The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-11 00:00:00

FIRES AT THEATRES,

The Lord Chamberlain has received a letter from the
Coroner of Middlesex, conveying the recommendation of
the jury at the inquest held on Miss Thorne, so unfortu-
nately burnt to death at the Pavilion Theatre, to the follow-
ing effect:—
"That in future the dresses of ballet dancers should be
rendered uninflaramable, and that all ground lights should
be protected."
In this recommendation the coroner concurs.

At the meeting of managers held this (Feb. 5) day, their
opinion was so strongly expressed as to the difficulties which
would attend an order for the compulsory use of uninflam-
Limbic muslin, &c., that the Lord Chamberlain cannot at
present undertake to give a general order for its adoption.
Ho would wish, however, that managers should employ it
whenever possible, and should generally impress upon the
ladies engaged by them the dangers to which they expose
themselves by refusing to avail themselves of this simple

precaution.
The Lord Chamberlain is glad to find that in most of the
theatres under his control guards to the ground and other
fixed lights have already been adopted. He has thought it
necessary to issue a general order on this important point.
_ _

The Lord Chamberlain begs to impress upon the mana-
gers that the public is becoming more and more disposed to
hold them responsible for accidents by fire occurring in the
houses under their control, and would suggest that speedy
and certain punishment should be inflicted by them upon
all persons in their set vice guilty of carelessness in this re-
spect.
The Lord Chamberlain would also urge upon the mana-
gers the importance of facilitating by every means in their
power the egress of all classes of their audiences from their
theatres. He acknowledges with pleasure, that much has
of late years been effected; but much room for improve-
ment still exists, and he hopes to find that his caution in
this respect has been attended to when the next annual in-
spection takes place.
The Lord Chamberlain encloses herewith a copy of regu-
lations to be posted in a conspicuous position in the theatres,
To these regulations, which in substance have already been
coni, eyed to the managers, he desires again to call their
special attention, and begs that the receipt of them may be
acknowledged. SYDNEY, Lord Chamberlain.
Lord Chamberlain's-office, Feb, 5.

REGULATIONS FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION AGAINST
ACCIDENTS By FIRE AT THEATRES LICENSED BY THE
LORD CHAMBERLAIN.

1. All fixed and ordinary gas burners to be furnished with
efficient guards. Movable and occasional lights to be, when
possible, protected in the same manner, or put under charge
of persons responsible for lighting, watching, and extin-
guishing them.
2. The floats to be protected by a wire guard. The first
ground-line to be always without gas, and unconnected with
gas, whether at the wings or elsewhere. Sufficient space
to be left between each ground-line, so as to lessen risk
from accident to all persons standing or moving among
such lines.

3. The rows or lines of gas. burners at wings to commence
four feet at least from the level of the stage.
4. Wet blankets or rugs, with buckets or water-pots, to
be always kept in the wings ; and attention to be directed
to them by placards legibly printed or painted, and fixed
immediately above them. As in rule 1, some person to be
responsible for keeping the blankets, buckets, &0., ready for
immediate use.

5. These regulations to be always posted in some conspi-
cuous place, so that all parsons belonging to the theatre
may be acquainted with their contents ; every breach or
neglect of them, or any act of carelessness as regards fire, to
be punished by fines or dismissal by the managers.
SYDNEY, Lord Chamberlain.
Lord Chamberlain's office, St. James's Palace, Feb.s.