New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-05
HOTEL WAS NOT PROTECTED
so SAYS CHIEF CROKER IN PARK-AvE.
FIRE INQUEST.
CLARE THAT THEY WERE NOT
WARNED OF THEIR DANGER.


Coroner Goldenkranz yesterday began a for
NAL inquest into the Park Avenue Hotel fire
that caused twenty-one deaths. Deputy AS
sistant District Attorney Sanford. who made
investigation Immediately after the fire,
aided the coroner in getting testimony before
the jury. After several witnesses had told about
the start of the fire in the list Regiment ar
mory, and later OF the discovery of the fire in
the Park Avenue Hotel, on the morning OF Feb
ruary % Battalion Chief Ross of the Fire De-
partment described the rapid spread Of the
flames in the hotel. and said the fire in the hotel
evidently started in the elevator shaft He eX-
planned that he did not send any men TO the
roof Of the hotel TO protect 1t when the ermOry
blazing and a great shower of sparks was
blown against the hotel. because Chief Croker
was in command at the fire. He said it was the
duty of Captain Donoghue to make reports as
to the appliances in the hotel for putting out
fires, but Donoghue had made no such report for
more than year.
Fire Chief Croker, who the next witness.
said he had taken no precautions against the
spread Of fire TO the Park Avenue Hotel at the
time the armory was burning. The fire in the
hotel he said was not caused by sparks from
the armory fire. 1T was a separate fire. and
entirely independent of the armory fire he de-
cIared The Chief said he had not had any
more than year. According to my hotel book.
Il had complied with the Fire Department reg
ulations, he added.
What do you mean?" asked Mr. SANFORD
1T was in direct Geographic communication
with Fire Headquarters, for one thing"
Chief Croker said he had found no standpipes
and no hose in the hotel There were fire gongs
on each floor. but there only one fire eX-
tinguisher. and that was in the basement
ON your opinion was the Park Avenue Hotel
hreproof building? At was not , .
QWhat would be the proper test to aPPiyy to 10
neen pull ~ t IT. sfre and see II it
lutte test.
One of the gongs of the hotel was put in evil
dence It was about six inches in diameter,
much smaller than the average fire gongs in
small country hotels.
In my opinion, these gongs are altogether
too small" said Mr.. Croker. He told how he
had entered about a dozen rooms of the hotel
. and had not seen any notices or diagrams for
the guidance Of guests in case OF fire.
Miss Linda Leggett. who was guest at the
Park Avenue Hotel the night of the fire,
said she occupied a room on the fourth floor
near the front
Odd anything awaken you on that night? A
Yes. Noises in the hallway.
6.-Was there any other effort made to arouse
YOU from your sleep? A-None whatever
Miss Carmody, a nurse. who was with
patient in rooms the sixth floor. testified that
she heard noises in the hall and that when she
opened the door she saw the hall full Of fire.
with her patient she finally made her escape
through a window.
Odd you hear any gong ring? A.-No, sir.
Q.-Any other alarm A.-NO sir.
Odd any knock the door and tell you
TO get out because the hotel anre? A.-No, sir.
Q;-Did you have any communication whatever
with the office about the fire? A-No, sir.
Police Captain Sheehan testified that the po-
lice had failed to discover any evidence that the
fire in the hotel was Of incendiary origin The
reports OF robberes IN the hotel at the time OF
the fire had been exaggerated. he said.
Coroner Goldenkranz then adjourned the in
quest until tomorrow morning.
A testimonial declaring the Park Avenue
Hotel TO be one Of the safest OF its size in the
United States, praising F. A. Reeds manage
ment OF the hotel and expressing thanks and
admiration for the work OF the fremen and
policemen at the fire signed by many
patrons of the hotel and presented TO Mr.. Reed
yesterday. Among the signers Of the testimonial
were Rear Admiral Miller and his wife.