The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-28

VERDICT OF THE coRosRR's JURY CONSUMING
THE KEEPERS OF THE SOUTHERN HOTEL.


THE KEEPERS OF THE SOUTHERN HOTEL.
ST. LOUIS, April %, 1877.
The coroncrs jury In the inquest on the victims OF
the Southern Hotel re closed their labors this alter
noon and rendered u verdict. From the
testimony tho jury reached the conclusion
that the fire originated the basement OF
the hotel in their opinion In tho storeroon POSI-
bly, IN the wine cellar. but, in either case, near the
bottom Of the baggage elevator which carried the
smoke and flames almost instantly TO the upper floors
and roof of tho building.
As 10 the OF the fire the Jury say they have no
testimony sufficient TO base opinion on. As to the
appliances OF The hotel tor fires they say
they were complete with the exception OF pipes and
nozzes being wanted the floors above The paror floor
but. from lack oil system and want oil mon use
appliances, and OF rules for their guidance they
except for few minutes, In the basement and the
fire had then gained such proportions that the slight
efforts made there by the engineers ana rcmen OF tho
hotel were futile Tho Fire department ard Salvage
corps did their duty with efficiency and promptncss,
also did the Police Department.
PROPRiEToRs or THE HOTEL cENauRRD.
Inc essees OF the hote IN our opinion, are censur-
able in several PARTICULARS
Ffrst-Whilc providing the necessary material for
extingulshiDg hres they had provided no means for
their use.
Second-ln keeping in the storeroom aud wine cellar
a large amount oil nhammabc material without adc-
quate watching
7hird-In removing from their Office the gong
necessary TO alarm tho ipmatos OF the hotel IN OF
fire,
Fourh-In employing only one Waterman, and he
very inefficient man, and suppcmcDtlns ais duties as
such with other matters
Fffh--in the lack oil rules and instructions TO tho
employees AS TO their conduct and duties OF ere
Sirh-ln their making no eliceht efforts tho
night OF tho IRE To awaken their guests and employ
ers, laying however, stress the expressions OF
one OF the gentlemen as 10 the fire having been cx-
tingnishcd and that there danger, there rs
no evidence that any oil the guests were endangered
thereby.
RECOMMENDATIONS
n conclusion the jury make some suggestions look
ing to the avoidance OF such caiamitics the future
which may he summed up as foows:-That no hotel
public building should be unprovidcd with means
for extingushng fires; that u sufficient numUer
OF watchmcn should be employed detect
tire aud drilled in the OF appliances
for ITS extlnguishment, that in all large hotels
gongs bells large enough to be- heard through the
house should DO rung continuously until the safety OF
every guest and employee assured the starways
ana elevators should be placed tar apart
possble and that tho elevators should be
closed automatically or otherwise the platform goes
up or down; that the storerooms, vino cellars, car
penter's shop, &c, should DO made freproof
and carefully watched day and night that no
gas meter should be allowed inside OF such
buildings ana that OF the Of tho largest
in tho southern Hotel should be permitted nt all that
IN all large cities the duties OF building inspectors
should include the inspection OF all appliances Tor
tinguishins tires and that the men employed In
their management should be efficiently drilled