The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-17

- 1T CAPTAIN Alexander cockburn e a
- eho1r Deaths through the collapse of IN
- e tbs Building located at is7 woodward
~ "a mat the directing OF the nremen int
b - nm176lne under the hazardous conditions wa
- e1ror o. the part OF the chief in charge.
~ ,aso md that the closing Of the stairwa,
1890 the third and fourth floors hinderet
n ~ lepartment from discovering the dangerous
oGn1ftion existing In the burning portion OF tns
1~1l6lnx The closing Of this stairway was di
roctiy due TO the Lax inspection OF The building
<onnrtmcns and Are marshal
This verdict was returned by the cor
cner's Jury which investigated the recent
Killing Of FIVE city fremen.
We reproduce il, thinking that you
nay have overlooked it and would like
% have II for fling among the other
elassics in your scrap-book.
A q classic, however, 1t Is quite in
oomplete, and devoid of class entirely
\ without the recommendations OF the jury
Witch 20 with the verdict
We take pleasure in reproducing those,
TO:
3 We recommend that the chief Of the are de-
/. nnrtment be a man more physically ~ than me
- ~ present holding this position. We make
~ recommendation with due respect for the
>tnood service this man has rendered TO the CITY
g Defroit during the many years he has served.
(. - feel that hts age r. too great handicap
4 - ons IN 30 responsible position.
~ and that the present building code is toe
60orfjc and recommend that II be revised as soon
~ sensible for the safety OF the public
W Also nnd that the present inspection OF
~ bucding department Of new and old build
49, = inadequate and recommend that me com ON
& - council take immediate steps TO give THIS
n <nrtmsnt the necessary power and means TO
3 o9Upcuune this evil
\ " further recommend That all old buildings.
& $780, stories or over In hight be subjected 10
~ Inspection as soon AZ possible. az we feel
/! ~ there are numerous buildings In which con
4 (11nuo are a. bad or worse. than those that ex-
\ 80 n the Fields building In which the hremen
~ thsfr lives
We Also and that n took about ave minutes
oooor6lng 10 the sworn statement OF one OF the
Y v1nnsnses Who was trying TO notify the are de-
y r1remsnt Of the IRE in the Fields building TO
- ~ telephone operator. and recommend that
~ ecmmcn council take steps 20 remedy this
n there is any service rendered the
spubIic by this verdict, it hes in the par
nraph which recommends the inspec-
Gcn Of other business buildings, to de-
twnzine If there are conditions as bad
- those that existed in the Fields
1uldins."
v 6hcuId II happen that you are inter-
xr(D1 h moving what those bad con-
11pnsv IN the Fields building were, you
IL be able to find out from the men,
ID a the jury, personally, inasmuch
- - reference is made to them either
~ - verdict or In the recommendations.
& ~ knew before the FIRE that our build
- code IL too elastic.
rs We knew before the fire that our in
ee11n Of buildings is inadequate.
Ne knew before the fire that we have
oow telephone service.
"a The only thing which the jury found
ut for us was. therefore, that our fire
(kief II too old, and there seems to be
Doem for difference of opinion on that
point.
Some of our citizens will be likely TO
Dontsnd that age in a fire chief. and the
o1ponience that has come with il, ought
~ prove an advantage, while the same
!, hing could not be said very well in the
1nns Of wooden joists that have grown
81 IA the service.
NJ Fire Chief Broderick is responsible. of
course, for the fact that the five firemen
Who lost their lives were sent into the
fields store.
They went In there under orders, which
Were orders given, we would say. quite
q Keeping with the purpose Of these
&Eemen In responding to the alarm.
Il would not have been reasonable upon
thsir arrival to have ordered them into
the Empire theater next door, to see a
sowing picture, or to order them to step
Ito the alley and play marbles.
The object in sending fremen into
6uzning buildings is to get them placed
~ positions TO fight fires most effectively.
ut they are sent in, to be sure on the
assumption that floors az yet untouched
" the flames WILL BE STRONG
ENOUGH TO HOLD THEM.
Maybe Fire Chief Broderick should
1--we had the firemen weighed before
+ 1n1riur q chance on the wooden ioists