New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-08
I FIRE TRAP ND IT'S JICUNN

The swift destruction d The Hotel Royal by
fire, involving dreadful l0,, Of life and many
casualties is the latest IN long series of di>I,-
tiers which ought to have been impossible. The
number Of killed and injured is smaller than the
first estimates, smaller indeed, than could Ioa-
sCnaby have been expected from the hour and
the circumstances. Only few days ago We
spoke of the familiar fact that there is invariably
a striking contrast between the reckless neglect
which permits a tire-trap TO exist and constantly
to imperil all who enter il and the courage and
Sef-sacriiice which are devoted 70 the task OF
rescue when the moment of destruction comes.
This readiness to be helpful in the face OF dan
ger and to risk life and limb for others in part
explains the escape Of many occupants OF the
Hotel Royal yesterday morning. The fire and
police forces no doubt did their work well, as
usual, but many citizens also accepted the sud
den call to duty and are now rewarded.
1t is discrcditabe to law and government, and
to public opinion which makes law and govern
ment what they are, that Il building devoted to
the care and comfort of all applicants could in a
moment, withCuc warning, become 4 roaring
mass OF flames Occasionally the real character
cf a structure is first revealed in its ruins Dis
honest builders sometimes succeed in c0nCcalng
their sins and when they are al last exposed by
what we call an accident there is reason for as
constituent. But ibis is not such case. Nobody
fit To form an opinion can ever have imagined
that the Hotel Royal was place of security. II
had all the treacherOus defects Of original con
stuctCn common 10 a period still more careless
than the present, and these had been increased in
number and aggravated in degree by expansion
and Encouragement, Whether or not it was slls-
pected and feared by the Fire Department we do
not certainly know, but il ought TO have been,
and it is safe to assume that it was. II had great
advantages Of situation, being not only Oh a cor
ner but Oh an open square. There were 10 eX-
terror obstacles in the way of those who worked
faithfully to put Out the lire and save the in
mates. There was 10 long delay in aIOrsng the
guests or summCning hep. Within few
mCmsnts after the iiist tongue Of flame was seen
at the bottom Of the elevator shaft the means OF
relief were at hand but in those few moments
the fire had swept through the building cut of
all natural ways Of escape and brought everybody
within its walls face TO face with death. Expert
ence and observation had condemned the build
ing long ago, and It's appallingy swift destruction
confirms that unofficial verdict explicitly and
absolutely.
Possibly those upon whom the responsibility
most directly rests. and who will be expected to
offer some explanation and defence may nerve
themselves to .ay that they ave amazed that they
had taken precautions and supposed thar they had
provided a reasonable Inca Of security. If
they do say anything like this. they will convict
themselves either Of criminal ignorance or Of
something worse. The event proves the case
against them. The building was miserable
fraud. 1t offered ep4e and security but in TACT
was a mere trap for the unwary. The proprietor
and the public authorities were bound to know