New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-29

out building falling through other causes and
then catching fire does not receive protection from
the ordinary form OF policy. OF course II
a fire starts in a building. and by eating away Its
foundations causes IT fall. there can be reeov-
cry from the insurance company
FIRES IN FALLEN BUILDINGS.
E. r. Kennedy OF the firm OF Weed & Kennedy.
No 20 Liberty-st, said yesterday afternoon that up
to that time they had received no trustworthy re-
ports from the scene OF the tornado and therefore
no statement as to losses could be given out. He
said that a large part OF the damage was done by
wind, and that unless property owners carried tor
nado insurance the LOGS would fall upon their shout
ders He added tina, several years ago the In
surance Department at Albany granted authority
to New-York companies TO write this form OF In
surance but he did not believe that the amount
OF this business done had ever been large AS for
the loss by fire. Mr. Kennedy said that the burden
of proof would lie with the property 10 show
that the fall OF building had been caused directly
by fire. Otherwise. In the case OF buildings blown
down and then consumed by the flames. the fire-in-
surance companies were exempt from settling the
loss Cases OF this kind he said. had been contested
In the courts with the decisions favoring the COM
panies or the owner. II was made 70 appear
whether the fire caused the building TO fall In the
present instance where the loss had been caused by
a tornado and where buildings were falling and
buildings blazing with fire coneinporaneousy.
II was likely that there would be difficulty
perlenced N getting at the facts which 10 base
an adjustment OF the loss In where tor
nado insurance was carried. the amount was small
In comparison with the amount OF protection against
fire. Mr. Kennedy said that small number OF
these policies against loss by tornado carried In
New-York and Brooklyn. Buildings like churches.
with ornamental corniccs and spires. often Invested
in this insurance. but heavy loss had never been
known lie remembered a case where a church had
suffered loss through the wind In having a small
spire carried away, and where the Insurance com
pany had made good the damage The disaster at
St. Louis. he said was especially sad to him.
David 5. Sage a correspondent OF his firm and
prominent business OF that place. living In East
ST. Louis had been killed buried In the ruins OF his
house in company with hts wife and child.
TORNADO INSURANCE BUSINESS
Among the companies IN this city doing tornado
insurance is the Commercial Union Assurance Com
pany. Charles sewall. the manager Of the com
pany, by Tribune reporter last evening
and made the following statement:
Insurance against tornadoes wind storms and
cyclones IL granted by number OF companies do
ing business in the United States notably the
Home Insurance Company. OF New-york. Phenx
Insurance Company, OF Brooklyn: Springfield In
Compay o. sPHsneH rnPen
Company OF London: Niagara Fire Insurance
Company Of New-York. and Glens Falls Insurance
Company. Of Glens Falls. and the contract Is
special one particular form Of policy and a
separate premium is paid therefor. The business
is not large. however. although In some OF the
Western States and Territories many farmers ana
residents OF small villages have obtained the pro-
lection: but. perhaps account OF the general be-
lief that like lightning, tornado does not
twice in a place (Which. however. as also in the
of lightning. Is not true. and perhaps also
account OF the rates charged-h per cent for
year. per cent for three years. and IN per cent
for five years-comparatively few people In
the West protect themselves against tornado
currences As TO the cities. II Is that In
tornado insurance. and an instance Of this is the
Insurance carried on the Great Union Depot in
not understood to have suffered at all from the
tornado of yesterday. In the East. although
Long Island, and Chelsea, Mass. the rarity Of the
happenings and the lapse Of years between the dis
solicitors OF insurance companies to persuade prop
erty-owners that protection against tornadoes is
Atlantic coast. and In Louisiana. the Gulf.
there have been several tornadoes of late years.
Charleston. In these sections OF the Southern
States some tornado insurance has been carried.
more northern communities; yet. the whole,
neither in the Middle States. New England. nor In
general fire insurance the protection be-
Ing so to speak sought cny by the farmers Of
sections of Minnesota.
THE CENTRES OF DANGER.
The geographical distribution Of tornadoes shows
that Kansas. Missouri Minnesota. Iowa, Nebraska.
Wisconsin and Illinois have suffered mainly from
such vsitations, Missouri having had the greatest
number. The time OF day. the time Of year and
the peculiar hot and stfins condition OF the at
mosphere indicate that heat II the physical agent
developing the tornado. A tornado il invariably
accompanied by hail. and the cloud is almost al
ways funnel-shaped. with the small end nearest the
earth. 1t moves in certain direction southwest TO
northeast. without regard to obstacles Objects
transported long distances. sometimes fifty miles,
and always carried from east to northeast. and
evidently by air currents The average length OF
a tornado Is twenty-five miles. and the average
velocity forty-four miles per hour.
As to the amount Of insurance carried at East
ST. Louis. where the damage done by the tornado
seems 10 be most heavy 1t Is probably limited Re-
liable reports OF the damage done have not yet
been received but II would appear that the loss Is
largely TO the railroad companies and In the rail-
road yards. and these concerns, while carrying q
very large amount OF fire insurance are not known
to have carried any tornado insurance at all There
fore, II is not likely that companies doing tornado
business will be called upon under that particular
form Of protection to make large payments
CREDIT TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE.