New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-07
HOTELS AS DEATHTRAPS.
FIREMEN THE ONLY SAFEGUARD NOW.
TIE USE AND BEAUTY OF FIRE-PRooF TURRETs-
LETTER FROM D. CADY EATON.

TUE USE AND BEAUTY OF FIRE-PRooF TURRETs-
LETTER FROM D. CADY EATON.
TOthe EdttOr or The Trt6uns.
SIR: Not long ago, passing through the
metropolis put up at excellent hotel lifted
the top story, and deposited IN comfort Worry
irerered with refreshing sumber. Ia the fiddle OF the
night awoko out OF nightmare and into panic
imagined the hotel re aud myself ia the midst OF the
connagrstOn. A blaze OF gas always disspates such
nightmare pancs In tho morning the thought occurred
me- SnppOsng my SUPP osed situation had been real
and had actu been awakened by the roaring OF
flames to find every avenue OF egress cut OF but that
offered by the reescapo; what wOdld have been my
chanccs Before leaving the hotel examined as well as
1 could, in amateursh way to be sure all the fire.
escapes When returned the city put up at another
hctel and continued the examination. Ever since,
whenever in tho city, In hotel warehouse. gallery or law
chamber, l continue my observations SD far have
come TO tho conclusion that ordinary travellers, up six,
seven. stories in Now York hotol. were awak-
ened In dead OF nlght By fire which had already
consumed rendered inaccessible the usual Of
descent aud exit that they driven to the ire
escapes blessed one OF them wOnid set away up-
slneed, II a blessed one of them got away at ALL
Please osI your readers to examine with me. They
viii lind. to begin w!th that 1t would take some of tho
agility and presence OF mind Of trapeze performer TO
got on the escape at ALL and sim more 10 get started
downward Tho landing, II zen call 1t landing. is
In Instances foot, two three sDcT" or below
a window ledge. Imagine lot Of panic stricken men.
women and children in their nishtdresses crowded
about such a window. with smoke and flames pouring
from the windows about and beneath them. You must
take cases. for Is ouy In extreme eases that
tho escapes would into play. How long do you
suppose 1t would take TO get up or down on, lat
narrow grating elderly lady OF gOodly proportions
whose husband and children woui not take step before
heri And how Is to be nstantaneou5ly taught to
climb down that nearly perpendicular ladder with her
tender feet naked aud her one garment tripping The
thing Is absurd. She could not take the first step She
would elect not 10 make the attempt Rescues by fire.
escapes from factories reported But they
arc rare though the fire ia midday aud the n
mates he young and active perfectly acquainted with
the building aud knowing exactly where to at the
first sound OF alarm.
For the sake of further illustration let II he supposed
that the alrishted dodgers have succeeded In placing
themselves tue escape and arc starting downward
What thenl They would be- burned up like dies wings
before reaching the next story for il you VIII notice.
there hardly escape that does not pass dagonaly
in hOnt OF window door through which the CevOu
ing flames would be bursting. And II they did get down
alive, with hands and feet roasted as II on gyidTon
they might find themselves In "A well of fire where no
help could reach them. Half the escapes in New York
lead down into courts and back passages from which
there would be exit even IL could safely jump
tho twenty feet into them from where the escapes temi
nate. There is not an honest hotel proprietor In your
that the law regulating their construction IS farce; and
preservation, dependence Is entirely upon the
vigilance and skill OF employees upon hremen daily
drilled ana hrcpumps daily inspected But II Is appa-
ing 10 think what might happon II vigilance relaxed or
machinery failed. Every additional story quadTul les
danger
AZ the rule Is an excellent that critic should he
allowed to critice unless he have remedy TO offer for
tho evil denounced, the exposed, permit aug
geston. Let the Legislature OF your State pass law
making obligatory that every building OF I'VE or more
stories be provided with sufficient number OF fire
proof urres Tho shape Of the turrets is immaeral;
but IL is material that they be constructed from
bottom and throughout OF reprOOf substances In the
interior should be Staircase winding. IN sections OF
broad and OF gentle rises for provision must be
made for a CrOwc aud panic. Another and sluay I'M
portan condition is that the openings to the turrots be Mt
ths POINTS urthes from the building and that they com
munlrate with the building by oren passage ways or
balconies by these means tho turrets wonld be free
from even the dFaughts OF tho cOntagratOn. Once
within tho tuTrot safety would be perfected. As add
tOna security construction of the ur-et might he
independent the construction OF the building: that
no brick OF the should lap brick OF the other and
the turret would stand though the building fell Down
sucn turrot the dear Old lady who was mercilessly
burnt mp in the first part Of tbs article would step with
comfort and with the digned grace OF assured safety
Tho diagram gives the elements or the idea In their
sternest simplicity. Another point. II the turrets are
placed this inner sides NJ buildings, there must be
communicating tunnels OF TO tie streets,