Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-02

follow. Despite all heroism which one might
expect in throng Of such distinguished peo-
pie, despite all efforts TO calm the fears of the
multitude which brave and famous men
would undoubtedly put forth, despite all at
tempts al rescue, hundreds of persons would
be burned or crushed or suffocated
1t Is not scene TO dwell upon The very
thought of it is sufficiently narrowing. But
that it is possible the facts show u.s. And
how great the danger is may be realized by
remembering that underneath this floor,
packed, like Smyrna figs in a box, with the
well known men and beautiful women of the
nation, is a basement used for household pur-
poses. Here are the kitchen, the laundry. the
heating apparatus, the engine room More
over, the mansion is nearly hundred years
old. 1t Is constructed entirely OF timber, now
as dry and combustible as shavings
The walls and ceilings have been saturated
with the oils. paints, freScoeS and Dapier
mache decorations of hundred years. The
basement is filed with combustibe stores.
and is much cut up inGo rooms by board par
titions, which would leap into flames in a
twinkling. 20 the stairway at the end of
the corridor ID dense smoke would pour,
quickly filing all tine parlors Flames would
run up the stairs either at the end of the cor
ridor or Just at the left of the main vestibt,le;
but once IN the second story they would be in
a verltable trap, from which escape would
De well nigh impossible. There are no out
side stairwavs from the second story, no fire
escapes. There srs windows, but beneath
Them Is the glass roof of the Conservatory,
or the de~D stone court which runs along two
sides OF the house.
asked Col. Ernst, the superintendent Of
public buildings ard grounds, officially In
charge OF the White House, what De thought
would be the chances of escape in case OF fire
or panic during presidential reception i
recognize the danger" he said. '-and have
already done ali in my power to reduce IT.
we must nave a new White House. Tals
building was a great palace in its day, aud
when the country had but one-teutb the pop
ula@on whlcn : DOW possesses vas large
enough for the demands male upon IL Be-,
now it IS too small, and on every state occa-
sion is dangerously crowded. / am doing al
can 70 indacs con zTesS 10 enlarge the build
Ing by putting On s~o wings"
! ASKED Capt Di,ssEnore, the faithful and
intelligent major cou,o Of toe W nats House,
how the people could get out Of The lnAn-oa
IN case of disaster That, sid be, - JUS.
what / have often thought about Some
thing should Be done about it, and al once
We need more exits We need better protec-
taon from fire Why, went down 70 t1-
basement the other day 20 SO -aas appAl-
ances re had .o- lighting FIRE / found there
. few pieces ot hose, lat Tot one q toe en-
pkovs knew where ~ Row - make ne coup
lingS We have 20 fire exsiaglsSos-s excerpt
s. few hand grsnas,es, The e-1p.oyes OF the
mouse rave not been Irsined ar amateur
FIRE department have repeatedly recon Z
roendel 70 NV s1pe-i9Fs taa- so1eiassg be
done. bit nothing hss beea done. Tals h5zlse
woGid 60 10 IKE fssn i: j. onoe esggnt ire. I
II i OH dry. AMI TIE walls are covered VITA
oiLs ard vnrnlsaaz aave zen - people
~. EA- s1uss :. -. REC. .s-s pa q 49,