The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-05
WEAK JOlSTS
BLAMED FOR FIRE
HORROR; 5 DEAD

HORROR; 5 DEAD
tc.ass-~es fre~ P.ss o-.)
nearly enough" he said. I'm ask
ing for two more"
Fire Marshal Gabriel 0oldwstel
frankly admitted that enforcement
% regulations in Detroit was cx
tremely lax
New Code 10 Nesped.
We haven't the authority q
make them do as we want them
to- he said. IAN we can do ID
make a blum when We tall owners
OF buildings that they have to make
certain changes II they call our
blum. We have 20 back down. I,
Just goes 10 show that we mus,
have Q code OF are regulations which
can be cnforccd By the are depart
ment Then we can be held TO
sponsible. There are lots Of old
buildings on woodwsrd-ave. that
have been renodeled. but the only
change In them has been that they
were improved In appearance In the
front. while the remainder OF the
structure has remained In q dilApi.
dated condition
Thomas J. Bosquett, member Of
the IRE commission. did not hest
tate 20 lay the blame for the FIRE
and It's resultant loss OF life on the
lack OF proper inspection
'Tf the walls OF that building had
heen solid they wouldn't have col
larsed 40 quickly. because there was
hardly any Gre IN the building when
the department apparatus arrived"
be said This tragedy proves what
the are commission has reiterated
that we must have a code OF IRE
regulations. enforced By the nre
marshal and left IN his hands en-
tirely. Give the marshal authority
To enforce rigid regulations. ana he
will be held responsible As q
stands now. IL is a hit or miss prop
osltion.'
Board To Take Action.
The commission meets this after
noon. aud IL is probable that some
action will be taken to hasten the
adoption OF a suitable code.
What caused the FIRE is a problem.
tho many credit the opinion thar
chemicals used IN the shoe repair.
ing department. OF Fyte 4 Company
EXPLODED Why the floors came
down suddenly. hurytns the fremeH.
Is not a mystery. 10 the minds OF
The men who Investigated or fought
the fire.
Tie FIRE in the Erst place VAS
confined TO the hfth floor Before
i. had time TO spread. the HoG.S
cane down with a crash.
Assistant Chief NcGraw Ia or the
arm o. MON that tie floors were so
weak that the elevator apparatus On
ths hfth floor dropped. and took The
eocrs along with H.
1lames Weak JoistH.
There gas 20 Ere On ~he ether
floors when Ne went thru. said
Chief McCraw There vas no
great weight 90 any Of ths rcors
The only solution b. that The joists
we're 20 weak that he elevator ma.
chnery. In dropping took them
aicng."
Chief Brodertek. veteran of hun.
dieds OF battles Nth ere. shook his
lead gloomiiy Shen asked What he
believed caused the FIRE
Il don't know about the cause OF
The nre." be said. Il dc know that
went thru that building l5 kin
.utes before the collapse. and ali the
FIRE was on the hfJh floor. II the
stairway leading 70 bis aoor hadn't
been nailed shut VIC could have got
ten st II easily. There was moth
ing to warn a fireman that those
floors vouli come down. because
there wasn't any heavy machinery
or other heavy material on them
While rumors Of negligence and
improper regulations were being
scattered thru the city, the entire
Detroit fire department was nal king
arrangements Monday morning for
the funerals Of the tve victims.
FIrenaen To Pay Last Tribute.
Seventy members OF the firo de-
rartmept stations on the east eide
VIII act m an escort Tuesday after.
noon at the funeral OF Capt. AIeKnn-
der Cockburn. Services will D. held
from the Cockburn reEidenee, No.
1867 wabash-ave.
A like number from the west aide
viii accompany the esskst Of Pipe
man hsttick TO the srave wednes-
day aftsrne ON. II Ia probable that
servtces for Pipsman William scnil
also viIl &c held WEDNESDAY. but
this 10 not definite In any event.
10 comrades also wll pay last tri-
butte 20 this hero at the grave.
The body Of LAdderman Oscar
Locke win be sent 10 the home of
his parents In Bay City this after
noon. and funeral services will be
held there Tuesday afternoon. Six
members q the Detroit department.
headed By Lieut. James Murphy.
viii act a. psllbearers.
The parents Of Pipeman AloL5o