New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-17
rHE HOTEL FIRE.

The hotel fire in Syracuse Is chiefly remark
able for the comparatively small loss OF nie
which was caused under conditions favorable
for producing q calamity of startling magni'
tude. So rapid was the progress OF the flames
that within half an hour one OF the largest ana
finest hotel structures in the interior OF the
State was heap of blackened ruins. From
the moment the alarm was sounded there was
no chance of fighting the flames. There were
barely more than five minutes in which to SEND
men through the halls to warn the guests. Inc
stairways were filled almost instantly with
smoke and the flames swept from basement to
roof. making an unmanageable bonfire OF the
building. 1t is most remarkable that the loss
of life does not exceed eight; and that the
number of injured out of large company OF
guests il 30 small. There are two circum-
stances which serve to explain the escape OF
the guests when aroused at midnight. one IS
the system of automatic fre-aarm bells IN
every room operated from the office; and the
other is the abundant supply of fre-escapes.
The alarm was given promptly and effectively
in every sleeping room, and the guests when
aroused had the means at banda rope and
a piece of wellington rescuing themselves
when retreat through the halls was cut on.
The hotel was a new one. and was supplied
with excellent electrical appliances; and the
requirements Of public law respecting fire.
escapes had been complied with
Ordinarily the moral to be drawn from the
rapid progress of flames in hotel or theatre
in the night is the inadequacy OF safeguards
for the protection of human life. In this in
stance it is simply amazing that the loss OF life
is so small, and the natural inference is that
much has been done by modern invention and
wholesome legislation to diminish the risks to
which travellers are exposed. Sudden as was
the outbreak of the fire there was time for
sounding the alarm in every room by mechan-
ism instantly set in motion from the office.
The new-fangled fire-escapes which hotel pro-
prietors have introduced under cOmpulsiOn and
openly ridiculed as worse than useless were
practically tested and found to be an excellent
device The bravery of fremen and tho timely
aid of ladders contributed to reduce the loss
of life. but the main clements of safety were
those which we have mentioned. Ileartrend-
ing as are some of the incidents OF this hotel
fire. the details will produce in mems minds
a comfortable assurance that safeguards against
calamitous contlagratons in public places have
been provided to considerable extent already
and are destined to multiply. Conditions were
supplied in this instance for reproduction OF
the horrors of other hotel fires entailing heavy
loss OF life; but safeguards had also been pro-
vdcd for the protection of the guests.
That these safeguards were adequate we
are far from saying. Something had been
done; very much more might have been add
ed. The hotel itself was extremely faulty in
construction, and it was not adequately pro-
tected at night by watchmen. The telegraph
wires in front of the building were responsible
for at least one failure to rescue inmates at
the windows Precautions had been taken to
lessen the risks from fire, but there were still
many things left undone. Hotel proprietors
should be compelled by laws vigilantly admin
istered to do everything in their power to pro-
tect their guests and employees.