New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-09
ST. GEORGES FLATS FIRE.
rIREMEN SAID TO HAVE BEEN THIEVES.
FLAMES FIRST SEEN IN THE CELlAR-A TALA WITH
YNspvCroR rsTFRPROOK.

FLAMES FIRST SEEN IN THE CELLAR-A TAIN WITH
INSPECTOR EsTERBRooK.
The SCENE in the burned st. Georges Flats yester-
day was one of damp desoaton. Several of the
tenants were removing the furniture and goods that
remained The furniture in the rooms IN 'front.' Oh
the dining rooms was mostly uninlured by the mIe,
and was nearly all covered with tarpaulns. The
Insurance Patrol told nephew of MIR. Burgess that
during the fire the house was alive with thieves thieves.
of the building, said that a fireman who was seen
breaking open bureaus by a member OF the hle
patrol and demonstrated with threatened To preak
the head of the latter at the next fire at when ne
caught him. Mrs. Parsons left in her bureau
watch valued at $500, and $50 The money was "A
purse which was small hand satchel.
TRIBUNE reporter met her coming ont OF the nou us,
yesterday afternoon with the satchel, when sne
had recovered from the bureau drawer, W ni
the money: and she said that she could ma no
trace of the watch The only front apartments
which the fire entered Were those oil Gtorse Sd ID,
Mcpherson, on the second floor west, WHICH "oio
completely Quilted by the flames MI, ;o,;.or
The cause of the fire is unknown. ne Jdullut
believes that it began in Mrs Parsonss linen GioSct,
next TO the air shaft on the third moor east: 1T
would seem, however, from the c0haltIon VI ,h 10y
building and the statement of Annie Hehernah' thS s
the fire began in the cellar at or near the ar sI AZ
which rims up close to the central partition on the
east side. Adjoining the air shalt IN the cela Siu
toward Seventeenthst is tTnnk closet anu Hb;rb
the trunk-roOm is built is badly chaTled. Anne
Heaernan, the servant of DR.. J. X. Hobbie, who
occupied the first noOr on the east slde silu ~ "
TRIBUNE reporter:
went down cellar about IL o'clock 10 get some
potatoes. and saw flames breaking ont around te t,o
Mrs Hobbie and told her that the house was ON nre
went into the Kitchen ana saw ioSt "a, am. i h,, in Inc
of the dumb waiter and out OF the az enai III i
hiningroOm. then ran down cellar again ana ..,u
for Fred, but he didn't answer and ran out into the
street
W. j. smonton, who occupied the seventh Hoor
west said:
When rented my rooms all three of the Folsor told
me that the building absolutely fire proof ana Mi
bnilGnS conid he made II the fire had occurred n the
niylt rot one
John H. Taylor son of John Taylor, the present
owner, said: ,,,
EVery pTecanuSn .se " ,S m sixteen abcock
tncushers and twenty water buckets had bech as
abep in as ANYBODY as 10 the character Of the building
never ought to be building put up OF thls -Ee anu on
scter thai is not fre-proof.
owner of the fiat house to tear down the rear
walls as far as the fifth story. In conversation
with RIBUNE reporter he SAID:
was not surprised at the rapid burning OF the ST
Georges Flats and my opinions regardng such huulngs
have not been change by the ure Inc plans , iUr
the bull ug showed that was not I" ne nrelool pu,
under the existing law. / was compelled 10 SpbIohe
Them Ny belief has been al along tns' PultTS
al that height ought 10 ne nle-prooi. @ 49,!
houses ought to be constructed that man Nug
that the flames would reach his own apartment He
show people tins city that the present Building law is
detective. | have worked in vain for TWO years,
yg re f There S now aanghr fire at Albany
which would prevent the building Of such houses as inc
st. Georges Flats 1t provides that an buildings oI
certain h-ght-eXceedng eighty feet II remember rlehJ
shall be thoroughly hreprOO In fiat houses OF less
height hill provides that the shafts for elevators ana
dumb-waters shall he made Of brick walls and suTmouned
by skylighs. Such shafts wOud fues TO keep
the smoke and flames from spreading through the bud
ing The starways would have to be reproof also ana
be protected ny brick walls Then people could get out
OF building II it took fire in the night such law is
urgently needed 10 prevent spectators from Dmlung
these monsrous death traps. but looks az there VIII
have 10 fTghtful loss of life before the POLITICIANS
viii permit such bili to pass the Legislature.
TO the EdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: beg the opportunity of correcting slight mac
the of the ST. Georges Fiat cat2strophy
Yesterday Mrs Carolina L. Burgess, who i nearly eighty
live old the guest of her sOD Mr. Walton Burgess
who had recently moved the fifth fiat on the east
side In absence OF Mr. Burgess, his wife, unhelped
and indeed little INSTRUCTED by the hdlfcraled IRE
men who mad occupied and mOnOpolzed tue front stair
WAYS with lines Of hose, managed 10 conduct and as
ssi the venerable lady with such admirable presence OF
mind that reached the street door almost unframed
by the smoke and with the least possible INJURY from the
uuwOnted excitement and exercise.
t was at door that Mr.. SchweDger met the
ladies conducted them places OF safety procuring
timely restoraves aud refreshment Mrs. Walton Bur
CESS was herself the rescuer OF her guest. q. J. X
NflrI York. ABrll g.