The New York herald., 1876-12-11
FIRES IN THEATRES.
How They May Be Prevented and
Avoided.
SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
The Views of the Chief of the
London Fire Brigade.
PUBLIC OPINION ON THE QUESTION

Mr. Eyre NJ Shaw, chief OF tho London Fire Brigade
having carefully and aborously studied the subject
protecting theatres IRON sudden destruction by hre
has embodied the knowledge which he possesses in
pamphlet ana given it to the public Tor the benefit
OF those Interested. Tho principal recommendation
and suggestions made by Mr.. Shaw are below.
STREET APPROACHES AND SURE REMEDIES.
The external street approaches should invariably bs
kept free and unobstructed, as they may at any mo-
be required for rush Of the audience, and such
of the inets also form the exits should bo not les,
numerous than tho internal divisions Of the audito
rum. according to prices.
Each inlet should be easy OF entrance ut its outside
point, well lighted, free from small projections OBJ
sructons likely to cause injury, quite free from steps
any point where crush is likely to take place. and grad
ualy narrowing the width OF the narrowest
passages through which the visitors have reach their
seats In long straight passages, where tho pressure
OF crowd might be likely accumulate to be-
como dangerous perfect safety can be obtained by
placing at intervals strong barriers running from
alternate Sides and so arranged that not
Than 1fty some such limited number
OF persons could press on each other at q
time Distractions OF this kind carefully
placed will be found not to delay the entrance of Wis
tors but on the contrary facilitate 1t by removing
nil necessity Tor crushing, and SO allowing them 10
walk quickly TO their seats instead OF being pushed and
hustled IS too commonly the case. AS to the sur
roundings II is to be observed that the safety of a
building very seriously affected by its position with
regard TO those near H. On this account theatre or
any building which large numbers of persons as
semble should under NJ circumstances be completely
surrounded by other buildings
The external walls OF a theatre should be strong
Eohd. well bonded both in themselves and TO each
other, and able 10 resist very considerable shocks
They should be supported the inside by all in
tcrnal walls which touch them. Numerous instances
have shown that II is great mistake to have num-
ber OF internal walls merely touching the external
walls and NOT bonded into them nor IN any way con-
tributng to the support OF the structure.
INTERNAL DIVISIONS
There certain internal divisions In q theatre
Ehch necessary for the transaction OF business,
lor instance, the managers rooms and offices. the
tressign rooma OF the actors, the storerooms,
The stage, the auditorium, the passages aud
galleries OF the auditorium, tho corridors, re-
lreshment rooms starcascs entrance halls, &c, &c
all these should be constructed of solid hcal proof
materials, aud should form essential part of the
building, instead OF being, as sometimes happens, q
mere coecuon of apparently temporary fittings just
able to carry themselves and the persons ordinarily
likely pass over them, and Of no service 10 the gen.
rral structure but, the contrary source OF danger
Lc 1t On account Of their great infammabity.
Some OF the internal walls are necessarily placed at
points which would be most desirable to oscparate
the risks OF the several parts; as, tor instance. be-
tween the sides of the auditors and the wings OF the
ttape and again between the auditorium and the
riors between the corridors and the stairs, and
forth, and the more solid and complete the walls at
these points the safer the building will be- In the
Rtrc there parts which cannot be divided, as
iof instance the stage, and again tho auditorium;
and this it which makes the danger of such places
nseparabe from their very existence; but there
corresponding applicable TO the whole struc.
ture. ON tho contrary, there are many why it is de-
sirabe in the interests OF true economy and especially
for the safety OF fe divie the whole building into
many distinct and separate risks as possible, of
course without a. an hterierg win .no business 70
be carried on. For this purpose tho nrst and most
obvious point is that which the curtain falls, the
opening at that spot s much reduced by the partial
sross walls and the supporting wall under the front OF
The stage. In Short at this point the whole house
should be divided into Two distinct parts by means OF
hre wal, commencing the basement and going
through the roof TO height OF from four
Rect outside This wall should be perforated at tho
rides on each landing and at the bottom under ,he
the orchestra and fitted at the peroratons
with wrought iron doors, and should OF COURSE have
the usual large opening to the stage but with these
exceptions 1t should be complete.
METAL CURTAINS
At the great opening -necual protection could be
,b,aned by means OF metal curtain which could be
dropped at a moments notice. The metal curtain
should be supported and worked by steel iron
CHAINS such curtains, 1t Is true, have before been
tried and have not found iavor with managers OF the
but that does not at all affect the subject under
consideration. They may have been badly made,
badly fitted. or badly worked; bat even so, II must
be obvious that, III the event of lire hap
pening. they would have done some good. At
all events, the present condition OF mechanical skill
and ledge simply to say that the
thing impossible, and is quite certain that there
are thousands of tho first engineers OF TINS and other
countries who would hesitate to accept order
Tor such curta n, and, IT not hampered by rcstric-
tions would guarantee that fire would not get through
under any circumstances whatever in less
than hour or so, which is much more time than
would required Tor saving first tho audience and
afiorward the auditorium and other parts oil tho
BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN
theatre should 10 the irst place be divided into
two principal parts, before the other behind the
curtain Alter this there should De the several great
divisions DIN iront-the auditorium, refreshment
rooms and places Tor exit and entrance; and-behind-
the stage the dressing rooms the workshops and :he
s,orcrooms.
The auditorium proper cannot itself be subdvided,
have separate place lor entrance and exit accord
ing to price, so that, Of alarm or OF
den clearing OF any part, there would be
at the Immediate point of exit from tho
IL would be desirable that each portion of the
audience should leave the building altogether by differ
passages stairs ana doors; but this is not abso-
ueiy necessary safety II the several portions
leave their seats without obstruction they may with
out much danger be allowed to JOIN at some
not he allowed to meet common passage
either end IN, If IL be avoided, even at right
angles. 1t is much safer for the two streams
to take the general direction OF the common
passage before they enter IL Then, to trihing
differences OF level. will DE found that gradients not
exceeding ten perfectly safe Tor a crowd,
ard that the smallest steps more or less un-
safe When there rs gradient, however, u is most
desirable 10 AVOID any pressure near it, persons
entering gradient downward invountarily attain
increased speed and this be further accelerated by
pressure from behind accidents may happen. This
danger however is very easily guarded against either
by having the entrance TO the gradient at wide angle
from she communicating passages or by simple ar
number OF persons each compartment so to speak,
10 about fifty or thereabouts, this number cannot
create q sufficient pressure to do injury.
In enclosed passages and staircases hand rails at
distance of about three inches from tho walls both
sides always advantage is that they
cupy space, this Is against them but the
other hand, they almost invariably prevent persons
falling down and being trodden When = crush
comes the persons at the sides hold the rail- and
those In the middle bold on to them; aud II is most
unusual with such an arrangement Tor any 30 10
0w IN. page
without rail there nothing to prevent persons alI
ing and when they do laii, the consequences
serious only themselves through being pied
on but TO all in the vicinity, account OF The OBJ
struction the increased mpa,ience panic which
is sure to follow IL
CAxr
Each part Of theatre should be licensed and egbly
marked the number OF persons II Is 10 contain, in
She same way steamships, omnbusscs &C and Is
sh,n hc q uaigdemeanar here II Ia The other