The Morning herald., 1876-07-31
KIlBaroM6I.
.tmnnE = FxACR u
BlGITY.

shocked BY the recital ofterrible accidents.
Buildings fall, and burn, and lives are lost;
but still there are none who can be held as
culpable for the disaster. The form Of an
inquest is gone through with, by the de-
liberations Of jury, and verdict rem
dered that it was the result Of accident. II
is refreshing to note after 50 much jesting
with very serious matter, that inquests
are beginning to be matters Of earnestness,
and recently some very sensible verdlcts
have been rendered. by which the culpable
parties were made to answer for calami-
tous results that were hitherto considered
as accidents. New York, if we are not
mistaken, was the FIRST place to take this
evil by the throat and hold it up to the
light OF Justice. 1t was when the "West-
field" ferry boat, loaded with passen-
gers for Staten Island, was blown up and
over three hundred killed and maimsd.
The company was censurcd, and the cap
tain and engineer came very near meeting
a kind of justice that ends life at the ter
mination Of hemp rope.
1t had salutaiy effect, and engineers
are now made to exhibit genuine certifi-
Gates before they are given employment.
The engineer of the "Westfeld" ives an il.
literate negro, who had previously served
as fireman, and by his incompetency silled
and manned over three hundred. Such
verdict as was rendered in this case, 4
used in others of a similar character,
might prevent terrible disasters to both
life and property. Joists give
way in churches, and the con-
gregations are precipitated in mas
to the basement below, buried in "debris," +"
and although an examination Of the build
ing Invariably shows def cts in the archi-
lecture, the builder is not held responsible
for the calamity, Notwithstanding he put
up the building, and knew at the time that
he was running risk by letting certain
parts Of it go that must some day give way
with precisely.the same results as those that
do occur.
This most frequently occurs in large
cities where the work is hastily put to-
gether at contract prices, and to meet de-
mands upon the builder for services upon
some other building. But we contend that
builder in sighting any portion Of the
work on building that he erects, is just
as much responsible for any disaster that
may occur as though he had committed it
as a premeditated murder. There is
another class of calamity which should be
considered in the same light, and thai is
when people meet their death by burning
simply because the building in which they
loose their lives,is not furnished with the
proper means Of escape. The verdict Of q
coroners jury in Philadelphia, in a
case of this kind, must meet with popular
favor. A large mill caught fire
and a number Of the operative
were either burned to death O
met fate more summary by jumpip.
from the high windows and breaking thei
necks. An examination Of the building
made clear to the jury, that the prope
means of escape were not afforded tn
building by fire escapes, &c. The jury il
returning its verdict, censured the propri
etor and occupant Of the mill, and tn
coroner found it necessary, aiter consider
ing the wording Of the verdic
to hold both of these men, and it ma
cost them telm of years in the penitent
ary for very culpable neglect. There
no reason why these men should not b
held - account for this calamity, and sue
summary action in these cases always upo
the part of coIoner's Juy, would teud t
do it.
| We have here in our city, many larg
buildings, that without the proper mean
of escape, employing a large force of work
men and workwomen, in event of fiji
would cause terrible loss of life. Ther
is nothing more calculated to cause pani
upon first alarm, than knowledge thu
the avenues between life and death are s
: few, whereas, if the knowledge was oppc
site, there would be more presence of m;nt
We give this as hint to the owners an
occupants Of such buildings, if there al
any such in our midst, that could be we
profted by. What We have said, migl