real in
quiry until the feeling passes away, new themes
arise to attract popular attention, the guilty
are forgiven and forgotten while the public
conscience will lie dormant until shocked by
another calamity.
We confess we are disappointed at what
seems to be the apathy of the Mayor The
city looks to him, as its natural guardian, to
do something at once. We can never have
the laws enforced unless punishment follows
swiftly upon sin. Looking at this case from
the superficial testimony already given the
sin is clear enough. The department in
charge of unsafe buildings did not do its
duty Notice was given that the wall was in
dangerous condition nearly six weeks ago.
Yet in all that time nothing was done. The
law provides that warning of this kind shall
be obeyed within twenty-four hours. Why
was this warning allowed to go unheeded for
six weeks That point is very clear. Any
department which takes six weeks to remove
public danger, which the law commands to
be removed at once is at fault. Next to the
officials in charge of this department the
blame tails upon the priest in charge of the
church. A priest has post of peculiar
responsibility. Thousands are under the
influence of his holy Office. He asks
them to church, and it is his duty
to see that the building in every
way answers the purposes of devotion. 1t
was not for the worshippers-not one In twenty
of whom had ever heard of this threatening
wall-to pause and ask whether the house of
God was really place of safety. This is not
the spirit in which the faithful attend church.
They go in security and comfort, feeling that
the priest or the clergyman has done all that
can be done to enable them to worship in
peace. Tine priest in charge of the church
knew OF this wall He knew of the fire and
the danger which it entailed. He knew-no
one better-what would be the probable effect
of the falling OF such wall upon church
filed with worshippers. He knew that in
these wintry times nothing is more probable
than high, severe, sweeping gale. 1t was
therefore his duty to compel the authorities
70 ranoxe the nerll that hung over his church