New-York tribune., 1902-02-25
DID NOT ORDER ESCAPES.
BUILDINGS INSPECTORS WERE salts
FLED WITH HOTEL SAFEGUARDS.
LAST REPORT OK PARK AVENUE MAKES no
RECOMMENDATIONS-JE AND FIRE
MARSHAL LAY FIRE TO SPARKS

Perez II. Stewart. Superintendent Of Buildings
yesterday afternoon issued a statement about the
Park Avenue Hotel fire to show that the former
Bureau OF Buildings in the Fire Department and
the Department OF Buildings in the recent Tam
many administration did nos require fire escapes on
in the hotel His statement shows that the hotel
has been regarded for thiryth-ec years by officials
sufficiently hreproof not to require means of es
cape for guests in addition TO those already there
NJ. Stewart's statement is the following:
The last report on the building as to fire escapes
7 resTerTf mil, roT - r. E ~ NC ga @ mind the
seven story freproof building known as the Park
avenue Hotel, west side of Park-aye.. between
present means Of escape in case Of fire or panic
and find the same to be sufficient and are fol
Two elevators and five large interior hreproof
SlairwaHs all OF which. IN my opinion. will pro-
vide good and sufficient means Of escape in case
of fire or panic Owing to the freproof construc-
nendaions 70 make as 10 any additional fire es-
Several witnesses OF the fire were examined in
private yesterday by Coroner Godenkranz. Later
termine the responsibility for the loss Of life Mr
Reed the proprietor OF the hotel; was not there
tained statement from him. Among the persons
the night clerk at the hotel. Hoee the night enGi
neer; W; A. Ramsey and Joseph J. Clarkson
guests; Captain Edward Bruch. OF the list Regi-
ment and two policemen. To-day the coroner
expects TO get statement from Fire Marshal
Another name was addeu yesterday to the list
of the dead Mrs Caroline L. r. Hall who was
burned severely when she was escaping from her
room on the fourth floor of the hotel died in the
morning in the New-York Hospital Mrs. Hall was
IN her eightieth year She the widow Of the
seaman's Friend society at the time Of his death
eight years 5,, ago and had been pastor Of Pres
viii be buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. at
an oficiai list OF the dead including Mrs Hail
which they placed at nineteen.
A serious charge against an official. supposed to
@ the eo26grr 2f 6c 54 Fire Ire p RePsrTmeRt wS made made
FOR the Joslyn Drygoods company. Of Denver.
Western branch Of the H B. Claftn Company.
5catb NJ I ~ iEtI b6 VINO VIZ o4 nm ieu ,b
dining Of the hotel. he said. and he saw
official, who he thought policeman take Mr..
IN his own po mT Ts'GR enq @t Of
the man seemed 10 indicate that he was fireman.
white helmet smooth face and black hair He was
sure he could recognize the man II he saw him.
Mr.. Newcomb said he offered to take care of the
watch. The official said all the property found on
the bodies would have be sent 10 the coroner's
office police officer. who ne thought Cap
tain Delaney. Of the East Thirty-ffth-st. station
present and asserted everything would have
go TO the corOner's office. Mr. Iverson's watch
not the effects which the police had
sent TO the coroner's Office yesterday, and another
thing that Mr.. Newcomb said was missing was
Mr.. Iverson's return ticket to Denver, valued at
about $50. Il said az the coroner's office
that there would be investigation. and it was
believed that the missing watch would be found.
Captain Delaney said this morning that he did
not know where Iversons watch was At $50
O'CLOCK on the morning OF the fire, he said. Deputy
Commissioner Thurston met Tim in the Park
Avenue Hotel and handed him a watch and part
of a chain which said have been found
the fourth floor. The Captain said he busy at
the time and thrust the watch in his pocket Later
he met Inspector Thompson and handed the watch
and chain to him. What became Of IT afterward,
he said. he did know.
District Attorney Jerome said yesterday that he
had made a careful examination Of the burned out
shaft, and he had doubt that the fire in the
shaft accidental.
District Attorney Jerome said he was making
examination OF the building laws and the laws gov
erning fire escapes In hotels 10 ascertain II there
had been a violation of the law at the Park Avenue
Hotel. where fire escapes of any description had
body.s negligence must have been responsible for
the frightful loss of life the fire. There
indications that proper directions for escape
not posted in rooms in the hotel
Fire Marshal Freel yesterday made report on
the fire 10 Fire Commissioner Sturgis. AS result
that the fre started the bottom Of the elevator
shaft and went up the shaft spread several
floors The 1re in the shaft he said. caused
by sparks or burning embers dropping into the
and down through a cold air shaft He agreed
with District Attorney Jerome. In addition the
report Of Freel contained the following:
Il desire to call attention the the
was not patrolled properly prevent the Judgement
and possible damage by sparks Only person
deputiZed TO visit the roof. He simply visited
roof. remained there for three four minutes
looked around 10 that everything safe, then
left the roof. To the best Of his knowledge and
five minutes before the discovery of fire in tho
elevator shaft