Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-06-03

How the Big English Hotels Are Protected
From Disasters.
A representative of the Pail Mall
Budget called at several of the lead
ing London hotels to find out what
means they adopt to prevent a similar
or much less serious disaster. He re-
ports that the precautions on the
whole are excellent,
Calling first at the Grand our repre-
sentative saw the manager who ex-
planned that all the porters and hall
men are thoroughly drilled and in
structed in the work by two members
Of the Metropolitan fire brigade. who
are in the company's employ. There
are several Il s every month and
prizes are givel twice a year to those
men who prove themselves most eff
Gent
Are they ever subjected to any in
dependent test" asked our representa-
tive. "Oh, yes, every now and again
at une ypected times manager in the
employ rings a fire bell of which there
are several on every floor with full
instructions attached, and the very
last time this was done five men were
on the spot and the fire pump was at
work IN one and quarter minute.
The fire pump | may add, had d
throwing power Of sixty feet above
the highest pinnacle of the hotel. The
brigade is inspected by the managers
every month.
How about the staircases?" There
are several and il exit could not be
obtained by one it would by another.
The building, too is all more or less
fireproof Then our boilers and en-
gines are all kept at high pressure all
night in case Of fire. and stokers and
engine drivers are always on duty.
In fact the engines and boilers have
never once been deserted during the
last twelve years. and the men have
never failed TO respond to the call
Altogether | think it may be said
that every precantion possible L.
taken, and we should be very glad to
give any outsider who wishes to test
the e aciency of our brigade an oppor-
tunity Of doing So"
Precisely the same arrangements
are IN force at the Metropole and the
Victoria.
The Savoy Hotel being built in the
form OF a hollow square and being
open on all sides the danger from
fire there may be said to be reduced
to a minimum. l. Echenard one of
the managers. courteousIy conducted
our representative round the hotel,
and pointed out that in addition to
fI,o -
hose. fire buckets and so on, there is
in each bedroom a plan Of the pas
sage. SO that the visitor knows exactly
where he or she Is. Then outside at
one end, there is a spiral iron stair
case running from the top of the hotel
to the street and at the other there is
similar staircase leading down TO q
fiat roof only a short distance from
the ground. Moreover there are bal
comics outside running right around
the hotel and also balcony inside
the square, SO that there would not be
the slightest difficulty in getting with
perfect safety from one part of the
hotel to the other at any time. But
in addition to this the internal walls
and fittings are all ncOmbustible-in-
deed, the doors are the only wood
work
At the First Avenue. in Holburn
great pains are also taken to prevent
disaster in case of fire. In every cor
ridor the manager pointed out there
are hydrants with a sufficient length
of hose, and hand pumps on every
floor At the end of every corridor
there is a staircase and on some o.
the floors there is an extra fireproof
staircase. Then every night there are
several fremen on patrol and all the
porters are instructed in fire drill so
as to be quite prepared for any emerg.
ency. Fire is hardly possible at the
First Avenue but if it were by any
means to break out it could only be
q small affair