Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-06
Means Of Escape from burning build

The loss OF life at the Potter building fire in New
York last wees, has aroused public attention there
and in all the large cities OF the country To the de-
fective condition of the fire escapes and other APP
piiInceS for guarding the lives OF people in the
upper stories OF large and high buildings: and 10
the insufficient laws relating to such matters in
some places, and the failure To faithfully enforce
the laws on the subject in others. In Boston, IS
tn Washington and some other cities, laws have
been enacted or regulations made requiring that
fire escapes shall be provided in certain eases, but
without assigning any penalty for the violation OF
such laws or regulations. so that they are pract-
cally imperative. All fire escapes may be divided
into two clasSeS-fixe., and portable. All OwnarS
of buildings over TWO stories in height. in which
many people WORK III the day time assemble ut
night, and all large hotels should be provided with
fixed fire escapes TO b. approved by the authori-
ties, otherwise the merest apology for a means OF
retreat from a confiagratiOn will be offered as
satisfaction Of the statute. Even the best appli-
aDces Known, literally provided. would be hardly
sufficient in some eases; for if an easy stairway
seven or eight feet wide. is not always a safe
mode OF e1ress in case OF panic. what may be OK
pected when persons frantic with terror and close
ly pushed by flames are expected to chamber, one
at time, over high window sill and down
vertical iron ladder, (SuCh is used on some
buildings, and then to drop ten fifteen feet
from the bottom of the escape TO the ground
of people by such means while the flames would
only require as many minutes to reach them. The
Burroughs fixed fire-eScapa on the Riggs House
and other buildings in this city-a Washington in
yenti0n by which baskets be moved 10 any
Windows an excellent device for saving life.
winding iron stair case outside the walls Qike
that at the Ebbitt House in this city, and with ap-
prOacheS from each of the upper floors is one OF
the best escapes In Use, and that perhaps hardly
so good Il spiral iron shuss down which faint
ing women helpless children and in<alids can be
whfrled 10 the ground at a moderate rate of speed
by the force OF gravity alone. Rope or chain
ladders lOng enough To reach the ground should
be coiled inside each winiOw. with one end firmly
secured Where possible, arrangements for ready
access to roofs of buildings should be provided,
whence escape could be made to the adjoining
roofs We come how To port ibe fire escapes. In
the means OF eNtinguiShing fires ahead of
London and Paris; in appliances for saving life
they ahead of Us. In both cities named there
are portable fire escapes at every fire station
ststing of extension ladders mounted on wheels,
which can soon I've run 10 a fire and handled by a
few men. The best extension ladders now in use
are probably those invented by Chief Engineer
CrOnin. OF this city, and now in use here. New
York has one OF them. eightyfye feet long, and if
She had had more OF them the loss OF lives last
week miSnt probably have been prevented An
other ladder on 4 new principle is now being ex-
poihHehttd with Ill thiit tity Every NOOK ana
ladder company should be provided with short
rope ladders To throw from the tops of the extern
sion ladders UP To windows which they are not
long enough 10 reach, and every fire company
should b. provided with strong canvass rubber
sheets for jumping escapes" The Washington
nre department is now having some made.
The New York fire commissioners have now
under consideration the Improvement of fire
escapes, and the same subject is under discussion
by the authoritS in Boston. Chicago, Philadelphia
and other cities IL is 10 be hoped that the agitation
VIII result in decreasing the danger of loss of life
by fires in eur cities. which has been constantly in
cTeStng with the increasing height Ofthe buildings.
Prevention. however Is better than cure and there
fore ii NAV be as well To suggest Ia this connection
that all hOi5tingS or elevator wells should be made
OF boiler iron and riyettcd to iron posts not con-
nected with wood w0rh, and that the elevators
should be built some distance from the stairs.