The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-05
|POR'TSMOI III ~ E,WS
A truck IS one OF the necessities Of the

The Virginian O. short while back illus
trated what might occur at this block
| Manufacturing company's establish.
ment, which was located there at the
time, and large number Of hands were
| employed on the fourth floor. II said,
suppose fire should break GU. on the
I, next lower floor, all means of escane
would be cut Off Those up there would
either perish in the flames, or be SUMO
cated by smoke, Or run the risk OF being
Killed instantly by trying to get to the
| Toof. as there was no ladder in the city
h iuig ,enoug in, 20 reach the top Of the
| 10 occur there as elsewhere
Little dld the writer think that his
statement would soon come true so far
US the tre was concerned. But, fortu-
nateiy, IT occurred at an hour when no
part Of the building.
Anotner necessity for a hook and lad
ger was shown at q recent fire In the
|. fourtn Ward, when dwelling house
was set on fire underneath the stairway
and all means of escape was Gu, Off
except through the windows The gen
l-t!eman who uNed-there- had to have his
VIE taken out of the window by means
or rope. Had any loss Of life resulted
the city would have been held respon-
| sible. 6 ',i'-i
There is no city in the country with
the population Of Portsmouth that has
! no truck. Is it because we are more
reckless than others In regard to hu-
man l:fe, or Is 1t we trust to Providence,
or is 1T indifference? If the last, It Is
tlme We were getting out OF this lethlr-
gy.
The City Council will hold a meeting
next Tuesday night, and let there be a
resolution passed ordering the purchase
o. nook and ladder, and the taxpayers
ana the public will sanction the city
fathers action. .E.sH. .s :.
The loss at the fire yesterday morn
| ing would have been slight had there
oeen a ladder near al hand, the fire be-
ins III the upper story. and the only
means OF fighting 1t being from the
ground. which was some distance below.
Most or the fire was confined to the cen
ter OF the building, which is quite deep.
Two streams were thrown from the front
and two from the rear, and an attempt
was made several times TO % up the
stairs, but the stairs, but the smoke was
SO dense tina. they were compelled to re-
turn and tight 1t from the ground
~ the last meeting Of the Council q
resolution was offered requesting com
,n!ttee 70 look into the law requiring all
buildings OF three stories or more TO
nave tire escapes, and to see that II was
carried out -
This is OF itself proper move, but
that only affords protection to life and
none 10 property. The cost Of hook
80 SoiiiIIilttee reported,
would only be $4,000, and the cost of run
ming the same would not exceed s.. 600
per year. What Is this compared to the
loss sustained by several of our young
men whose money Is invested in this
D!ock? At one time 1t looked as though
Mr.. Ba!low's store adjoining would be
entirely consumed, then our market
mouse which cost several thousands OF
dollars would prob bly, have been de-
stroyed. and not only the city but the
military would have been great losers,
as well as those who occupied the stalls
,neTein. Inc city Is indebted to the gall
liant firemen. who worked for seyera1
hours without pay to save her property.
Ihey should be aided by the purchase Of
the needed truck. ~ N