New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-08
chUsE OF THE FIRST AVENUE FIRE.

INVESTIGATIONS BY THE FIRE MARSHAL AND ooh-
oSER-HUMPHREY's CARELEssNEss.
Fire Marshal Sheldon yesterday took the testimony
of John Chrastil night Waterman at Fursten, Hson
Co.'s factory at Fnst-ave. and Thirty-nnth-st' VINO
was witness Of the fatal fire at No. 872 Frstave on
Sunday morning Chrast said he looked ou' OF a
second story window In First-ave. at lZ:ZO a. H. anu
ordered a disordery man away from in 'front.' Oh 'ne
factory At that time he exchanged few words Win
Humphrey who was standing in front OF his restaurant
Three minutes later he sawbe reflection OF the re on
the side of the gas house. When he got across 'no
street to the burning tenement house no person was III
front OF the place and the doors were closed police
man had already GWEN an alarm rap and had sent q
signal for the fremen. Humphrey was not IN sight
then and Chrasti did not see him alive aiterwaru'
Coroner Martin finished bis investigation IN the case
of the thirteen persons who were killed Oincer oo
Graham said that he Humphrey coming UP thT9ugn
the cellar door wien he reached the bui1ing. 6ar
phrey told him that his kitchen was on re IarT
Coglon testified that fifteen minutes alter the alarm
had been sent out the fremen arrived Jonn
second assistant chief of the Fire Department. sala
that he thought the fire companies had been as prop
and efficient as possible there had been delay IN senu
ing the alarm If there had been hre escapes IN .
front of the house all the inmates eouu nave
ont before the iremeD arrived. a.
Cbjsf SHAY agreed with bis assistant "a to the hre
and believed that the persons taken out dead
had been suffocaed before the alarm was sent rn NH
Lhnbacher tenant, told how he had saved his em,-
dren BY dropping them out Of a window Inc NOOK no.?
and ladder companies not appearing, he threw his eh
dren out one by one. They caught by people on
the street In lowering his wife she fell and was IN
iured internally He lowered himself by the cornces
Other tenants testified TO the house being full oil smoke
few minutes after midnight, and that the rear nre
escape burning. .h.
William Whikehart. inspector of buildings for tnat
district said that he considered the fire escapes on he
building ample il kept in order. The coroner asked
him if loss life would have been ayerted there hao
been fire escapes in front. lie said that it would ,
Mr.. Schw eitzer foreman of malt house, said that
one of his men told him that he went to Humphrey
restaurant at 10 o'clock Saturday night ana tnat
Humphreys fire was ont; but Humphrey rebuilt u
with wood over which he poured kerosene ana then
cooked two eggs II. j. Hung hrey brother OF Joseph
said that his brother did not set lire TO the mouse
though it probably resulted from his carelessness
policies found in his pockets were gwen TO nm py us
wife after the fire was discovered.
The jury in the verdict said that there was no evl
dence TO sustain the charge of arson against Joseph
Humphrey. The jury also suggested that al woouen
platforms now on fire escapes be replaced by r0n ana
that all fire escapes be extended 10 roofs OF Duldgs
that it be made criminal offence to obstruct lre es
capes with household utensils, flower boxes ana otner
impedments to escape In all cases OF isolated ouu
ings occupied by families fire escapes both 'front.' anu
rear be placed and also in houses occupied by iamlhes
living in front and rear apartments.