La Junta tribune., 1899-04-29
TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.
SHOULD YOU BE CAUGHT IN A
BURNING HOTEL.
0ue~tIon Which Many Mas Has Asks<
HinseIf-ADswered simply kaoaxh-
Nerve VIII Save You. Terror heso'
Death

The burning OF the Windsor Hotel
has set people all over the country to
thinking OF what they would do in
similar case In consequence OF which
the fire chiefs OF the various large
cities have been deluged with letters OF
inquiry for rules for escape, says the
Cincinnati Enquirer. The average per
son seems to think. says a local yeter-
an. that you can lay general rules for
contingencies which are not once in
a century of like circumstances. The
fact OF the matter is that no one can
predIrect escape from such a fire as
that OF the Windsor. The only thing
which can possibly save any one Is
just what most people under those con-
ditto. have not-steady nerve.
Every fireman who goes into such
n place Is in as much danger as the
guests. with the possible difference
that HIS respiFator protects him from
poisonous fumes. But. as for know
ing which way 10 turn. he knows even
less than the transient roomer. He re-
lies on his native good sense. which
discipline has preconseryed for him.
In other words. he keeps his head
about him.
Waen a iire alarm Is given in an
hotel. the first impulse OF the guests.
especially II It be at night. Is to rush
out into the hall. Halls being the bes,
OF fues they are alwaye filled with
smoke, II not with fame, long be-
fore the room is impresnnted. The
guests. who did not notice in calmer
moments which way to turn 10 the
stair Invariably run in that direction
which ssens 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 returns stra!ghtway, that is II he
can. to his room. although he does not
know exactly why. He has dim Idea
that IL is to consider. But under such
circumstances consideration Is impos-
sibie. So he rushes out again. only to
find. in all probability. that the flames
have now reached the door OF his
room. II there be not fire escape
leading from his window he Is lost.
He had let his golden opportunity slip
by.
No fireman ever stops to think. II
ElS lNHkiHNN h'ih eiAsHNs
he is unworthy OF the place. Discus
sion OF the various kinds OF fire es-
capes Is now engaging the attention OF
the New York hotel keepers. In keep
ing with the requirements OF the law
there arc rope nre escapes in
all hotels where there are NO balcony
and iron ladder fire escapes, but every
largo fre demonstrates that the rope
is not a trustworthy means Of escape.
In most Instances these ropes are Just
as they come from the original coil.
and to descend by means OF one OF
them, hand over hand. from high
point. requires considerable acrobatic
skill and not little endurance. both
panic-stricken people.
In few hotels the ropes are knotted
at intervals of about two feet, which
makes the task OF descending little
less hazardous. Some houses are sup
plied with ladders made by connecting
two ropes with wooden rungs. but as
these ladders when swung from win
dow hang fiat against the wall they Of
fer a poor foothold, and another ladder
similar to this. but with Offsets which
keen II away from the wall. has found
some sale. But the rope ladders as well
rs tho smooth or the knotted ropes are
not practicable for hystcrical women.
children. invalids or injured persons.
because to be Of service the people who
make use OF them must possess quail
tiles which should be looked for only
In calm and healthy adults.