Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-01-06
RICHMOND, Dec. 81.
REPORT
Ofthe Committee Of InOestigation.
EcoNTINuED,

Even the relics OIL our i6liOW.CilLeHSS do
they lay, pointed out the causes OF this tata-
iity They were found strewed IN heaps at.
the foot of the narrow stair case which lead
from the boxes, and though with less profu-.
sion, on the ground Immediately under the
lobby of the boxes above, from which lobby
their retreat down the stairs had been inter-
cepted by thecrowd which choaked them up.
On that fatal night, there were In the Pit and
Boxes 5l8 dollar tickets and 80 children, eS-
elusive Of so persons who were In the gale
ries. OF these, sos had to pass through one
common avenue, and although all the sPecta-
tors in the Pit may have escaped, except a
few who may have Jumped into the Boxes,
yetthe crowd in the Lower and Upper Boxes
had no other resource than to press through
narrow angular staircase or to leap the WIZ
dows.-The Committee, not being par
tieulariy conversaat with the construction or
theatres, have requested Mr.. WAITS one Of
the managers OF this theatre, to furnish us
with his ideas on the subject lie has favored
MS with statement which we beg leave to
Incorporate with our report, in the words fol-
lowing, to Wit:
By therequest of the Committee of En-
quiry into the cause Of the late dreadful Gala
nifty at the theatre on the night OF tie 10th
instant. assert, that the loss OF 50 many va
liable lives, and the distress which is felt by
all on the occasion, is wholly attributable to
the construction OF the late theatre ard It's ma
terials.
I" In all Theatres, that have seen, except
the late one, there have been three distinct *
separate doors OF entrance, one to the boxes,
one to the pit, and enc to the gallery. The
late Drury-Lane Theatre had In the centre CT
each side spacious hail, with broad and
straight stair-cases, which terminated In the
Hobbies of the boxes; three entrances to the
Pit, one in the front and one on each side !;
and four entrances to two Galleries, two on
each side These avenues were firm and
cemnaodious, and in their construction pre-
sented every facility for escape, when any
danger asss,iled the audience. Miserable re-
verse. in the late Richmond Theatre, but
one entrance to the Boxes and Pit, and that
so narrow, that two persons could scarcely
pass at the same time; the way then lying
througha gloomy passage to narrow wind
ing stair Case, which terminated, IN as mar
row Lobby. 1t is, therefore, evident, that
this ever to be lamented loss, Whicn has at
once deprived your city OF some OF It's oiignt-
csc ornaments, and dosolttod many families,
is wholly attributable to the mal-consuuction
of the late Theatre, which certainly offered
10 means ofAspeedy escape. he rapidly of
the corfagration must have been caused by
the unfinished state OF the building, there be-
ng no plastered ceiling or wall to prevent
the communication ot tla04c
The coin..ittee caanot close their melan-
choly labours without expressing one hope,
that irreparaole as CIR own calamlties have
been we may not have suffered altogether in
vain that our own mistortunes may serve as
beacons to the rest OF our countrymen, and
that no Theatres should be permnted to be O.
pened III the other cities OF the Y. ). untll G.
very facility has been procured Tor the escape
OF the audience.