New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-12

eccasioned by the calamity and II their hearty
sympathy with all the sufferers thereby attest
ing their admiration for and appreciation oil tle
marked heroism ana personal bravery dispiaseo
by Fire Marshal Murphy and ms associates, vs.
well as by the members of the Columbian uuaru,
and Others whose names are not yet known COM
mending to the executive committee OF the IN
position the propriety of making an appropriation
10 the fund that is being voluntarily contributed
for the benefit Of the sufferers, and authorizing
the president of the Exposition 10 present TO eac
survivor whose conduct was characterized Dy
marked personal bravery medal IN recognition
thereof.
ACTION TAKEN By TIRE NATIONAL COMMISSION,
The fire was the principal subject of discussion
at to-day's meeting Of the National Commission
Immediately after calling tnat body TO order
President Palmer said: Gentlemen, you know
under what sad circumstances We Adjourned on
Yesterday One of the most horrible catastrophes
that have ever happened in any country 'o'k
place almost under our eyes, AMI ii seems proper
TO me that the commission should take some
action upon the sad event, and also take some
action-if we are not powcrless-to prevent d
recurrence of things Of this kind. w0aii su9,
gcst that the sense of the commission be emooe e.,
In o resolution that TIE chief buildings when
are freguented whose roofs are being frePnehe,,
By the public, should he inspected. IL is my
opinion that there are several buildings here
from which, in case a fire takes place, 1t woul'l
be impossible TO take people OF the ROOF IN eVea EN-
hold us euiltless unless we do all III our power
to prevent it,
resolution OF respect for the memory OF the
dead. which adopted by rising vote:
On motion of Commissioner Mercer. OF WON
ing. resolution vas adopted prcWding i Ior ". u,
app0ntment OF a special committee Oh iour u
inspect the buildings.
Mr Castleman. Of Kentucky. presented reso-
luton which was adopted. directing the CON-
mittee OIL Buildings and Grounds 10 request inc
Chicago Board of Fire Underwriters 70 report
10 the National Commission the CONDITION OF the
various buildings as TO danger from fire and inc
further precautions that are necessary, IL any.
30 REPORT MADE TO DIRECToR-CENERAL DAVIS.
"Ihad never been informed that the cold storage
building was not properly constructed sal
Director-General Davis to-day. nor did know
until last night that the insurance on ii had been
cancelled. am now informed that it had been
inspected and pronounced unsafe by eXperlencei
Hremen and insurance men, and am at loss TO
understand why report was not made 10 me-
do not know that the Council Of Administration
knew anything about it either. although Hao
would have been the proper body to receive suGd
q report. However. had ii been made II Wo1i1
seem that would have heard OF III, puI i uiu
not. The information now comes too late 10
save the lives Of the brave mon VINO were klied;
The entire matter will be fully investigated, and
the least that be done is to place me RESPONSE
bility Nothing In that line has. yet been done
John b. Skinner, president of the Hercules Iron
Works, which owned the Cold Storage Building,
deciared today that the building was the strong
est on the Worlds Fair Grounds. The Con-
struction Department of the Fair, continued Mr..
Skinner, supervised the work on the Cold Stor-
age Building, and Director Of Works R,irnham
and his men were frequently at the place while
Il was being built The building was as sub
stantially constructed it could possibly he. 1t
was necessarily strong, for we put 81 100000 into
the structure and there machinery within
its walls worth fully as much more"
THE INQUEST BEGUN.
The inquest on the victims of the fire began
to-day. The scene at the morguc, where the in
quest was held, was horrible one. Swarms of
peorle. some looking for friends and relatives
among the dead, aud many more attracted by
morbid curiosity. crowded into and around the
building The first patrol wagon that left the
grounds carrying the blackened remiins of fire.
man was followed by crowd of men and boys,
and this seemed to he the signal for increasing
crowds TO make their way to the place III"
police found their hands full in keeping the men
and women back.
victims Coroner McIiae decided TO adjourn the
inquest until Thursday next. " want TO nave
time to prepare for thorough lnvestgation; he
said This is alserious matter, and shall call
upon Chief of Construction Burnham, of the
Worlds Fair, and Fire Chief Swenie. of the Chi
cago Fire Department, to be in attendance lor
examination. The plans for construction OF the
cold storage warehouse will be brought before mo
II is rumorc that two sets of plans are In existence
The nrst SET III Is saul pIoNFitu ioI ii '."'i vi
steel latticc-work for the warehouse, and these
were adopted Subsequently new set was pre-
parctl. in which wood substituted for the
steel, and from these the structure was put up.
l do not know how much truth there Is IN the
report, but propose to find out. Another reason
that postponement Is necessary is that more
bodies may be recovered"
RELIEF FUND STARTED IN CHICAGO.
Prompt measures will be taken for the relief
of the families of the fremen who lost their
lives and also for the injured. The Mayor viii
also appoint a committee of business men 70
take charge of the arrangements for receiving
contributions. Several checks have already been
received by him. 1t has been agreed, at the sug-
ges,ion OF many of the employees of the Fair
and Others that Thursday July g, be set asl'. a.
day when all employees and pars-h9ld"rS enterln"
the pas, gates Of the Fair may AT their option de-
posit in a box at the gate the usual admlttancc
fee OF 80 cents III,
In the ruins of the huge col storage pavilion
to-day were fieveral signs that had escaped
destruction At the northeast corner was
mountain Of smoking tmbers. from the centre
Of which protrudrd sign which announced WIN
CHASTITY sarcasm: This building strictly FIRE
proof erected by the -"