New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-19

give tho nameSsof these hotels. Despite all this
the Chief said that the proprietors of the hotel
had undoubtedly complied with all the require
ments of the law.
ALLEGED FLIMSI MATERIAL
There exists n suspicion in some quarters
however that the materials of which the Wind
sor Hotel was built were not as substantial as
they might have been-evcn when the age Oh
the building is remembered. 1t was Dullt ABOUT
thirty years ago by John I. Daly. VINO uh-
doubtcdly had contracted 10 do the work TOT
too small price. Whether he sighted his con-
tract or not cannot be said at present with any
thing like accuracy. significant letter ap-
peared, however in IN afternoon paper from
man who lived near the hotel when II was Dull'l-
ing He declares that he was shocked mat me
authorities allowed the building to be con-
structed Of such fimsy material as he saw put
into IT, Whatever the main cause the h0tel
burned with rmazing rapidity and totality.
The scene of the fire was the acme of gloom
and depression yesterday. The heavy rain that
fell all day from early morning into the night
kept the crowd of the curious from assuming
those proportions which good weather would
doubtless have brought. But the throng was
large enough to employ the services or many
policemen in keeping ii away from the runs.
Fifth-avc. was. of course, impasSaDlc. FROM
Fortv-slxth 10 Forty-seventh St. II was full Of
the ruins of the fallen trout walls. In Forty
sixth and Forty-seventh SITS, too. the ruDDiSh
was piled several feet high. Three fire engines
remained all Friday night and all day yesterday
pouring water upon the ruins. ana the steam
that arose was driven by the east wind across
the avenue. hiding ii ut times almost completely
from sight The heat Of the ruins, while not
intense, was still great enough to prevent the
workmen from doing any work inside the INES
where the walls had stood Dynamite was
used in the morning 10 bring down the remains
of the walls which imperilled the men who
were working outside. Dynamite was also
tried to bring down the lofty chimney but
without success. The police established lines
under the supervision of Inspector Harley. AT
Forty-ffth and Forty-eighth SITS. and nobody
was allowed To pass unless he had business IN
side number Of people came to ask the
police for news of friends who had been IN the
hotel but these were always referred TO the
East Fifty-frStst police station for intelll-
gencc
BASELESS RUMORS AFLOAT
All sorts of vague and sensational rumors
of those who were supposed 10 have been lost
there Some of the friends of Archibald Clav-
cring Gunter would have it that he had been
lost They had not heard of him since the
fire. and they were positive that he had been
burned Mr. Gunter. who Is the author OF Mr.
Barnes OF Ncw-York" and other similar novels
was guest at the Windsor Hotel with his WIFE,
but he had no trouble in escaping. and was
found yesterday by his anxious friends at the
Plaza.
Tales OF many of those who saw the hre
aroused anxiety In the breasts OF many whose
friends had not reported themselves SAFE.
Stories went the rounds that women and men
had been seen leaning from the windows JUST
rs n blast of fire swept out from behind. after
which they were seen no more. There may
have been one or two such ease, but. for all
that. the police were last night of the opinion
that not many bodies would be found in the
ruins At IL late hour last night two hundred
workmen were employed about the ruins, but
they were unable to get to work in earnest, be-
cause as soon as the digging had proceeded
foot in depth the smOulderng flame finrcd up
in new life. and the men were driven back.
Clear and distinct above all the details of the
awful story stands the record made by the
drcmen There was no delay in answering the
alarms, and the iremen dd many deeds of
valor in rescuing the imprisoned men and
women who leaned desparingly from the
windows with death waiting for them in the
Railways Of the hotel, ready to spring. In the
opinion of Chief Bonner the most heroic act
performed was the rescue Of Mrs. Joseph
Howard. jr, wife Of the president of the Press
club. from window of the fourth floor by
Fireman Ford. Of the Mcrcer-st. engine com
pany Ford was having a day off. but was
passing near the hotel when the fire broke out
His rescue of Mrs. Howard Is fully described In
another column. Despite the splendid work
done by the lremcn. not one of them was Sc
riousy hurt and none Is missing.
Superintendent Blackwell OF the Fire Alarm