The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-17 00:00:00

'THE EXETER DISASTER,

The inquest upon the bodies of the persons who
perished in the fire at the Exeter Theatre was re-
sumed on Monday by the City Coroner, who was
assisted by Captain Shaw, C. 8., chief of the Metro-
politan Fire Brigade, the Commissioner sent down
by the Home Office to represent them in the inquiry.
The coroner, in opening the inquiry, said the object
of the inquiry would now be to ascertain the origin
and spread of the fire, and whether its fatal effects
were to be ascribed to accident, negligence, or defec-
tive construction. He further proposed to sit every
day until the inquiry was completed.
A professional gentleman who appeared for the
" Romany Rye" Company, said that two who had
been summoned were ill, and two others had to play
at Portsmouth that night. He asked that a day
might be named for their attendance.
The coroner said it had been fully explained to
these witnesses that they must attend that day, but
in defiance of his orders they had all gone away.
An undertaking was given that the witnesses
should be present next morning.
The Town Clerk said he appeared to represent the
Mayor in the inquiry; Mr. Roberts appeared for the
Theatre Company; Mr. Fladgate, of London, for the
architect; and Mr. Searle for relatives.

The magistrate's clerk said the justices went
through the plans submitted to the Council, and were
assisted by the City Surveyor in their examination.
The minutes of the magistrates' meeting were pro-
duced, and these stated that when the plans were
produced, Mr. Phipps said he was prepared to effect
the desired improvements. The plans were examined
in 1885, and the license was granted in October, 1886.
All the recommendations marked on the plans by the
magittrates were carried out. Certain sugges-
tions, however, were not carried out; one of these
suggestions was another exit from the gallery.
The architect said he could not mark the
plans with this suggestion. Its adoption would
require a great deal of consideration. Another
suggestion of the justices nu that a window at
the top of the gallery steps should be made int.) a
doorway. That suggestion was not adopted. Some
of the magistrates inspected the building, but only one
of these was present when the license was actually
granted. The visiting justices did not go to the
theatre at night, and did not see it lighted. Guards
were over the burners. No magistrate went into that
part of the theatre over the stage.
The Coroner: Then virtually the most dangerous
part of the house was not inspected.
Witness: No application had been made to the
magistrates since the license for leave to put a post
in the gallery stairs nor to fix the door, which was
half way up the stairs on the night of the fire. Both
were fixed without the knowledge of the magistrates.
The question of the iron curtain was before the
magistrates, and the architect stated that it was only
used in one or two theatres, and was of no use.
Someone, he did not remember whom, said that if an
iron curtain were let down it would sacrifice the lives
of the actors, if not of the audience.

Mr. Horace Lloyd, one of the licensing committee,
said exception was taken to the mode in which the
doors opened, and to there being only one exit in the
gallery. Considerable discussion followed, with the
result that Mr. Phipps made certain marks upon the
plans, which are still in existence, indicating that the
required exit from the pit and the alterations to the
inner doors would be effected. As regards the
additional exit to the gallery, there was a very long
discussion, but Mr. Phipps stated, that inasmuch as
the provision of the extra exit from the gallery would
require considerable structural reconstruction he must
take time to consider it, or words to that effect.
Upon the understanding that the double exit to the
gallery would be provided, it was generally under-
stood that the plans would be passed.
The City burveyor having also given evidence, the
inquiry was adjourned.

ANOTHER DEATH.-THE CITY SURVEYOR
BEFORE THE CORONER.

Another death was added on Tuesday to those pre-
viously announced in connection with the fire at
Exeter, a club steward named Wood havingsuccumbed
In the hospital. There is another sufferer in a very
critical condition. At the resumed inquest on Tues-
day it was stated that three obstructions had been
placed on the gallery stairs tbat were not there when
the magistrates licensed the theatre. One of these
was a door which, when swung out, almost entirely
blocked the thoroughfare. The City Surveyor said be
was disappointed when he found that an iron curtain
was not supplied and that the doors from beneath the
stage were of wood instead of iron. The Town
Council had no authority whatever over these matters,
the Act of Parliament not authorising them to inter-
fere except for stability of the structure and sanitary
reasons.
A CLERGYMAN CHARGED WITH
DRUNKENNESS.
The charge against the Rev. Mr. Ingle, the Exeter
clergyman, of being drunk while conducting a burial
service at the local cemetery during the excitement
caused by the funerals of the victims of the fire, was
investigated by the magistrates at Exeter on Tuesday,
and, after hearing evidence on both sides, they
acquitted the defendant, giving him the benefit of the
doubt.

The Rev. Alfred G. Grittock, Scholar of Hertford
College and Vicar of St. James's, Hereford, has been
appointed by the Islington Trustees to the Vicarage
if St. John's, Upper Holloway, worth 1;550 a year, in
succession to the Rev. Henry R. Dearden.
It is in contemplation to issue the Royal Jubilee
Medal to every officer who was actually in command
of a regiment at the Queen's Jubilee Review at
Aldershot on the 9th July, the recipients including
officers of Regular, Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteer
Corps.
A two days' theatrical celebration is about to be
held it Antwerp on the 17th and 18th inst. in corns
rnemoration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of
the famous Flemish poet Joost van V ondel. Forty
dramatic and literary societies will take part in the
celebration.
A statue has been unveiled at Chamouni in honour of
Horace Benedict de Saussure, the great oeneva
naturalist, to whose services and labours in exploring
Savoy Alps the little village owes its promotion from
grcup of shepherds' huts to its present prosperity. This
is the 300th year since EianSenre'e lir Pt fltloo6BllfUl 110911t1
of Mont Blanc.