New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20
",OOETvG At TIE PARADE"

statement by one Of the clerks OF tne
Windsor Hotel n nephew of the propIle'ol'
throws LIGHT on the question how the IRE nc
ouirod such Roadway In SO snort Il 'lil'' WI.
simeon Leland SAYS: John McGrath, the head
"nortcr. ran to the hose lines and got them out
ole turned on the water. but there was H"-
"bodv to take charge Of the fire lines. Inc IRE
gang was away looking at the parade' 30 VIC
chose I'D little good" This deseruon OF du'E
wos evidently not discovered by Mr.. Leiehu
after the event lie was aware OF il III 'nc
mouont and his words seem to imply that he
was aware of II before, and had taken no steps
n restore discipline and vigilance Perhaps II
WAC NOT his business TO attend to that partcu-
lar matter: but it was the business OF some
body. who neglected It.
N.o,. II WAS natural enough that the hotel
servants should take keen interest in the
uarade and It was to be expected that they
would leave their various posts TO look at il, If
cvnericrcc had given them reason to suppose
that they would not be punished in any way or
even rcbukcd. for so doing Apparently that
was the ease. If there had been 10 fire the lire
Gang would not have been held TO account for
abandoning their watch and no notice whaiso-
ever would have been taken Of n fact TO which
Leland-the fact that there was nobody TO
take charge of the fire lines" and $50 the hose
did little good
Pronrletors OF other hotels affirm that they
maintain every safeguard, and especially the
safeguard Of unceasing vigilance so mat
though their establishments are not Of modern
construction the risk Of disaster Is reduced 10
a minimum. Perhaps that has been true since
trroc \
how will ii be after the impression OF a horri-
bic occurrence has faded away? Undoubtedly
il is true that In many cases strict compliance
with the utmost eXactiOns Of the law scarcely
djminlshes the necessity for constant watch
| funess day and night, for regular training III
| the performance Of duties which may become
! imperative at any moment and for incXorahe
discipline. But to what extent are such pre-
cautions faithfully observed? The ruins Of the
Windsor Hotel supply an answer 10 that ques-
ton which we fear, is Of general application.
II IS high time that the same standard Of
care and fidelity which is maintained on an
ocean steamship should be required Of a hotel
manager There are many interesting sights nj
sea. but the officers and crew on duty do not
desert their stations 10 look at them. though 4
steamship in midocean on fair day could be
| lpft tOr TINE 10 Ihkc us OWL foulSt Nultt al
safely as the complicated machinery Of a grea
hotel can be abandoned to run itself The an
nouncemcnts Of managers concerning the rcgu
latons which they have adopted TO protec
hotels which they acknowledge to be far from
satisfactory IN point of construction sOunC
well But how much do they really mean, OF
Will they mean n few weeks hence?
Certainly the system in vogue At the Windso
did not mean much for the safety Of its occu
pants The building was known to be practi
cally sclf-dcfencolcsS. Former owners an'
lcssees say so frankly, and tell how anxious
they were while the responsibility was theirs
There, If anywhere. among large hotels of su
peror reputation. vigilance and discipline shoult
have been absolute; but there was nobody 4
take charge Of the fire lines: the fire gang wa
did little good" The hotel man who can max
such n statement as that complaccntly in cX
plauatlon Of Il dreadful catastrophe. apparent
without suspicion that anybody was scriousl
o. at fault. has much TO learn about the rud
! mcnts OF his business. We should be glad t
. believe that the Windsor was an exception I
, the rule and that hotel managers are ready
not In theory, but in fact. for any emergency
, ready In the sense In which The Navy wa
D ready of Santiago last summer Are they
Beyond The shadow of doubt they ought 10 b,
: If they are unwilling 10 take infinite pains IN
o incompetent to exact implicit obedience, the
c should adopt some other employment.