New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-07
HOME LIFE WALLS SAFE
RUINS OF THE ROGERS. PEET g. CO
BUILDING TORN DOWN.
BROADWAY BETWEEN WARREN AND MURRAY
SIS. AGAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIc-THE THEORY
OF IXcENpIARIsM ADVANCED

SIS. AGAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIc-THE THEORY
OF INcENDIARIsM ADVANCED
The blockade in Broadway between Warren ard
Murray SITS. caused by Sunday nights big Are was
raised yesterday Shortly after 3:31 oclock vester
oay afternoon the barriers stretching across the
Guys main thoroughf2re removed. and for
tAe nrst time since the fire broke out the cable
cars were allowed ~ pass tho ruins OF Rogers. Peet
& COS establishment and the partially destroyed
building Of the Home Life Insurance Company.
During the night two to,'erne walls all that re-
NAMED or the Guiding occupied by Rogers Pee' &,
Co. we're pulled down. The work CT demolition
was 50 arranged that the walls were pulled in
ward. an operation that served the double pur-
pose % blocking in the still snouldering beams
and preventing any imred.ment OF the roadways
WIN this possible source OF danger removed. an
other inspection made OF the Home Life
Building. with view of ascertaining definitely II
there any such weakening % thu structure as
would menace the safety ~ pedestrians. The in
spec'ion was made by President Brady. OF the
Building Department. Deputy Fire Chief Croker
and Battalion Chic: Kruger They came 10 the
conclusion. after their examination that there was
no fear OF any further portions Of the building
falling. and In consequence they ordered that the
obstruction ropes lie removed. and about o'clock
yesterday afternoon Broadway once more
opened II traffic
THEORIES as TO TIE ORIGIN
Theories 10 the origin OF the fire are heard on
all SIDES. The opinion that the fire was caused ~
lncend'ary act has been exploited but Ike other
theories it based entirely speculation. In vesF
of the destruction which the fire wrought 1t IS
almost impossible to expect that even the most
minute Investigation vii, ever bring light the
exact point at which It began. or the cause which
started f. II IS that the chief officials OF the
Fire Department are someH hat puzzled 10 account
for the suddenaess and rapidly Of the blaze. but
whatever views they have the subject are kept
to themselves One Of the Department command
ers said Yesterday Il have been in the Depart
ment for thirty-one years. and have seen fires IN
ali parts Of the city. at all hours. and In all cir
cumstances, and say that have never known
one so soon discovered to nuke such swift head
way. have thought over the explosions which
preceded and accompanied the fire. They were TN
like any explosions ever heard at fire before
The sound that OF a cannon. Some say that
II was gas that exploded. out nave heard may
volume of sound that these had. What Il could
have been. wonder. Certain it is that within Two
nent the whole drst floor was a roaring furnace
fq0Spg ,b on that Tst Of sTRR s %dng
a bridge supported by heavy bcam supports was
erected qyer the Sidewalk IN front OF ise H9 qom
the chance nance falling Of loose masonTy.
s Tue TS w IF be 52h iAf aSssq paIPf
Iie. OF the Home Life Insurance Company. said
that all the tenants on the hsi eight doors ,0 w9a
He SAID further that engineers who had examined
the building had determined that the fire had
caused structural weakening, ana tnat the
frame OF the building remained as strong az II was
before the fire. This opinion was confirmed by
+ l. lie BrUn. a member 0. the firm OF arcA!tectS
who designed the building
VISITORS FROM PHILADELPHIA
Chief Building Inspector Haddock and Chief
Engineer Baxter Of Philadelphia. arrived IN this
CITY Yesterday morning from Philadelphia 10 look
over the ruins Of The Home Life Building and see
what the effect was q fire on sky-scraping
freproot structure and ascertain what remedial
legislation was necessary in connection with theIn
The are constructing several towering nudings IN
ing has aroused good deal OF discussion IN the
r. was said al the But ding Department yesterday
morning that several inspectors or the department
were at work investigating the nre ana 'hsl lHeS
would soon make a report or the subject
The Postal Telegraph Company gave out state
n1erf Yesterday 70 the effect that the lnlptSsaIon
Which seemed 70 prevail that the fire IN tuNd!nSs
adjoining the Postal Teiegraph and Cable Com-
49, Tviding IN New-YOrk had ntertered with
Isny sriseoo OF business by that company Is
erroneous. The fire did noi c!stuIn the fos'aI ;
sv,i,chboard or v'ire connection In any way
Ths Board Of Fice Underwriters Yesterday AFTER
noon announced The following acditona! lnsur anceS
. 20 = Nurrav-st &0)0to, Home Life BuIa. 8
tenants p Nelson. 5000. Taylor Feck' So
pcs,ai Teleg-a1h Building tenants. Hard"sIe C!un,
S22 400. I-riiei States Lie insurance CeoInpa"y
Building tenants. J. kneupeT ~ n hpsy *
Puizei 5000. J. F Ferron 800 Z. - f1r ra.:
e. = Nurrav-s' Lax BIOS. 5000. ....
o,e com NJ n rapidly 70 the insurance
cornpari.s who say that the losses WI! Dc '''''p
than estir..ted