Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1899-07-19
In A HOTEL FIRE.
How the Guests Act When the
Alarm Is Given.
A Steady Nerve Is a Person's Only
Saivation-To Terror
Stricken Means Sure
Destruction

The recent burning Of the Windsor
hotel in New York city has set PEG
pie all over the country TO Thinking
of what they would do in Il similar case.
In consequence OF Which the tire chiefs
OF the various large cities have been
deluged with letters of inquiries for
rules for escape. The average person
seems 10 think. says a veteran fireman.
that yOucaniay general rules for contin-
gencits which are not once in Il cen
tury 81 like circumstances. The fact
direct escape from such Il fire as tina
OF the Windsor. The only thing which
can possibly save anyone is lust what
o people under those conditions
have not-steady nerve.
Every fireman who e into such q
place is in as much danger as the guests.
with the possible difference that his
r~espirator protects him from poisonous
fumes. But. as for knowing which way
10 tuCn. he nONs even Tess tina the
transient Toomer. He relies Oh his
native good sense which discipline has
~preCouser|ed for him. H. other words,
he keeps his head about him.
When d fire alarm is given in an no
tel the first impulse OF the guests. es-
p%ecialiy if it be at night. is to rush
out into the hall. Halls beirE the best
OF tiues they are always flied with
smoke, if not with flame, long before
the room is impregnated. The guests.
who did not notice in calmer momeuts
which way 70 turn to the stair, ;nyarla-
bly, run IN that direction which seems
to be most free from fire. This is. of
course, away from the stair. Finding
the way blind. or an unknown passage
stretching away before him, he re
turns straightway, that is If he can. to
his room. although he does not know
exactly why. Ne has a dim idea that
1t Is to consider. But under such cir
c~unstances consideration is impossible.
So he rushes out again. only to find,
in all probability, that tht flames have
now reached the IGOR of his room. II
there be not a fire escape leading from
his he is lost. He has let his
golden opportunity slip by.
No fireman ever stops to think. II
his instinct cannot guide him Alright.
he is unworthy OF the place.
Discussion OF the various kinds of
tre-escapes is now engaging the at
tention Of the New York hotel keepers.
In keeping with the requirements of
the law there are rope tiT~e-eScapes in
all hotels where there are no balcony
and iron ladder ~Grs-escapes. but every
large fire demonstrates that the rope
is not a Trustworthy means OF escape.
In Ost instances these ropes are Just
as they came from the original coil.
and to descend bv means of one OF
them. hand over Gaud. from a high
point, requires considerable acrobatic
of which would count for nothing
among panic-stricken people.
In a few hotels the ropes are knottec
at intervals of about two feet. which
makes the task of descending q iittl,
less hazardous. Some houses are SUD
piled with ladders made by connecting
two ropes with wooden rungs. but d.
these ladders when swung from q win
dow hang fat against the wall the,
offer a DOR foothoId. and another lad
der similar to this. but with offset
which keep it away from the wall. ha
found some sale. But the rope ladder
as well as the smooth or knotted rope
are not practicable for hysterjcai WON
en-. children, invalids or injured persons
J because to be of service thu peoD!
who make use OF them must posses
: qualities which should be locked TO
only in calm and healthy sdults.-Ciu
clouau Enquirer.