Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-14

PHILADELPHIA, February l3-The build
ings at the Block!ey Almshouse, where, up
to noon, twenty-eight dead bodies had been
recovered, have long been regarded by the
Building Inspectors as "desth-traps." The
woodwork was old and worm-eaten, the win
dows high and narrow, and the stairRays
leading through the Railways having all the
characteristics Of immense Aues, were noto-
riously dangerous. The danger Of a panic
was the subject of frequent discussions at
the meetings of the Board of Poor Guard
ians.
The buildings at Blockley surround an
immense courtyard. The insane depart
ment was at the extreme west of the square,
and was separated from other departments
by fourteen foot stone wall At the east
ern end the Philadelphia Hospital occupies
a building corresponding to the main build
ing of the insane department. On the
north and south, and within fifty feet of the
FIRE line are the male and female "ou,-
wards" of the slmshouse. The out-wards
are crowded with aged paupers.
It's Dangerous Conditions.
Two years ago the dangerous condition
of the Blockley buildings became so notori-
rious that the inspectors ordered the erection
of FIRE escapes on all buildings over two
stories in height. Previous to that time no
effort had been made to provide way OF es-
cape for the inmates in case of FIRE, aud
conAsgrstion would undoubtedly have re-
suited in the death of hundreds Of sick and
aged paupers.
Aiter several months of maneuYering
with the Finance Committee Of Councils.
an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars
was secured, and proposals asked for the
erection of FIRE escapes. The bids were far
in advance of the amount appropriated by
the City Legislature. The Finance Com
mittee were sounded as to the probability
of q transfer being secured. They declared
a further addition to the appropriation i'm
possible. In this emergency, it was sug-
gested 10 the Poor Board that the work
could be- done cheaper under their own
supervision, Plans for the escapes were
then prepared By John Snyder, the Aims
house Overseer, and the work contracted
for piecemeal.
Death Traps.
The work was pushed rapidly, and the six
escapes" planned By the Inspectors were
completed within two or three months. The
day they were completed the Philadelphia
Times, in a column article, denounced them
as "death-trsps,' and utterly unfit for the
purpose for which they had been built. An
investigation proved that the structures
we're Just and timely. The escapes were
declared to be the most monumental off
sp,ings of stupidity ever built under the eye
Of a public official
The two escapes erected at the Phila.
deIphia Hospital were "chimney.shaped,
and were in effect square hues with the
wall of the building forming the inner
side. They were built of brick, and had
measurement of twenty feet to side. The
escapes" extended to the roof of the
hosprtal, and were approached FROM each
floor by long galleries extending beneath
the windows. These galleries, with the
exception of the framework, were built OF
one-inch scantling. Once burned there
was no means of entering the escape eX.
cent from the roof What was more re
markable, the stairwsys within the escapes
were
Built of Wood.
Four escapes" were erected on the build
ing consumed in last nights condagratioa.
Two of them were in every way similar to
the "man-traps" erected at the Hospital
The other two were built out from the wall
and there approached by platforms. These
platforms were II feet in width and fully 10
feet long. and were Hoored with Plsnking,
the only iron work consisting OF two narrow
girders imbedded three inches into the wall.
ihe uselessnsss Of these wooden es-
capes,' and the constant danger they
threatened, was constant menace
10 the attendants and physicians in
charge DR. Richardson, the physician in
thief denounced them as unsafe aud i'm
| practicable. In addition to the rattle
rap character of the escapes, the doors
leading to theplatforms were always locked.
This vas done, it was said, to prevent the
escape of the patients The difficulty in
oblsining the keys, and the excitement at
tending the burning Of the platforms added
to the horror Of the scene. The msddened
patients crowded around the escapes aud
| watched, with frantic terror, the platforms
burning under their eyes. Many attempted
to escape through the flames, and Others
were conducted to the courtyard only with
the greatest difficulty.