New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-18
THE HOTEL ROYAL INQUEST.
TIE NIGHT CLERK HAS DISAPPEARED.
SUBPOENA SERVERS UNABLE TO FIND mM-MR.
MEARFs's srATEMESr-FIGHTEEN VIC
TINS OF THE FIRE.

MEAREs's Observation-Disclosures VIC
TINS OF THE FIRE.
Coroner shea and jury began an inquest yester-
day morning into the Of the victims Of the Hotel
Royal fire. which occurred the morning Of February
= The main object OF the inquest Is to discover. II
possible who II any one Is responsible for the disaster
A large number Of witnesses have been subp0enaed 10
give evidence at tie inquest; which viii probably con-
iinue for several days. Robert Townsend appeared
for the DisrictAttOneys Office. II was thought that
the stuffy little courtroom attached to the Coroners
Office would prove too small TO accommodate those in
teresed outside Of the witnesses. however. few
spectators were present.
The first witness was Herman c. Harding. engineer
Of the hotel. lie stated that after midnight the
clerk was accustomed 10 make tour Of inspection
Of the building While thus engaged Harding took his
place in the Office. The night clerk made two
,oulS on the morning of the fire.
Harding went down TO the engineroom shortly after
A. NJ lie henrd Il cracking in the pantry, but
thought It an overflow Of water. Then he discovered
the fire and rushed upstairs lie met the night clerk.
Underwood who appeared to hive Just entered the
hotel from the street. on crOsseXamlnatlon liani-
Ing stated that on the night previous to the fire he
wus called to examine tie gas In the elevator. This
was about 10 80 O'Clock The witness rode on tho
top OF the elevator to tos the gas supply hose lie
carried n lighted candle in his hand. lie found Il
twist in the hose on the third floor Since the fire
the witness said ne learned that the gas went out
when the elevator assembled or descended. Inc VIII
ness said he did not apply the lighted cannie 10 any
pert OF tho gas hose. Between = and 5 O'CLOCK on
sunday morning he escorted Mrs. Parkinson OF Little
Neck l.. L. and Harry Levy, to their respective
rooms. The witness and the night clerk were the
only persons duty at the time.
Harding stated that lie met Mr.. Meares and the
nil ht clerk IN the main hall he rushed upstairs, after
discovering the fire. Mr.. Meares said TO the night
clerk How did you let the fire get SO much ahead OF
you?"
When Harding left the stand sensation was created
by the statement that Underwood had disappeared
Coroner Shea nd his subpoenaser had endearoied
in vain 10 locate him.
We must have that man. your Honor SAID Assistant
District Attorney Townsend.
"Thcn we shall have request the Dlstict-Attorney
and Inspector Byrnes 10 help u.s. said Coroner shea
"You shall have all the help you want replied MI
Townsend.
Deputy Coroner Donlln swore that altogether there
were eighteen victims OF the fire. the eighteenth being
Oakley d. Lusble. who died at No. 1o3 West Forty
second-St some time after the fire. from Injuries
SIS tanned.
Richard Meares the proprietor OF the Hotel Royal
testified that one Charles Phelps had an Interest In
the place but that he principal lessee. Mt.
Meares stated that he notified to put rope hie-
escapes in the hotel In 1887 He did 40.
Mr. Townsend asked Are You prepared to state
that there was rope Ge.escapc In each room on the
morning OF the hre2'
YES to the best Of nv belief was the reply. sex
cept that few guests complained that they Were
nn~ightlv and unnecessary owing to The presence Of
iron lre.esrapes. These guests may have removed
the ropes. but not prepared to say they hid 3d.
Mr. Meares said that every hall was literally sup
piled with hand grenades and freextinguishers Fire
buckets were also plentiful. There was seveh'y'hVe
feet OF hose I'm the basement the hose being always
attached to a hydrant in the cellar. There was a
balcony each floor. connected by stationary lad
der Mr. Meares said there fre-escapeS on
the sIxthave side OF the hotel. and swore that he
never made contrary statement to any one. lie
said he did not know Inspector SeaiOn and could not
remember the character Of the order served upon MN
10 equip the building with fre-escapes.
II Il was written order he had transmitted Il to
the owner Of the binding. Lyman Israel. lie had
previously testified that he had received notice to
put escapes upon the slXthave side, but later said
tl,t he was not at tie time had he since been
aware OF the fet that fire escapes were required upon
he sixth ave side aud supposed that the notice only
referred to the Fortleth-st. dde.
Mearo, then described the fire and told why he had
left Mrs Mearcs In the hail. Jumped over the baiustrade
| and rushed into the street lie tried to take his
wife ont the same way. but the flames cut him on
| and he rushed out into the street to prevent her
! from umping ont Of the window. He sent ont no
|
alarm he said. because he was 50 enSoSs.d III Tue
a. u getting Mrs Mearcs ont that he hunted FOR The
rear-t truck 10 procure II ladder upon which 10 take
! her down She did not wait for the ladder. but
jumped down TO the roof o. the shed over the entrance
! 10 the Office.
The case was adjourned ri the conclusion OF Mesres 5
| testimony until this morning at 10 80.
Tho jurymen r. \. Anderson, architect, NO.
! Il Fftlrave. foreman Charles l.. Taylor. St. Denis
Hotel: George shrrdy, architect. Kinss5rdge; josiah
= Hrigg. civ engineer Fordham; H. J. Drry tailor,
| Vo ) Beekman-st: Edward +. Hartley furnishing
| goods No o.j3a Thrd-ave. Charles " Villas. Fifth
| Avenue Hotel; IL. W Neatherlng restaurant, tort,
| and,t. near Church f. +. Mernheld. continental
| Hotel: John w. Marshall. superintendent NO. loA
| po.tottce Building. george /. Dock builder one
and St. near Tenth ave. aud Henry
| iIlnL.l tailor. No. 40 Thiri-aye. .
| All endenvo.S last night 10 ind underwood, inc
| missing night clerk Of the hotel, proved irnltess.
| Richard .Mearrs said he had not the least idea why
Underwood did not appear at the Inquest yesteda,
wa, necessary when he appeared the day AFTER tle
fire aud told the fire marshal what he knew OF II: ~
The Barrett House every spoke well N the missing
clerk There II learned tina: h. had "A farm III
| pakntn. Il was Thought that he might have gone
thcr". At the Hotel belmont. In Ful,on-st.: where
Underwood had lived for abont three months the clerk
said he cft that hotel last Tuesday morning. and had
not been seen there since. All who were seen IN e-
| rnrd 10 him thought he had secured place out Of
| The SIX unidentified bodies that were buried IN
Poit'r's Field will be buried to-day by Mr. Meares
| in Maple Grove Cemetery. l.. l.