Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-17
LIVES LOST AT FIRES.
Ex-Chief Peabody Tells How Many
Might BE Saved.


Mr.. ]. J. Peabody. who was prominent as q
fireman in old times and as chief of the old vol
unteer fire department from 1862 to 1854, con-
versing with STAR reporter in reference to
the recent fire at Secretary Tracy's, said
''one lesson TO be learned is that people
should be educated not only in the matter Of
fighting and extinguishing fires but in the
methods Of self-preservation and Of saving
lives. Had those in the building retained
presence Of mind and followed the rules which
have been published in all large cities anc
taken, believe, from those adopted by the
London fire department, there would probably
have been no loss OF life. These rules are as
follows" said Mr.. Peabody, reading from a
printed manual:
THE RULES.
l. Acquaint yourselves with the best mea ns
Of exit, both at the bottom and top Of the
house.
q Send Immediately to the nearest telegraph
box or engine house.
8. Avoid all confusion. Admit no one but
fremen, policemen, friend or neighbor.
4. II ladys dress is on fire she should en-
deayor to roll herself in rug, carpet OF
wooden garment.
s. Avoid leaving the doors and windows OF
the room on fire open, as the current of air in
creases the force of the flames.
6. If bed or curtain is on fire beat on the
flames with o WOODEN garment till the flames
are extinguished.
Z. In escaping from FIRE creep or crawl
with your face to the floor.
8. If the staircase be burning so as to cut of
all communication, endeayor to escape from
the window; il no assistance is at hand and you
are in extremity, tie the sheets together, and,
having fastened oue end to some heavy piece
of furniture, let dc wn the women and children
nYla NV pnn hv tx-i,r no line ~ oh Il
the waist; you can easily let yourself down
when the helpless ire saved.
9. II you can neither make your way upward
or downward. get into a front room; if there is
family. see that they are all collected here,
and keep the door closed as much as possible
fire always PUSHES after smoke. There is al
ways from eight to ten inches of pure air close
to the ground; If you cannot, therefore. walk
upright through the smoke, drop on your
hands and knees and thus progress; a wet hand.
kerchlef or piece of flannel, or a worsted
stocking drawn on the face, permits breathing
and to great extent excludes the smoke.
10. Do not 80 into an apartment where there
Is a dense smoke, if you can help it, without a
saturated sponge or wet handkerchief.
LIVES MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED.
Mr.. Peabody, continuing, said: These rules
are excellent; all that are required if people
Would only maintain presence Of mind, act
with GOODNESS and follow them. Now we do not
know il the Secretary followed any OF them.
He was on the floor when found but says ii
was like nightmare to him. He probably was
only partially awakened when overcome. Had
he followed rule seven and crawled on his
hands and knees he might have escaped being
overcome. He could have reached the window
and have been rescued by the hook and ladder
truck, which was certainly on the ground in
time to have rendered such service. Then
look at rule eight The parties could all have
reached the window, but must have been
bewiidered. Had Mrs. Tracy remained inside
one minute longer the hook and ladder men
would have rescued her. Her death was caused
by the fall in getting out OF the window. The
cook who went on the roof seems to have beeu
one who knew the top means of exit and she
was rescued by the tiremeD, as would also have
been the French maid had she followed her.
In short, if the family and inmates had been
thoroughly educated in the above rules and
retained self-possession enough to have fol-
lowed the directions all would have been saved.
Had they run to the windows and remained
all would have been saved. From all have
heard or read of this fire the fire department
was prompt and that there was loss OF life is nc
fault OF theirs"