The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-09-15
Our New York Letter.
A Terrible Fire---HntervieDE ing
N Tramp Political --. BHsi"

tory can not 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 wore injured. This loss OF life
was entirely unnecessary. Here was
great six-story building, full of com
bustibles, and crowded with working
people, and the only means of escape
in case of fire, was fire ladder at
each end and chair escape. So long
was the building that it was impos-
sible for those anywhere in the centre
to get to the ladders, and of those
who succeeded in passing through the
smoke and flame, only few got out
side where they could use them.
Aroun,i the narrow, small windows
that opened to the ladders there was
the same jam that blocked the doors
, of the Brooklyn theatre, and scores
persisted miserably within a few feet
of the place of escape. A thousand
dollars worth of iron ladders placed
at proper intervals would have en-
abled every person in the building to
escape. There ought to be a law in
every State compelling manufacturers
who mass large numbers of people to
make such provision for their safety.
Only a year ago, a similar tragedy
occurred i'll q factory in Massachusetts,
and in the city of New York there are
a thousand buildings liable to SO 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 at uncertain in
teryals hereafter there will be other
wholesale distinctions of life.
We have got to face another irrup-
ton of tramps very soon. The cold
hae eeapaenees1ar agss r
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 Railways care
lessly left open, are being already
robbed.
/ Iasked one of these tramps 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 barns.'
" You see,n said the vagabond, " in
the city the cops are always watchin'
of us, and you can't tlo nothin' with
out takin' Il blasted risk. But in the
country, bless you, ther' amt nothin'
to stand in the way. Two of us
watches till the men are away in the
fields, and we know tlier' amt no.
body in the house but women. Then
we goes up and asks for suthin' to eat,
wich 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 ther' is any loose property layin
round, we gobbles it. If the women
make any fuss we show pistol, and
that ends it. We don't steal enough
to make it worth their while to foller
US very far, and besides they are
afraid-for we have dozen or two in
the neighborhood."
g Do the women never make re.
sistance 2"
| "Certainly they do. Every now
and then we strike one who has re-
volver and a big dog, and they make
it warm for us. l have q hole through
my left leg, that woman in Steubel
county, New York, put there. An(
my pardner was nearly finished by {
bulldog, and then the men came up
and they beat us nearly to death
But ther' ain'tno biznis that you don
have to take chances i'll"
"If you can get all that you wan
to eat, without invading houses, wha
do you want to take these chance
for 2"
{" Eatin' amt all ther' is pf life
Clothes don't bother us muehS bu
:. ther is likker and tobacker. Then
; 5 |