The New York herald., 1875-09-22
THE AERIAL LADDER CALAMITY.


CHIEF BATES ON THE WITNESS sTAND-THn
OPERATION OF THE LADDER EXHIBITED TO
THE JURY.
Coroner Croker continued the inquest into the aerial
ladder calamity yesterday at the Coroners Office. The
usual number of interested curious persons in
attendance Only two witnesses examined
Thomas c. Lee of the 1remen who was on the lad
der, and Chief Engineer Eli Bates During the examj-
nation of the latter several jurymen expressed desire
to of the three remaining ladders put in
ton Accordingly Mr. Bates directed foreman, who
was present. to go and order ladder TO be brought
around to Mulberry street at two o'clock The
order was complied with, and at the hour
designated the aerial death trap wheeled
into Mulberry street. between Prince and Houston. OF
course its appearance that densey populated section
brought thousands of people its operaton but all
interest was at lost in the show when it became
generally known that no ambulances had accompanied
the ladder truck from its quarters the crowd very
properly nferrng from this circumstance that the fire.
men would not be required to "go aoft"
Tho jury went out to the ladder worked and
everything having been made ready, it was slowly
raised to elevation of fortyhve degrees, then to
about sixty and finally to seventy, in which position 10
allowed to stand several minutes Special officer
Heaey of the Coroners Office endeavored to persuade
couple of urymen to ascend explaining to them that
they would thus be better enabled render inteli
gent verdict in the case but his powers were
unavalng
To-day the case will be continued, and it is under
stood that in the course Of the afternoon Mrs ida and
Mr.. White will be placed on the witness stand.
TESTIMONY.
Thomas C. Lee, fireman attached to Hook and Lad
der Company No. 8, testiied:-I detailed the
morning of the l4th inst to participate in an expert
with the aerial ladder at the junction Of East
Broadway and Canal street, | assisted in raising the
ladder. and about two sections up when it broke;
received my orders to mount from Chief Nash there
Were think, eight or nine men on the ladder when it
broke; never received any orders as TO how many
allowed at one time upon any OF the sections
of the ladder was below the section which broke at
the time OF the accident
Eli Bates, Chief of the Fire Department. was the
next witness. He testified folows:-On the 9th Of
July last was authorized TO place two aerial ladders i'm
the service by the Board of Fire Commissioners; I
located one of the ladders IN Canal street, in Chief
Nash's battaiion directed him 10 make details from
his command from time to time and instruct his
men in the handling and raising OF tho ladder, and
when he considered them compctcnt 10 report
TO me; the ladder taken 20 the junction Of
Canal and East Broadway the morning OF tho
18th by Chief Nash and about nine men; Chief Nash
directed the 10 put the ladder together aud when
he had raised to an angle OF about sixty degrees he
ascended the ladder about forty feet he then looked
down and called to his men 10 raise the ladder hgherS
this was done until 1T reached an angle OF about seventy
five degrees; he then said that would do and again
mounted, followed by Mans and Hughes others fol-
lowed aiterward; cast my eye up the ladder and saw
that of the had gone above the fifth section,
Immediately called out that would do; | then
that three or four men on the lower part mad come to
standsti; again told them that would do, and to
come down; gave those orders because considered
of the men had gone beyond where they had any
night to with the number of men that on the
ladder consider that should have gone uD
more than sixty feet, or the fifth sixth sec
tions, as the strain would be too much; I
had frequently told Chief Nash that it not
safe for more than TO go to the top of
the ladder observed that section three of the ladder
about five feet from section two bulged out the
right slde observed this after had gwen the order
TO come down; the break followed almost Immediately
after; don't know OF any direct reason that caused
tho ladder TO break except that the strain Of the three
men the top sections of the ladder much;
think that the ladder brought at the request OF
Mr.. White, who wanted to exhibit it to of his
frends consider the ladders quite when properly
used, otherwise l should order further practice with
them discontinued; am in no way Interested in the
ladder except fireman; after witnessing expert
ments with this kind of ladder some years ago in
City Hall square recommended their adoption by tho
department; was not asked by any recommend
the ladder, nor did receive anything for having
done