New-York tribune., 1882-02-14
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

TESTIMONY OF Mr.. PoTTER's ENGINEER.
CONTINUATION OF THE INQUEST IN THE CASE OF
THE VICTIMS OF THE OLD WORLD BUILDING
FIRE.
The investigation before Coroner Herman as to
fhe cause of the loss Of life in the Potter Building
fire was resumed yesterday. Norman May q
in the e%p0y of S G he wa se
change the boiler in the building. He saw MT.
Potter and did the work under his direction. lie
soM SI' the boen tn the neW ne and connected
the boiler fue with the old one lie also titled up
two holes in the old tiuc on the fifth story: Inc
next morning. which was tho day OF the flre lie
went to tho building at 7:30 a. m. TO put Ill a
damper. ,,,
testified manly as follows
Twas employed by Mr.. Potter in october. Tho morn
ing of the fire there carpenter working on me rst
that he thought there was little fire up stairs saw
smoke issuing between the wall and the oor IN me nan
vater ran for pail Of water and on My my way met eta
mechanic Sog up t m % Of an e and op
looking up the elevator shaft saw the fire Increasing
Ihen put my boiler IL order SO dnat b o %Te mo S be
smoke coming uneomfortaole LEFT tine building 1e
Inc boiler w was gdoa IN hfs Condition WSs not afraid
10 use all the steam that was allowed That morning
s the M Th oS tune that ever heard Of exsye
materials being in The building was when an INSURANCE
Heltng and Packing Company had great deal frubber
gerous believe the ire originated between the base
inent and first story. There was gas pipe over tne
The tenants did gas from that pipe nave
offer felt the uc TO ii 1t was hot never uud
ws ou d @ not oe @ V head on the day Of the
IRE, nor under the influence OF liquor
Fire Marshal George II. sheldon testified that he
had begun investigation to discover the origin
of the fire. but this had not been finished yet. lie
did not know .hat he would ever be able to give a
positive opinion as TO its cause. From what he had
h. shp thnf thn az
old fiue which in some way whether from over
heating he did not know. set fire 10 the vain
scotng. 1t was possible he added that the hue
couli not do what was required Of it. lie thought
that the fire started about the basement floor. either
underneath or above it and directly opposite TIC
fue. There was an unnecessary delay OF SIX Inn-
utes in sending out the alarm, apd IN Ills opinion
the cal penter and ngDeer responsible for this
He thought that more OF the tenants might nave
escaped by the Park Row entrance If they had not
become frightened.
he heard OF the fire lie locked his safe aud went TO
position near the Post i-oiiice. where he saw the
people rescued. He thought there was a par
alysis' on the part of the Hook ana Ladder com
panies in their efforts to rescue the persons III
danger. The ladders were too short. He described
how the PEE pie climbed from the windows to the
ladders below them.
Chief Bates of the Fire Department, testified that
he reached the fire ten minutes after the first alarm
was given. When he arrived the fremen were doing
ali that they could. The Hook and Ladder COM
panies were prevented from using long ladders on
account of the telegraph wires. Each company was
provided with ladders from Twelve Iecl 10 seventy
ieet long bat only thrty-fiye feet ladders were
used. The supply of water was very poor IN that
neigbborhood on the day of the fire.. Several Jurors
asked why ladders thirty live feet long were used
in rescuing the people, when the companies were
provided with forty five feet ladders Chief Bates
did not know why longer ladders were not used
when they were necessary. lie said that some OF
The fremen were away from their companies
ing messages and in that way the companies we're
weakened. 1t was possible that the companies
were not fully equipped. and that they did not have
men enough TO raise the long ladders. He had not
heard that oilers of assistance from citizens were
rejected Jackson s. Schultz said that he had
watched the efforts of the dremen. and he wanted
20 know if the work they did was the best that the
New-York Fire Department was capable Of Chief
Bates replied that he would get the detailed report
of the foreman OF each company. and the jury could
iudge if there sufficient tifemen present The
Chef added that the efficiency of the Department
bad been very much injured since the Buildings
Bureau had been added to il, because lircmen were
nead In