National Republican., 1883-01-24
NrI1wAuKEE,s MISERY.
Testimony OF the Proprietor Of the New
hall IIouse--Causo OF the Fire,

'AektiinOf1Y OF the NEOpEAtthA w Wv A'N''
hnII House Cause or the Fire,
M1LwAUKEE. WIS, Jan. 23.-Tho inquest
on the Newhnll house fire commenced this
forenoon. Landlord AntisdCl was placed on
the stand. lie could give no explanation OF
the cause of the fire, but thought it was the
work of an inccndiary. When he was
aroused, the fire had gained such hcadway
that all he could do was to save himself and
family. When his family were safe he
wanted TO return into the building, but was
prevented by his sons He had noticed
very strong smell of gas and unboarablo heat.
This led him to believe that who ever set the
fire had turned on the gas, and that the OK
ploson Of the latter spread the flames WIN
lightning rapidity through all parts oil tho
building.
WHEN HE WENT TO BED,
on the night of the fire. there were about forty
guests in the house. Two pages of the regis.
ter were filled with names. He retired about
1920 o'clock. He had in the house probably
fifty or over female employees. They slept on
the fifth floor, on the west side of the alley
way. There was door across the servant
hallway, at the south end. 1t was kept
locked until tho elevator fro OF March
4, 1874. The door was thin, ana
could have been pushed down by any
girl. On Dec. there were, All
told, eighty employed, but business had been
light, and many had been dismissed. There
were thirty males and most of them slept at
their homes. He had one night clerk, Tom
Delaney, and nightwatchmau, MCKENZIE
The lattcr's duties were TO make the rounds
through the house every hour and after, or
when late trains came in he took care of the
baggage, and occasionally took a man up on
the elevator. lie (McKcnzie) was nightporter
and bookblack but while occupied Mt tho
latter, Delaney made the rounds. The watch
man carried no stopwatch or clock. There
NEVER WAS AN ALARM RELL
OH the premises. There was 10 fuel in the
room near the elevator. lie discovered rub
bish in the room back of the elevator and had
it removed through Mr.. Nash and had the
room locked. Tho elevator was enclosed IN
pine lumber which had not shrunk particle.
There was no grease at the bottom of the ele-
vator. The open court was not used for stor-
age. person coming in ON Broadway could
90 down into the basement at any time. Inc
Michigan street tenants on the ground floor
leased from G. ID. Nash. There was
not n particle of fire in the basement
except in tho engine room. Ihero was q
fire plug in the latter room, MOST OF
the stores and offices on the ground floor and
the hotel were heated by steam from the hotel
boilers. George SchcllcT had had charge OF
the bar and billiard room since year ago last
May. A person could so from Michigan street
into the barroom and billiard hall and down
into the basement to the foot of the elevator
THE FIRE ESCAPES WERE THE SAME
as those in the PlanlSinton house. There were
no signs or indicators to show where the fire
| escapes were located. The house had been on
/ fire since he had been there upward OF thirty
| times. Mr.. Antsdel said that any part of the
| house that he had charge of could not have
| produced such fire unaded. The occupants
| of the fifth floor were nearly all lost because
| the hot air and smoke poured up as If shot out
of gun, and they were stranglcd. Ho could
not tell whether the occupants on this ilooi
/ lived until the floor burned under them OF
not. He could not tell how many girl'
had been saved, us the heads Of the depart
ments hired their own help.
The tcstimoney of two sons of Mr.. Antisde
followed, but it did not differ materially from
that of the former witness.
Tho inquest was then adjourned until to
morrow The district attorney says he want
to show that the first ones who tried to escap
had q harder time than those aftcrward
The first ones seemed to have been suiiocatet
with burning gas.