The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-28
DANGER IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

THE MEANS PROVIDED IN CITY CHURCHES FOR
EGREss-DOoRs THAT OPEN INWARD AND OUT
WARD.
The dreadful calamity that occurred last Thurs
day evening IN st. Andrew church has naturally
awakened public attention as to the safety OF con-
gregations who assemble several times weekly In
the many hundred houses OF worship in this
CITY, The great peril That large bodies OF
people are exposed to In cases OF sudden alarm
by reason OF the terror that seizes them when
confined within buildings ard their frantic efforts
to escape has been attested on numerous occa-
sions The great necessity Is to establish conf
dence, and there Is no better means OF attaining
this end than to have IL understood that the means
of egress are ample and easy With the view
OF learning what arrangements exist as to the
facilities for reaching the street in the event OF
an entire congregation seeking immediate exit
representatives OF tue HERALD visited large
number OF churches yesterday to obtain informa-
ton on this important point. The result OF their
Investigations so far is appended. IL should be
understood that wnere the outer doors move IN
the direction the street the safety OF the people,
for very obvious reasons, Is best secured.
ST. ANDREWS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
First In interest, In considering the foresight, or
the neglect OF IL, as to the safety OF people who
assemble In large numbers for pubic worship or
for other purpOses comes on the present occasion
St. Andrews church, where the recent disaster
occurred. The venerable Father Curran cheer
fully gave all the Information requested, and
took the opportunity to remark that be
and Ills congregation felt under deep
debt OF gratitude for the kindly considera-
ton with which they were treated by the
HERALD during their present severe anlicton.
The doors that admit people from the streets to
the church open inward, but, alter passing
through the vestibule the doors swing outward
that Is, give way before the people as they are
leaving the church. The gallery stairways are
eight leet wide and admit four people abreast
passing time. Father Cutran men
toned circumstance reated to him Dy
| that gentleman was 10 Rome ne attended service
In one OF the cnurcues OF that city, and an incident
| occurred sufncent TO create irlQnt among the
congregation. the people, however. renamed en-
trey quiet, hardly removing tnelr eyes from their
prayer books soon the cause OF terror was re-
moved by the proper parties and no trouble OF any
KIND ensuea Father Curran stated that mad n 3
people recolected the advice he had often give
the this subject the calamity OF Tnursda y
evening would not have occurred.
THE SOUTH REFORMED CHURCH,
corner OF Filth avenue and rwenty-nrst street
has three doors on the 'front.', leading into the
vestibuie and swinging Inward, whence tive
doors open into the audience room, swinging out
ward. Tne only gallery Is over the vestIbule
from which the stairs are about four feet In width
TO the rignt and lett Of the upit are doors lead
ing rom the church, which could be made AVIAN
aple in case OF fre or other accident.
GRACE CHURCH,
| IN broadway, between Tenth ana Eleventh streets
mas three doors leading into the vestlDuie an
swinging In ward. There are also two doors on IN
side toward Tenth street and Two Ia tne rear .