Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1899-08-02
IN 4 HOTEL FIRE.
How the Guests Act When the
 Alarm Is Given.
A Steady Nerve Is a PsFsoa's OEIy ssisatio1-Ts Become Terror Stricken Msaaa Garo
 DestFarftsn-

The recent burning of the windso
 hotel in New York city has set peo
 ple all over the country Co tainkinl
 of what they would do in a similar ease
 Ia consequence Of which the fire chief
 of the various large cities have beei
 delugcd with letters of inquiries fo
 rules for escape The average persoI
 seems to think, says a veteran fireman
 that you can lay general rules for eoDtin
 gencies which are not once in a cen
 iury of Ike circumstances. The fac
 of the matter Is that no one can pre-
 direct escape from such fire as ihar
 Of the Windsor. The only thing whIes
 can possibly save anyone Is just whai
 most people under those conditions
 have n0t-steady nerve.
 Every fireman who goes into such a place is in ss much danger as the guests with the possible difference that hi, respirator protects him from poisonou, fumes. But. as for knowing which way to turn. he knows even less than ths transient rOOmer. He relies on his native good sense. which discipline has preoonSersed hor him- In other words he keeps his head about him.
 When a ire alarm is given in an ho- Gel the first impulse of the guests. es- Pecially if 1t be at night, is to rush out into the hall Halls being the best Of hues they are always filled with smoke. if not with flame, long before the room is impreguated. The guests. who did not notice in calmer moments which way to turn to the stair. invaria- 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 passaee stretching away before him, he re- turns straightway. that is if he can. 10 his room. although he does not know exactly why. He has q dim idea that It Is to consider. But under such cir eumstances consideration Is impossible. So he rushes out again. only Co find. n all probability. that the flames have now reached the door of his room. If there he not fire escape leading from bis window he Is lost He has let his golden opportunity slip by.
 No fireman ever stops to think. If his instinct cannot guide him aright, he is unworthy Of the place.
 Discussion of the various kinds of ire-escapes is now engaging the at. ention Of the New York hotel keepers
 In keeping with the requirements of Inc law there are rope fire-escapes in lll hotels where there are no baiconv md iron ladder fire-escapes. but every arge fire demonstrates that the rope s not a trustworthy means of escape. To most instances these ropes are just is they came from the original coil. md to descend by means of one of hem, hand over hand. from a high 'oint, requires considerable acrobatic kill and not a little endurance, both f which would count for nothing 'mong panic-stricken people.
 In n few hotels the ropes are knotted it intervals of about two feet which makes the task of descending a little ess hazardous. Some houses are sup 'lied with ladders made by connecting wo ropes with wooden rungs. but us hese ladders when swung from q win low hang fat against the wall they 'fer poor foothold, and another lad Ter similar to this. but with dffseIs which keep it away from the wall. has ound some sale But the rope ladders well As the smooth or knotted ropes re not practicable for hysterical wom- n, children, invalids or injured persons. 'eoause to be of service the people rho make use of them must possess ualities which should be looked for nly in calm and healthy aduits.-Cin- iunad Enquirer.