New-York tribune., 1910-06-11
CHINESE ACCUSE F|REMEN
Say They Were Robbed During
Doyers Street Blaze.
MAYOR ORDERS AN INQUIRY
Baker Says Cinnamon Wanted to
Give Medals to Cops and
Croker Scouts Charge.

Runors flying about Chinatown for the
last two weeks OF the robbery Of the CHI
nese tenants Of Nos Is and Il Doyers
street Of more than $4,000 during fire
that destroyed the interior Of the build
sne on MAY % crystallized yesterday in
request by Y Y Young, the Chinese Con-
sui for an investigation Of the Fire De
partment and orders by Mayor Gaynor for
an inquiry by the Fire and Police COM
missioners.
The building was occupied by couple
Of Chinese missions, q Chinese club, said
20 be q gambling place; a restaurant, a
barber shop and the cigar store OF Lee
Tso. The four upper floors were divided
into small rooms rented out TO Cinnamon,
and altogether the place sheltered about
TWO hundred Of the Orientals.
The fire started in the restaurant and
quickly enveloped the entire building.
Lee Tso was driven out Of his shop, while
most OF the other tenants escaped tp their
underclothes Three Cinnamon were burned
10 death and one died from injuries re-
ceived in jumping. Three other Cinnamon
and the negro housekeeper were injured
When the tenants Of the building were
permitted 10 return TO il Lee Tso went
back 10 his store and says he found his
safe broken open and the contents gone
In his petition TO the Chinese Consul he
enumerated the contents OF the safe as
80. 500 In hard cash, Ming Nank and Can
ton-Hankow Railway stocks and kwong 81
mining shares Of Tseng Wah Company
total amounting in value TO $1,000 lie
saws he reported the loss TO the police OF
the Elizabeth street station. and they found
that the safe door had been broken on
with axes and carried away.
Two other Ch:namen-Tom Hlck ana Lo
Sinr-sav their trunks were broken open
and that they were robbed Of Sl,'oO. Nu-
rnerous other tenants allege losses OF from
$50 10 500, until the total exceeds $4,000
The Cinnamon say that they were driven
ont in their underclothes because of the
,,o,,r AZ which the fire started q M
and from vantage points in surrounding
buildings watched the depredations Of the
fremen Axes and tools would be dropped.
they say. while the firemen broke open
trunks and searched abandoned clothing
for whatever Of value might be found
The Chinese returned TO their rooms to
find themselves penniless-
As soon as Lee Tso discovered his loss
he reported IL TO the police Of the Elizabeth
street station. There il is said that the
case was at once put in the hands OF Cen
tral Office men, in accordance with the new
rule concentrating detective work at Head
quarters.
Commissioner Baker said last night that
not only had he not heard before Of the
robbery. but that the Chinese had asked
permission 10 present three medals 10 the
police for their bravery and good work at
The fire. The Commissioner told the China
men 10 ser.d the medals 20 Headquarters
and he would present them 10 the police.
ha< raCn9.-ad the
Mp-or's order for an investigation.
Chief Croker of the Fire Department was
mach surprised TO learn of the charges.
Y viii stake my life that there was no
robbery by the firemen." he said. For
furty-five minutes after We got on the
scene no one could enter the building The
frtersor OF the place was completely burned
ont sad there was no time for any one to
stop for stealing"
TIE ire called for two alarms and
brought ten companies. with nearly one
hundred and nifty men
We worked on IL until after 10 o'clock -
the Chief saic before We withdrew and
turned the place over to the police was
back there about O'Clock IN the afternoon
and fouud the building swarning with
Cinnamon end whites. The stairs were
burned out. so that they had TO go up the
fire escapes, and they were standing at the
windows. throwing their clothes out in
bundles
The Chief seid that If an investigation
were ordered it would be thorough and any
guilty men would be broke
But hremen don't steal" he said. II
lave only known Of three cases in twenty
seven years in the department The last
one was last fall when man from Hook
snl Ladder 70. 1 Sot away with watch"