, 1881-01-23
4 CASE OF MANSLAuGHTER

ANY case In which fire involving q loss q
less than S5o,0o0 results in the injury Q
twenty-one men,-solne fatally, others fo
life, and all seriopsly.-warrants an in
ference of criminal neglect for which some
body should be held responsible. In tht
burning Of Mayer & Co.'S furniture factor,
on Canal street Friday evening, where TWEEN
t. hremen and one policeman were bruised
and manned, and nearly killed, such an in.
ference becomes plain matter OF fact upon
| Investigation. This, structure, which has
been standing eight or niue years, was \
! mere shell, and the danger came from the
fraudulent conceaiment Of the fact by sur
rounding the frame structure with a veneer
ing of brick. It presented the appearance of
solid wall, whereas it twas nothing more than
single layer OF bricks, piled one on top Of
the other, which, at the very moment the in
terror supports were burned away, crup,-
bled to the ground without warning. It was
Impossible for tiremen to work upon the fire.
IN sufficiently proxfmate position to be Use
ful without subjecting themselves to peril
Inc erection OF such q building as this ought
To subject the owner or builder to criminal
prosecution. II it was constructed Soon
inter the IRE Of 1871, and while every house
was being rushed UP for proposed temporary
occupation, then it should have been ahan-
doned and torn down long ago. But, even
under such circumstances, there was no ex
cuse Tor surrounding the structure with q
mere scmblance OF brick wall It should
have shown itself from the exterior to be the
mere frame shell it was, and the addition OF
-.
q Single row Of bricksv:on the outside only
contributed greater danger by reason Of the
deception, without adding any safepuard |
against fire.
1he whole trouble resolres itself into tie !
lne1nclcncy of building inspection and |
chronic neglect of the enforcement OF the
1re ordinances in this city. It may be that
*ne Ia" itself is not strict enough in its
ernls' but any improvement In this partIcu-
ar IS useless until the present fniunc-
ions shall be enforced. There is prob-
lp'y not single neighborhood in
us CRY where the residents cannot point
some hagrant violation of the fire ordi-
ance. buildings are constantly being erect
q WHICH do not comply with the most
o"ous requirements for protection against
fe and the crumbling Of walls, Frame | ,
uudings are frequently removed from. one
'caAty to some other within the CITY limits
a proceeding that ought to be prohibited ]
There are cases almost every $
" where barns are built under the exemp- I
N OF sheds, and where sheds are extended | c
menacing proportions. And one Of the b
'st frequent methods for evading the in y
auon and purpose Of the fire ordinance is a
Is very Feneering OF brick which proved to | o
so disastrous in the Canal street fire. fl
'ere should be special and thorough in al
ecton OF buildings with the PURPOSE Of as r
tanning and exposing every Structure =,
l1ch threatens other property and human ty
oy such fraud as this, and every such | so
acture should be condemned as a nnblic in
'sance and menace to public safety. and =
ed to the ground. ~
We 60 not see how the Common Conoc3, de
avoll taking special notice at it's vary ~
{ meeting OF the subject which the Cans, ~
et fre suggests. If it had not been for III
accidental Intervention of pile of I1m- nr