The New York herald., 1877-09-14
THE RECENT FIRE.

BE OVERHAULED-THE COhONEh Inv onSA'
The disastrous fire in Thirty street and the
remedies necessary to be applied in order to prevent
future disasters of a similar character have aroused
the Aldermen to the necessity Of immediate action by
the city authorities on so important subject Al
yesterdays meeting Of the Board Mr. Morris presented
lengthy preamble and resolutions in relation to the
matter This preamble sets forth the following facts:
That the and loss of lie which occurred few days
ago has produced feeling OF dread In the neighbor-
hood OF largo buildings and particularly in that Of FAC
tories Investigations usually follow such disasters,
the verdict being always tie same-placing the blame
and responsibility on no one in particular The Build
ing Department comes in for its share OF Indignation,
and Immediately the Superintendent and all the en-
poyes give their views and cast the load on their
shoulders and ON TO the deficient law or act undcr
which they work The department should be clothed
with absolute and arbitrary power In new act or the
old one with proper amendmenta
In the reorganizng of this department supern-
tendeu empoye. except clerks in the office should
be appointed to positions the department unless he
Is skilled workman at his trade, either as carpenter
or mason OF FIVE years. experience previous to ap-
pointment; and to appoint any person without the
above quancatiou should be good cause for the re-
moval OF the Superintendent Any person feeling
aggneved at this act and wanting time, should apply
the Superintendent in writing and If he thinks well
fthe application he should call meeting OF inspectors
and examiners and state his views Afterward they
might make visit OF inspection OF the premises IN
person and OF the Board approve an ex-
tension of time not 10 exceed thirty days may be
given. In the last calamity, as in previous ones,
where persons are knoSn 10 have been buried under
the debris, the agent Of the land shall, by
order of the Superintendent. or deputy superin-
tendent Immediately have the same removed, to
make examination Of the premises Tor The recovery
Of the Klled and injured. In case Of failure to COM
this work in i've hours after notice has been
ena in Inv nsft tU0
a notice the premises, the Superintendent or
deputy shall employ aborers and the Comptroller Is
authorized to advance the funds TO go on with tho
work. the expense being valid claim ON the owner Of
the land.
also requested TO appoint commission OF experts TO
consist OF practical builders known as carpenters.
masons and architects, and also the Commissioner OF
Public Works, Chief Engineer OF the Croton Board and
Corporation Counsel the last named to prepare new
bill such amendments to the present law as this
Board shall recommend sfter reviewing the testimony
taken the Of the fire. They shall have power
examine the present Superintendent and his subor
dnates to they are capable persons to hold their
present POSITIONS and to mako any other suggestions
that may be necessary
Consideration OF the whole subject was referred to
Alderman Salmon presented resolution, which was
passed, calling upon the Board OF Apnortionment to
transfer in their power, some money for the pur-
pose OF aiding the sufferers by the fire.
THE CORoNERs INQUEST.
Tho inquest yesterday was formally regarded an
INQUIRY into the OF Peseneckers DEATH but
1t was supposed to cover the Of all Of
the bodies which had been found The inquest was
opered by Coroner Woltman stating that since the
Jury had been mpanellcd tour other bodies had been
1ound.
DR.. Cushman then furnished an account Of the re-
suit of his examination OF human remains found in
the building and stated he could find but four pelvises
THE STORY OF THE FIRE REroLD.
John Hartou, OF Eighty first street and Eighth
nue., was the first witness. He stated:-I am a war;
nishcr in the employ of Mr.. Hale contractor tor
the vanishing, and have been so for ten eleven
years occupied the fifth, SIXTH seventh and eighth
oors of the factory at the time the fire broke out
was the fifth floor, whchwas used for vanishing;
at about nine O'Clock A. NJ heard the cry Of "Fre %
come from the floor below me: at once ordered pals
OF water there were about ten men the door where
l worked; the ffh floor there were about ten pals
OF water; ! went to the sixth floor, singing out,
.'Boys there Is fire IN the building; get the water;
then went to the se, enth floor; on that floor met
my ioreman John Renus; next ran to the eighth
floor, where acted on the other floors; when the
men drop The pals; now ran to the eighth floor,
got my books and put my street clothes except my
hat my foreman called on me TO hurry and get out;
went to the west side where there was chain fire
escape; We lowered q number OF men by this means; ;
l remained AT the window while the fore.
man was at the bottom; he sung out for me
to come down TOR Gods sake; took the chain ana
escaped; some eight or ton men clung 10 IL from the
different and all escaped safety; twenty i've
or thirty minutes elapsed from the time the alarm
given until lett the building; there was plenty of
water on tho fifth foor-vz., four or five hogsheads
and ten pails which filled, the used
In the work. there other means OF extinguish-
ing ire; the room worked in was about two hun
were sixteen stairs in the building two being on each
hoor two fire escapes, one ladder and ore chain,
The east side and two on the west side there
no escapes either The Thirty fifth Thrty-sixth
side escaped by the cham escape nearest Elev
enth avenue; had eighty men in my employ; six
missing viz, Albert Lee who worked on the hlth
floor; Nichoaus Mang, who worked on the seventh
floor; Seigs who worked on the eighth floor; Graber
who worked on the eighth floor; Compnger, who
worked on seventh floor; rhe water hoisicd up
every day from the second floor, the pressure not
beng sufficient to bring the water TO tire fifth floor by
means OF the pipes.
MIR John G. shaw, ON behalf Of Mr.. Hale, cross.
examined the witness but ELECTED nothing beyond the
statement that in his branch no nre was used.
THE FIRE ALARM
Edward SelIew an operator OF the Fire Department
telegraph swore that the first alarm came at thirty
eight minutes past nine from box No. i63, located IN
Thirty fifth street, between Tenth and Eleventh ave.
hues; ut iorty-two minutes past nine q third alarm
came: at atty- three minutes past nine special call
was sounded for the second alarm companies at fifty
three minutes past nine an ambulance call came in,
which was followed by several special calls
INEFFICIENT WATER SUPPLY.
John c. Campbell, Chief Engineer OF the Croton
Aqueduct Department. testified that he has charge Of
the distribution OF water. There are small pipes laid
on Thiry-nfth and Thirty sixth streets, Tenth and
Eleventh avenues; they are TOO small for the supply
OF water required by fire engines at large lre Ho
recommended that larger mains be laid In that part
OF tho cty larger ones exist ON the west side, below
Fourteenth street.
Charles H. Hyde chief of Fire Escape Bureau, testi
fed that Hale's piano factory built in February.
1871 the second story its walls were twenty inches
tnck thence 10 the third story sixteen inches thick
aud above that twelve inches thick. Tho portion
Of the factory had walls twentyiour inches thick
the second story. twenty inches TO the NTH and six
teen inches to the top; the walls were built In
cordance with the law; witness considered the fire
capes the factory ample and the other means of
egress sufficient without the escapes Mr. Hale put up
the escapes voluntarily; witness considered the bua-
Ing sae all the plans were approved by the Depart
mcnt Of Buildings.
Peter j. Vanderbilt, the builder Of Hae's factory,
corroborated Hydc's statement.
William Ii. Wagner testified that he Is the brother-
iu.iaw OF the deceased Otto Pesenecker he had recog.
ntua n wont ia bOd n tha
The inquest at this point was adjourned until this
morning at eleven o'clock.