New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-30
THE GREAT DISASTER.

The first question suggested by the appalling
disaster at Greenwich and Warren SITS. yester-
day is whether or not the series of explosions
following the outbreak of a fire which at first
did not appear particularly serious resulted from
a violation or loose application of the law re-
garding the storage of explosive materials and
compounds within the city limits. 1t is evident
that the building in which the fire broke out
contained a large amount of extra dangerous
matter for the force suddenly liberated was
tremendous. OF that the immediate wreck it
self perhaps supplied less impressive proofs
than the fact that multitude of light objects
were driven so high into the air that they were
still falling ten minutes afterward. There would
seem also to be sufficient warrant for assum-
ing that the perilouS stuff in stock. whatever its
amount and precise nature may have been, was
not guarded with proper care for the fire had
not become intense enough to render requisite
conditions of safety valueless when the series
of explosions began.
The charter contains specific provisions relat-
ing to the storage and use of explosive and
combustible materials in the city which were
doubtless intended to be rigorous, but which,
nevertheless leave much to the discretion of
the Fire Commissioner. 1t is readily conceded
that convenience, if not absolute necessity JUST
fies the bestowal Of such authority somewhere
and perhaps it is not unreasonaby bestowed
or in general imprudently exercised. 1t should
not even be alleged except on ample and exact
evidence that Yesterdays disaster was the con-
sequence of any deliberate neglect. Yet the in
contrOvertible fact stands out that substances
possessing singly or in combination extremely
dangerous properties were so kept or manipu-
lated in the heart Of the city as suddenly and
almost without warning to become the cause
of a dreadful catastrophe. Nor can it be pre-
tended that unforeseen circumstances not likely
to occur again were peculiarly favorable to the
work of destruction. Indeed, it would seem
that the capricious elements of the case were
fortunate rather than the reverse, and that a
greater loss of life might have been expected
TO result for the number of narrow escapes re-
ported is snguarly large, and, to mention a
single important incident no elevated railroad
trains were passing at the moment. 1t is a
disquieting thought that whether in this in
stance the letter or spirit of the law was or
was not violated, explosive materials may be
stored in large quantities at many other points
under incompetent supervision and only await
ing some accidental change of the conditions
which are supposed to make them harmless.
While much uncertainty still prevails as to the
precise and immediate cause of the disaster, 1t
is pertinent to suggest a careful consideration of
those provisions of the charter which were
meant to afford adequate protection from just
such perils.
1t is agreeable to turn from mournful scenes
and disturbing conjectures to acts of herosm
and devotion. Neither the first fearful effects of
the explosion nor the subsequent realization of
the dangers by which they were surrounded
demoralized the firemen and police or deferred
them for a moment from the performance of
their duty. They evinced, so far as we know
without exception, the highest moral and physi-
cal courage, and to that noble record many
private individuals unhesitatingly contributed
Such display of the finest traits of human
nature is worthy of grateful commemoration.