Daily Republican., 1881-10-31
Fire Escapes.

Fire Escapes.
Since the disastrous Landenberge
Mil fire in Philadelphia, some two OF
three weeks ago, which resulted in burn.
ing q dozen or two helpless operatives
to death, the subject OF fire escapes at
tracts considerable attention not only
in Philadelphia, but III other cities. The
attention of Chief Engine of the
Fire department, Mr.. Tazeweil, has
been called 10 the question in this CITY,
and casual glance around amongst
many of the places of public resort and
also our large manufactures where
large numbers of hands, male and fe
male are employed, but few of them
are found to have any place by which
escape could be effected, if a fire was
to break out like it did in the Landen-
berger mills and Immediately fill the
main stairway or passage to the hall
with fire and smoke. Many Of our Sc
cret Benevolent orders meet in the
third and fourth stories cf buildings to
which there is but single stairway.
If q fire was to break out suddenly and
cut off escape by this stairway, there is
no other possible means by which es-
cape can be effected, except it be bv
jumping long distance to the roof Ct
some other building in which ATTEMPT
there would be as much danger oil
meeting death, or becoming helplessIy
crippled fer l,fe as by rushing through
fame and smoke to escape. 1t is i'm
possible to invent any plan which could |
be made available in saving life un ier
all circumstances, but much could be
done to meet the difficulty. Even in
the high stories where secret orders
meet, escapes could easily be pro.
vided by outside starways and
bridges to other buildings. Even it
these bridges and outside ladders lead
only to the top of other houses adjoin-
ing, it would answer the end desired
in saving life. But while escapes are
important in any building, they are the
most needed in our large cotton manu-
factories, whore there are several hun.
dred men, women and children EN-
ployed, and where there would be the
most confusion ifa fire was to break ouS.
Where there are group OF mills the
value of bridges leading trom one to
the other cannot be overestimated. In
An article upon fire escape by the Phila-
delphia Ledger, the Pequea mills are
given as an example of how fire escapes
can be constructed. Thess, mills con
stitute group of buildings separated
Ivy court yards. The stairways are en-
closed brick structures, at each end ot
each building and are as comple etely cut
Oft from the rest of the mill as is posi-
Bile, while maintaining free cvlnuuni.
cation Herewith. The mills are con.
nected With each other at each floor by
at least two broad bridges, by which
the operatives ara expected to escape
from one mill, if on fire, to one where
they can descend the stairs in safety,
1t is recognized that the stairways
themselves in a burning building are
likely to become smoke tues, and the
most dangerous part Of the structure.
This in the Pequea mills is amply pro.
Vided against. AS a fire is not likcl,
same time, the burning of stairway
does not cut off all avenues of ESCAPE
when bridges lead from each floor to
other mills aud ether stairways. n
order to prevent confusion in case of
fire, the operatives are made familiar
with the different escapes by daily use.
For isolated manufactures the building
Of two brick towers are recommended.
separated from the building in which
to put stairways, and connecting the
latter with the mills by means of bridg-
es at each floor. This guards against
openings in the h)ors, by which the
flames can leap from floor to floor. Two
means of exit should he provided to all
mills, and private buildings, and more
to all places of public amusement Thi>
is matter that demands earnest at
fention, and if there are no or,iiuance~
OF laws to meet the case, tl.e sooner .
such can be passed the better will it be
Tor the SAT ty of Our citizens. A little ..
precaution Of this kind in the case OF
the Landepberger mills fire, would
have prevented a hOlocaust of sacred =,
lives, and the citizens of Wil.cineton
should not wait until after some d read ,
1ul calamity occurs before they com
mence using these much needed pre-
cautions.