Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-09-13
OUR NEW YORK LETTER
Tho Great Fire--Interviewin Q
Ira1np-Politica1-

New York, SeptS, 1877
Murder by Neanness.
The destruction of Hale's piano
factory cannot be ranked among the
great fires, for it was only one square
that was burned. But SO far as the
destruction of life goes, it will be re-
membered for years. Probably one
hundred men, women and children
were burned to death, and many
more were injured. This loss OF life
was entirely unnecessary. Here was
great six story building, full of
combustibles, and crowded with
working people, and the only means
of escape, in case of fire which was
liable to break out at any moment,
was a fire ladder at each end and
chair escape. SO long was the build
ing that it was impossible for those
anywhere in the centre to get to the
ladders, and of those who succeeded
in passing through the flame from
burning varnish and paint, only few
got outside where they could use
kDElns [AAOul0 LIC nali VS.
windows that opened to the ladders
there was the same jam that blocked
the doors of the Brooklyn theatre,
and scores persisted miserably within
few feet of the place of escape. A
thousand dollars in iron ladders at
proper intervals from each story
would have enabled every person in
the building to escape. There ought
to be law in every state compelling
manufacturers who mass large num-
bers of people to do this, and make
such provision, and in a very liberal
manner. Only year ago, the same
tragedy occurred in a factory in Mas
sachusetts, and in the city of New
York there are thousand buildings
liable to go at any time. But it won't
be done. There will be a great deal
said, the Hale's when they rebuild
will probably put on their Building
more ladders, but no one else will,
and in week or two there will be
another wholesale destruction of lives.
The Tramp Question.
We have got to face another irrup-
ton of tramps very soon. The cold
season has commenced in the north
east, and the advance guard of the
army has already shown ITSELF The
sturdy thieves are getting more and
more common in the parks, and back
areas that are accessible, and hall
ways that are carelessly left open, are
being already robbed. There is an
alarming increase of sturdy, unshaven,
unshorn, unkempt men standing on the
streets, looking with villainous eyes
into houses, to see whether robbery or
beggary will do best, and the police
are becoming more and more busy
with Migrants Those who got far
west during the summer, arc not here
yet, but when they come we shall
have our hands full. | asked one of
them which he preferred, the city or
the country. With charming frankness
he answered, the country, of course,
when the weather is warm enough to
admit of sleeping in the open air, or
in barns.
"You see." said the vagabond, Gin
the city the cops are always watch
in of US, and you can't do nothin'
without takin' blasted risk. But in
the country, bless you, Their amt
nothin' to stand in the way. Two of
us watches till the men are away in
the fields, and we know Their amt no.
body in the house but women. Then
we goes up and asks for suthin' to
eat, witch we don't RELY want, for we
kin kill and roast as many chickens
as we want. But while the women
are givin' us suthin to eat, we sights
about, and if Their is any loose prop
crty layin' round. we gobbles it. IF
the women make any fuss we show a
pistol, and that ends it. We don't
steal enough to make it worth their
while to foller us very far, and be-
sides they are afraid,-for we have q
dozen or two IN neighborhood."
"Do the women never make resist