The New York herald., 1876-12-20
INCOMBUS7IBLE SCENERY.
Preliminary Trial of a Novel Fire-Re-
sister at Wallack'S.
DEFYING A FIERCE FLAME.
Dion BoucicauIt on the True Way to
Make Theatres Safe.

In connection with the discussion going
among experts in relation TO dangers from nres break
ing out the stages OF theatres which produce spec
tacuiar and startling effects experiment will
be made al wallacks Theatre to-day Yesterday tho
preliminary trial was madc-that to say, herein
after described preparations made this grand
climax 70 be Witnessed to-day by those 70 whom in
vsations have been sent. An invitation sent to-
the Fire Commissioners, which related that mass OF
hanging scenery composed Of canvas wood and rope,
previously prepared will be passed through and thor
oughly exposed fire. The following correspondence
took place IN relation thereto.
This is the Commissioners reply to the invaton:--
J. LxsrER WALLACE. ESQ., proprietor of waacks Thca-
sin-I am directed behalf Of the Commissioners OF
this department. acknowledge the receipt OF invita-
rsnasSsd s Se .spnsa shs
be made theatre and consist In passing
through and thoroughly exposin the prepared
may result satactory and that due prudenes viii be ss
ehee.s he opinion that the experiment 'e hoa NOT
q ssss pscs sSsTs IRE IL amy Aesasn d slip the danger
i the fears 2. po.sSs .ssdsn. now can
missonsrs will 20 glad o be Informed and viii place
a AsI %sns
Then came the following to the Board
WALLAcK's. Monday Evening.
conduct 81 he BE- under the de-
psrsment We have arranged test tor preliminary srisi
lacks and should feel obliged your officers would
with your prsssnse lam you would ise
much satisfied as to the safety Of the experiment
IEsTER wALLAcK
This elected reply stating the Commissioners would
attend.
PRELIMINARY
Accordingly the Inspectors Of Public Buildings
President Perley Commissioner King, Chief Bates and
District Chief Gicquel OF the Fire Department
Wailack's Theatre at three O'Clock yesterday alter
to witness a preliminary exhibition of fire.
proof scenery on the stage.
During the past week Mr. Dion Boucicault has de-
voted his spare time tho subject OF preventing fires
the STAGE and has at last succeeded he tninks In
obtaining a solution OF the problem.
At tho exhibition yesterday pieces Of scenery
exposed the stage. large hose attached
to the gas pipe and from thc nozzle large flame was
obtained. This fame about five feet long and
about tho thickness of mans body. The nozzle rep
resented blow pipe, aud attendant held
u in close proximity to the scenery. The scenery
which had been saturated with preparation
which will be explained hereafter, s.outly refused to
burn, and not the slightest effect OF the heat
anu flame could be discerned Mr.. Boucicaut was
then asked II the fame continually held there to
the scenery would II take fire. Mr.. Boucicault replied
that tho experiment had tried and the blast
pipe was then held steadily against tho can.
until It Tell into black powder, leaving
circular hole but without fame or spark.
tre satisfaction with the result OF the experiment,
Il was thorough and satisfactory. To-day public
pertinent will be given at O'Clock, in the
opinion OF the Commissioners II VIII prove satstacto
Tily, there being no danger.
BorcicAuLr coMBUsTDLEs
A reporter Of the HERALD called on Mr. Bouccault
yesterday afternoon alter the test, and stated that he
and the general manufacture OF them. The following
conversation ensuel:-
that you desire 30 Introduce system Of ireproof
scenery into the New York theatres.
'tYes, sur endeavored 10 introduce 1t INTO the Lon
don thcatrcs sixteen years ago. and had long coniro
vcrsv the London Times the subject advocating,
do now, tho Of nreproof materials in theatres
The question arose from small loss OF lie at the
at Of the theatrcs, and. rs usual, the ques
sion warmly takca up, but soon abandoned,
even as this excitement: of the Brooklyn
Theatre disaster will die unless Leading
paper like New YORK HERALD Will take It up and
keep it continually before the public Such news
paper must insist that proper precautions taken in
all places Of amusement, and the HERALD certainly
devotes more attention to this particular object than
any other daily journal have faith iron
tans and increased width OF allcyways and stair
cases. These are poor remedies We should
prevent the disease, since II be done, and
not take precautions for it's cure The process OF
dering all The scenery, machinery. gearing ana all
things used behind the scenes OF tho theatre in all It's
departments, Greproof, is very cheap simple and
pcdilious Any piecc Of canvas be rendered nre-
that this should be done in every theatre. and
have proposed that inc Fire Department shall appoint
q n
having practically BY re did to-day and viii
do again tomorrow, they should certificate
that the scenery, machinery and furniture Of tho
theatre examined is entirely freproof, and such
tcatc Should be openly exposed to public view in the
hall Of the theatre as the certificates are hung up IN
the saloons of our Terry and river steamboats, II on
any monthly visit any pcce OF scenery or machinery
is found TO bo combustibIe the certificate
should withdrawn and the price OF a
new certificate be placed at $2h By this action the
theatres Will always be safe and the public will have
sntlre confidence them. This action II adopted,
wou be
generally results so disastrously."
"Havc you any objection to state the nature Of this
new freproof scenery, and how II IS usedy'
mot the slightest The canvas ano rope is soaked
In d solution OF tunRstate of soda for half hour
This OF time quite sufficient. Afer 1t is dry
1t prmed with solution OF sl'caic OF soda, when
make the woodwork partially nreprooi and in
decd u becomes SO, for all practical purposes.
Tor Tor The woodwork, which is called The
Iungstate OF olybdenum, that being more effective
thus prepared, ire OF any size be built immedi-
Aciy underneath, with no other elect than TO evcntu-
ally reduce IT TO powder |"
.sWLat is the cost OF this ~
"rhe entire stock OF theatre might be rendered
rcproo for less than s1o0 The ingredients necessary
tho scenery in any theatre could be satu-
rated and made hreproof in very short time.
Theatre tomorrow TO- day nj one o'clock THIS cxhi-
bon will consist OF two painted drop scenes hanging
side BY side These scenes VIII sprinked with
tungsiatc OF soda, and IN the presence invited
guests q body OF flame Will be thrown upon u from
gas blast pipe Tins Will be greater test as to the In
ammabe condition OF the scenery and stage than could
possibly occur In theatre from any accident
from defective gas arrangements or anything else
Mr.. Boucicaut then stated that he proposed that
after the public test today he would suggest that the
ceiling oil theatres, tho stage, dressing rooms. and all
tho Offices attached thcrcto should be treated with
this nrcprooi composition so as 10 render rc IN such
theatre practical !mpossibty.
Mr.. Theodore Moss, Treasurer OF Waack's Theatre,
was present at the experiment yesterday. He ex-
pressed reporter his entire satisfaction with the
result OF the test and his opinion, the adoption OF
the same would not only be great benefit 10 theatre