The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-22
A FIRE DRILL IN r1FFAxYs
Asshe First Aiar. the Shutters Were Drawn
ana the yaiusbies Locked In the safes

and the vn1uabies Lockeo IN WIG Ss"'
Tho frst thing known OF the hro by the en-
ployees Of Tiffany 4 Co. was when one OF inc
clerks who was In Fifteenth street saw the
smoke rising from the store occupied oy
Schneider & Campbell. The clerk ran INTO
TifYany's and reported II to the manager OF inc
store. who instantly ordered all the doors. ex-
cent the northern door facing on Union square.
closed and guarded. Then he telephoned for
An extra force of detectives BY this time the
clerks. workmen, and special detectives In the
store had heard the cries OF IRE outside ana
were waiting for the fire drill signal. which
they knew would come. All the customers
In the store we're hustled out. and then the
manager stepped TO the rear OF the building
and messed bell button. 1t was the signal
for the IRE drill.
There arc $50 men employed In tho Tiffany
building and every one OF them has his exact
position assigned to him in case OF fire. When
the signal comes ho must Immediately drop
whatever he is doing and take his place, ready
for orders. Each department has its head.
who receives orders from the manager ana
transmits Thorn to tho men under him. Free
quent practice hns brought about clock-like
regularity ard precision In this exercise.
There was no confusion following the signal
tho first order. Alter seeing that ali was ready
'hs I Rsa ae%n s eSs Shutters III
instantly the heavy iron blinds shut su ont
o oi@ iss 81 s sRe sfp pdows '''"u
,Ksady TIsh M hose, wa was o the next order.
.sn ns uss ssS il s sns sss Sn
minute after the order everything was 10 read
guards at the doors we're increased; Then
came the work 81 putting IN the safes the dia;
Moor. The safes. which are BURGLAR proof. are
under the showcases where the yaluaples arc
k nk nS as g he ss
v" Ready at the casesr,. called the manager.
case while the heads, Of the departments and
the DETECTIVES Iatrosd the oSE t. see that
S anceness the e eerts e%nS Tie
priceless jewels in the safes. turned tile
fShtins the ire II necessary. ali danger from
e; nit T. the bnap hose was 5ag up
from that. side upon the flames, next door.
Seine Of tho clerks then t9d shfs they
malned were either stationed as extra guards
at the doors or walked ana doT tnS store
Manager Cook. with number Of clerks and
OF Union square and Fifteenth street oil the
afternoon. answering questions and explain
would be closed until to- IN orrow.
II anticipated no danger from the flames"
said he to 4 reporter. late IN the afternoon.
sides. by our hose system. we could flood the
floors the instant there was necessity for
It. The chief danger was that water might
get into tho basement and injure tho stock
there. We have special suices there. how
ever. to carry of the water in such an emer-
water got Into tho building. Then. Of course.
unbes were locked tight in the safes.
swer to a question. we are rather confident
Of our ability. to oope with anything in the
shape Of q iire here. We have our regular fro
his particular duty, and we practice. it occa
sionally. As for the slowing away Of the jewels
in the safes. We do that every night Just as It
nroo and our large renrooi safes are down
In the basement. Everything worked as
smoothly to-day as II it had been in a pratice
drill. There was not the slightest confusion !"
lutely no damage done to the store in any way.
The stock Is valued at somewhat more than
$C,OOO,OUO.