New-York tribune., 1891-08-27
ArTER LILLE DISASTER.

The town has been startled by the PARK
Place disaster and oppressed with sense OF the
insecurity of human life in great centre Oh
popuaion. For five days the press has peeh
6lled with the heartrending details of sudden
and agonizng death, the bereavement ana oeS-
titutjon of families of working people, ana tne
ghasty and long-protracted search for mangieu
bodies that are beyond recognition. hu'ndn
natur, cannot endure the strain of the demands
made by these horrible scenes upon sympatheV'o
hearts. With the suspension of work aihons
the ruins there will be a quick transition lroih
overweight excitement and morbid curioSi,9'
The motley throng which has surrounded inc
scene of the calamity day and night uIluer :"
glare of sunshine and in Grenching ralhlaii' WIN
disperse when the gangs of wOrkmen are us
charged and the police line is relaxed. Inc
lists of killed unidentified and missing VIII dls-
appear from the daily journals. and the Morgue
and the dismal police station in Church-st' VIII
cease TO be centres of interest 1or thous"'io'
of readers. There may be few calamity ser
mons preached on Sunday, but with one con-
sent all classes in the metropolis Will reverb
with a feeling OF relief to the accustomed
round of occupation and cheerful thoueh'' IL
tbera had been more energy and better organ
iza+ion displayed by the authorities III the re-
co,,erv of the bodies buried in the great ruo-
h-heap the people of this town would Already
have been talking OF some new thing.
The effect Of disaster is always tranSitOry
so far as public sentiment is concerned IL Is
= busv world. engrossed with worl1aday occupa-
tions and with the pursuit Of pleasures, and
strongly as it NAV be impressed with the sense
that lives have been want0nly and cruelty
wasted through criminal reckleSSness ana negh-
gence, it turns lightly to less serious matters OF
daily concern. In this instance the transl'iQh
will net. we trust, be so rapid as to leave III
destitution and want the families Of the working
poople who have pershed in the ruins. Every
reader must have noted in the details furnished
of the missing and dead how many households
were deoendent upon the weekly earnings OF
fbe men and women employed in that great hive
of industry. Death has brought TO many a
humble home not only sorrow but poverty IN
an extreme form. 1t is fitting that generous
readers who have been sobered by the terrible
recjtals of the week should contribute largely
to tbe necessities of the sufferers. TIE TRIB-
UYE will gladly receive and make proper dis
position of any subscriptions which may be sent
by its large circle OF readers for this purpose
The fact that so great a number CT wage
earners was employed in building liable al
anv moment to be shaken into ruins is one thai
ought to make something more than tlansltory
impression upon the public thought of this town
When a disaster occurs on railway or on the
ocean, the ordinary or extraordinary nSks ol
travel nav be considered as inevitable. Inc
reflection is at least justified that such calam-
tiles cannot be averted in each and every in
stance by the most panstaking precautions and
tbe hest organization. No conclusion OF this
nature can be reached in reference to the Park
Place disaster. If there be one thing when
wage-earners have a clear and indisputable llgh'
70 demand, not only of their employers Du'
also of the authorities Of this town, it is that
thev NAV earn their bread and support those
denendent upon them without risk Of collapse
of floors and walls and burial in a wreck OF
machinery, bricks and timbers. Every factory
hand is entitled to the assurance that his lifC
is not in mOmentary peril from the fall OF over
weighted and vibrating floors.
H. is admitted on all sides that there are
many buildings in NewYork and Brooklyn
where worxmen take their lives in their hands
every day. Something must be done about It
The Superintendent of Buildings must drop hi
explosion theories and his pretexts for inactioI
and set his men at work The dangerous struct
ures must be found, and owners, tenants ant
operatives warned of their peril. There ha
been sufficient power in the law to prevent thi
| disaster. The statutes have not been rgorousl!
enforced with due intelligence and diligence
A critical and thorough inspection Of all build
ings in which machinery is uscd is required a