The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-07
The Awful Calamity in Brooklyn.


three hundred persons persisted in the
flames, or were killed by surOcation, within
the space of II few mnutes. 10 easily and
rapidly did tho theatre s~iutn that it was
like throwing a lighted match into basket
of shavings. Undoubtedly, rs in all cases
where FIRE occurs in a building filled
with people, the panic it created
was the chief cause OF the fatal result TO
DO many, but even il the audience had kept
perfectly cool, and gone out with rs much
elaboration as Il file OF soldiers there must
yet have been great loss of life. There
was no escaping the flames. Even the
kctors, who were first apprzed of the fire,
got out of the theatre not one second too
Ioon, and two at least perished in the at
Tempt to escape. The occupants of the
galleries under no circumstances could
have had much chance Of saving them
selves. aud in the disorder and panic they
were utterly helpless, and ~ much doomed
~ death rs If they had been shut I'd i'll
red hot furnace. Fortunately the audi
ence on the ground floor, or parquet, was
not large. and, therefore, nearly all of them
were able to get out of the Under box
20 which they had committed themselves
before II fell in. But they owe their lives
10 the fewness Of their numbers, not to
any proper precaution taken for their safe
ty. If the theatre had been crammed. as
IL was during Miss MoRRIss engagement,
the loss of life would certainly have been
vastly greater than IT now is.
There seems TO have been no precauton,
not even the most ordinary, taken against
are When the border lights at the top OF
the stage kindled the swaying hangiugs,
there was at hand no water to put out the
flames, and we read OF no attempts TO stay
their progress. They were simply allowed
10 seize the bit and get uncomfortable
Roadway. While those behind the scenes
whose business il was to look after such an
III accident. which ought always to be ex
pected in "a theatre, made the best of their
way out OF the building. leaving the
audience to he suffoca;ed 10y the smoke and
roasted IN the flames.
Though the liability Of n theatre to get
hfire is a. 81 cat as that of powder mil to
blow up, and such fires are of frequent oc-
currenCe, yet almost without exception
our theatres are constructed of the himsi-
eft and most combustIbe Materials are so
arranged as to afford the greatest oppor-
iunity for fire 10 gain rapid Roadway, and
are ill-provided with means OF exit ade-
quate TO the emergency SO certain to arise.
The stage IL "A network of combustibles
aud is fun of drafts TO fan an
mcipient flame. Gas Is distributed
throughout it, over almost every foot
OF space, by means Of india-rubber
tubing; the number of jets flaming may
be hundreds the scenery Is of dry canvas
saturated with oil paint, and on frames of
dry pine, and the whole surroundings are
tempteIs of Are. The curtains and hang
nRs generally sway with the drafts and
are within easy reach OF the burning jtts.
Yet with all these dangers constantly pres
ent there are not three theatres la New
York which are provided with sufii-
Gent apparatus for the prompt check
ing Of fire, aud mono with enough
men thoroughly organized to deal
with such an emergency. Within com
paratively few years there were de-
stroyed by fire, the Academy of!Muslc, the
Winter Garden, Niblo's, and DAYS. Fifth
Avenue Theatre, aud In each case If the
6re had occurred when the house was
filed and under similar circumstances to
those which surrounded the Brooklyn
catastrophe tho loss OF life would have
been rs great or greater. Yet the theatres
generally remain ms before without the
necessary safeguards.
One OF the first requisites Of wcll-ap-
pointed stage is the abundant supply of
water under sufficient head to reach
avery part Of the combustible structure,
with hydrauts having hose already
attached, to deluge the whole place
al "a moments notice. If this Brook
yn Theatre had provided such ordi-
nary and common sense appliances,
and somebody whose first duty it was
TO make use OF them, we should not have
had to tell the appalling story we do this
morning. If water was at hand, there was
no attempt to use 1t; tho probability
IS that there wasn't any adequate water
arrangement, and the certainty is that
the appliances ana discipline for III
use were not ready. The people were left
unprotected 10 nght the flames and smoke,
The trouble with our legislation with re-
Ipect to the safety Of life in theatres Is that
4 il chiefly occupied with the means Of
getting the people out after Il fire has be-
preventing Of the fire hy enforcing an
adequate system 81 water tanks and
hydrants. No theatre constructed on
our present plan can be made safe
for crowded audience when once
fire starts and gains proercs.
within it, The people in The upper gal.
leries are sure to be losi-to he burned q
mfIocutcd or trampled TO death. Tier,
isn't theatre in New York from which
the occupants of any pant Of the building
above the ground iloor could escape IA I'll,
event Of a sudden connngration like that
in Brooklyn. The only way TO save then
IS to stop IN" fire al its start, and thai
can only bo done by giving, III thu
construction Of the theatre, ms mucl
attention 10 the water works rs tC
the gas works and the scenery. Not only
the theatres hut the concert halls also
without exception, nrc liable 10 just sucl
disastars aud when thew come they NAV