New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-12


rebound to the credit of all who engage IN 1t.
NOT An UNEXPECTED TRAGEDP.
One of the most exasperating features OF the
hotel fire in Milwaukee is the fact that the
catastrophe was not unexpected. liberal
allowance must lie made for tendency on the
part of human nature to exaggerate suspicious
which nave been suddenly and cOnsplcuously
confirmed Men are apt TO plume themselves
upon their clairvoyant intuitiOns respecting
appalling calamities. A collision in railway
tunnel, the collapse of suspension bridge,
stampede in "A theatre or tue destruction ol
large hotel, invariably brings to light an abnor-
NAL degree of suspiciCusness on the part Of the
community. No mention is made Of the fact
in Holy Writ. but undoubtedly whom the tower
in S loan fell there were wlseacres III the
ueigllborhood who did not think OF anybOdy's
sins. but Jagged their heads and muttOred that
they had always expected 1t, and had taken
pains for many years to cross over and pass at
n safe distance on the other side. In like man.
ner every catastrophe finds a section of the
local public fully prepared for IT, AS soon
as the dread event happens thousands are
have been secretly fearing or even publicly
predicting. There is probably only one man in
ten thousand whose dread of an accident on the
elevated railways will subject him day and
night 10 the ANNOYANCE and delay of street-car
travel for long distances; but If a serious loss
of lite should occur not only the one man but
n large majority of the ten thousand would be-
come preternaturally wise and suspicious after
the event, aud declare that 1t was only what
they had been convinced wOnld happen sooner
or later, and that the only cause for surprise
was that il had not happened before. Beated
prophecy of this sort Is not the best evidence OF
human foresight. There is great mass OF 1t
IN Milwaukee to-day, respecting "Wednesday .
calamity, which does not deserve serious at
tenton But when a most elastic allowance IL
made for this tendency on the part OF human
nature % magnify its apprehensiOnS aud to
exat il Judgment on supreme occasions, the
fact remains that this catastrophe had been
foreseen by cautious business men and expert
enced observers. Ii was not an unexpected
tragedy.
This statement Is grounded not only upon the
action Of the insurance companies in taking
risks at exceptionally high rates and in recently
pethcr, but upon the testimony Of an ex-
perenced man who was thoroughly acquainted
with the dangerous character OF the property.
Mr.. Bonuell who was formerly the proprietor
of the Newhall House, has told "A TRIBUNE Ie-
porter that he, and many others rs well, had
expected that the structure would be de-
stroyed precisely as IL has been. 1t had all
the interior arrangements required Tor a
rapid confederation. ~The partitions were OF
wood and plaster and we're hollow, SO that
when the fire was once kiDdied 1t ran Ike
electricity through the house. The floors
being of nimsY material, and not separated by
LAYERS of concrete from the ceilings below,
there were no distractions TO the progress OF the
flames. Outside, the Milwaukee brick afforded
"A fair degree of protection from fire, as was
| proved O year ago when "A building diagonally
opposlte was burned but inside there was an
enormous mass of finder ready ii an instant to
flash into flame and to become an utterly IN
manageable bonfire. This is substantially the
| description OF the hotel given by one of its
former managers. Ii he evinced little sur
prise when he was informed of the terrible loss
of life, it was because he was in "a large measure
prepared to believe that whenever the hotel
| should catch fire there would be no chance OF
escape from the upper floors. Apparently this
belief was shared by many cautious business
men in Milwaukee.
This is, we repeat, the most exasperating
feature of this sickening calamity. 1t was not
uDexp ected. Prudent and experienced men,
knowing whereof they were speaking, had said
to themselves and to one another, One of these
days that hive of human life will DC burned
like flash. and up there ut the top there Will
no no way of getting out" Insurance men
recognized the insecurity of the property by
Iaisipg their rates. The hotel was considered
one Of the most dangerous structures IN the
city. Yet 10 was allowed to stand until guests
and servants were at last overwhelmed by the
agonizing fate which had been SO long in mems
thoughts and OH their tongues. Morals may be
drawn from the disaster by the score. If any
huildipgs In tho world should be made fire
proof, hotels should be. IL any buildings should
DO constructed with special reference to slow
rather than rapid combustion, hotels should be-
II any buildings should be systematically
watched night and day by ar ample force Of
trained firemen, hotels should be- These are
good morals havinga wide application. Blu,
morals apart, the most gariDg fact Is the In
ability of tile public TO protect itself from
dangers and calamities which are distinct,