The Washington critic., 1890-04-30
An onn r1nnmAN,s VIEWS.
Suggestions as TO Saving Life at Fire
ana Fire. Escapes.

1he sad catastrophe winch occurred
in Washington on the Morning of Feb.
ruary 3, by which three lives were lost
and two escaped with severe injuries.
suggests the idea that If fire escapes had
been on the building one life would
have probably been saved and two
others might have escaped unframed,
says William Duncan in the Detroit
Free Press. From statement pub
lished in our papers II might be inferred
that Miss Tracy, while cropping her
way through the hall, reached the head
of the stairs, whence she encountered O
denser volume of smoke coming up-
wards, which suffocated and caused her
to fall TO the floor. Had there beeneire
escapes on the houseit is very likely she
would have attempted to reach one and
would probably have been successful
as the further she went from the main
stairway the less oppressive would have
been the smoke
1t is rarely that fine residence is
burned, but when fire does occur 1t
nearly always ignites in the basement
or first floor; then, If 1t gains headway,
II pours into the stairways and halls,
rs there is always draft in them, and
the inmates first seek that way of es-
cape.
In view of the foregoing, I would
suggest that the owners of costly homes
place fire. escapes upon them. If made
ornamental and put on the sides or rear
they would in no way detract from the
appearance of the building.
The residents of cities should always
la..
dangered in their homes by fire speedy
relief will soon reach them, for the effi-
cheney of the fire departments in our
cities enables the members to reach fire
with their appliances and get into serv-
ice in from three to five minutes after
an alarm is given, which is ample time
in 80 cases in 100 to save the lives of
the inmates of burning building, If
they can be reached. If a person is
aroused at night by the smell of smoke
or cry of fire in burning building and
finds breathing difficult by reason of
the former, if the fire is not in the same
room. he may readily conclude that it
is much thicker in the halls and stair
ways, and to attempt TO escape by them
would be hazardous, and might be at
tended with fatal results.
The safest way would be to go to the
nearest window, open II (this would
give fresh air. and continue to shout
loudly for help until 1t comes. Some
minutes would elapse. which would
seem an age, and occasion terrible anx-
iety of mind, for it would be death if
persons thus endangered remained in
the building, and almost as sure death
if they jumped to the ground. 1t
would be almost certain that the fire.
men, with their clear, cool heads and
rapidity of action, would come to their
relief.
1t would not be wise to leap from a
window, unless the fire had approached
so near as to ignite the clothing, for in
almost every case it is attended with
some injuries or loss of life.
] know from personal knowledge that
any one finding himself in burning
building, in sutfocating smoke, had
better get down on his hands and knees
and crawl to the nearest door or window
than remain upright, for the smoke is
much less dense near the floor than five
or six feet above.
1t would be a wise precaution if
every woman in city and country would
have in her bed room at all times,
within easy reach, thick woolen
shawl or cloak. 1t might be used in
case Of fire by throwing over the head
and securing it tightly around the body,
and If she had an infant child, inclose
it within the shawl. The benefit would
be that the woolen garment would not
ignite as readily as cotton, and in the
time gained their lives might be saved
and one might rush through mod.
| crate flame without being burned tC
death. Men sometimes might save
their lives under the same circum
stances if they would put on a hat
draw il well down over the face, and
put on coat and button it up tight.
The promptness of firemen in rescu
ing people whose lives are endangered
does not lessen the necessity of fire es
capes, for when placed on dwellings the
inmates, knowing their location, would
in case of ire, rush to them for safety
unless the passages were too full Of
smoke, when they should go to the
nearest window, from which they coul(
be rescued.
I believe the officials of fire depart
ments will sustain the recommendation
that are here made with reference to fir,
escapes and the manner in which people
can help themselves in case of fire, AM
also indorse what ] have claimed tina
firemen can do in the way of saving lif
when endangered by the same element
The writer has we'll studied this sub
ject. The conclusions reached are draw
from an experience acquired in serving
us an active fireman of the old voluntee
fire department Of this city for twent.