New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-27
Tank on rcof-Eight feet by ten feet
capacity. 5000 gallons.
Buctets-On ell floors, 295.

Assistant District Attorney Charles +.
Bostwick. who has been assigned by Mr..
Whitman to hold an inquiry. was at the
scene of the fire shortly after the flames
started on Saturday afternoon He saw
the disaster in its most horrible aspect
and assisted IN the rescue Of a man who
vas attempting to save himself by slid
Ing down the elevator ropes in the shaft.
The man fell to the bottom Of the shaft
when his hands were burned and lost
their hold on the cable. Nj Bostwicf
assisted IN getting this man out of the
shaft and into the fresh air. He said
last night.
Pictures for District Attorney,
We have ordered numerous photo
graphs taken Of every part Of the burned
structure for evidence as to the actual
conditions so far as am aware. there
vas only one FIRE escape on the building,
and this was in the rear and consti-
tuted the only means Of escape for the
hundreds who could not get down the
etairvay or the elevators
nent for report on the burned build
Ing. and all the other departments con
cerned have been requested 70 send de-
tailed reports 70 the District Attorneys
Office The report Of the Buildings De
partnent will include the plans for the
building. and these will be thoroughly
scrut!n!zed as 70 their strict compliance
with the law
An investigator Of the defects that
led 70 the catastrophe may develop a
The inquiry will he as rigid and thor
ough as i will be possible 70 make y,
and hope facts will be brousht ont that
wil paint 10 practical methods for the
safeguarding CT the public ard 7ill FIX
the responsibility for this disaster BE-
yonG question Of doubt
Fire Commissioner Waldo vas a. Fire
Headouarte,s yesterday receiving re-
PORTS from the men If his department
He vas in Boston on Saturday when the
news CT the fire reached him. and he
came back early YESTERDAY morning Re
Immediately went to the burned build
ing. where he wos met By Deputy Chiefs
Langtord ard Worth with whom he in
spected the premises. The following vas
the statement issued by Commissioner
Waldo:
Means Of Exit Advocated
The LOSE Of more than 40 lives re-.
sulting from the Washington Place Are
las demonstrated forcibly the conten-
ton Of the Fire Department that while
buildings may be freproof the contents
are not freproof Therefore FIRE escapes
and other good and sufficient means of
exit should be required in buildings Of
this character. especially those IN which
large numbers Of persons are assembled
for work or other purposes. There are
many buildings of this class in this city
in which even worse conditions prevail.
In the opinion of this department the
means Of exit from this building were
insufficient There was only one out
side Iron balcony fire escape. which was
so constructed that when iron shutters
on windows were opened II was I'M
possible for persons 70 use II without
first closing the shutters. which could
not be done # persons were endeavorlng
t. escape from the windows from the
lower floors
There We're two Enclosed fireprOof
stairs with window doors and lambs
These doors were consumed by the fire
end left the stairs open 10 the flames.
These stairs were only sufficiently
vide for one person 10 descend at a
time and with winding steps a. the
turns Entrances TO stairs were blocked
by partitions. From indications. gates
and doors appear to have been locked
at the time Of the FIRE.
Wants Fire Prevention Bureau.
The Fire Commissioner is endeavor-
ing 70 secure legislation which will Gre
ate a bureau Of fire prevention. with suf-