The New York herald., 1876-12-09

tion. and when turned around 20 icwad
got into the lobby We had 20 aiaeaI,y IL resns asa
M ,se aSsS gu, osna y was Sosssd and hs We could sss
smoke. and aer being nearly suaocaied escaped
and with The exception Of female who lyns The
there ware no females abovs The ars, landing when
brought my S v.is SoTn gs'pss,lny ,a nu.
ARCHITECTS OPINION
In the evening Mr. Ready, The FIRE Marshal. con-
tinued his investigation, aud took skilled testimony
concerning the construction OF the theatre.
George l. Morse, No. 6l3 Carleton avenue. arch-
tcct DONG business IN Brooklyn Tor seventeen years.
testified AS follows I'll have examined the ol the
Brooklyn Theatre, and have also ned the plans
OF the building as irawn by Mr.. jackson, the arch.
tect conclude that the building was well constructed
beyond question: SO Tar as its stability and strength
were coDcerned rcicr only TO us construction and
stability; the main walls wero built sixteen inches
thick, enlarged TO twenty inches under he OF
the root, where additional weight wDs there
also additional strength; they we're built OF the
best hard brick laid IN hydraulic cement
mortar aud "groutod;'' the building well
tempered and substantial in every Particular 1t was
heated by steam at low pressure, both py direct aud
indirect radiation; the heating apparatus good
order; reconstructed the apparatus year ago. and
satisfied IL safe against nre; to the Of
esress the minimum width OF passageway from the
parquet ana dress circle at the end OF the building
where tho audience is supposed 1nd Ii
inches from the dress circle it was feet and from
the family circle. or gallery It was feet; according
70 tho pons there were 400 sttnss IN the balcony and
$50 IN the orchestra chars. making $50 on this evci
dcductng the 'oot passageway from the dress circle
there would be Lett Q feet inches which
\
| of The $50 siitings on this level so that
we have feet inches minimum passagcway
for $50 sttngs the first level. iect Tor the 45O
sngs in the dress clrcc and feet for tho $50 SIT
tings OF the family circle or gallery; my opnion is
way out, II there was or obstrnciion IN from
two and half to three minutes; tho stairs 10 the
gallery were distinct IRON the passaecways TO other
parts OF the house, with the exception oil doorway
on the nrst landing at tho ticket Office Tor the upper
tier; understand tho object OF that door was 10
afford additional means OF exit from the dress circle
IN case oil lrc am not able TO say whether II was
open on thus OCCASION or not; II tins door was open
persons coming from tho gallery could have passed
into the dress circle and down tho staircase.
Q Was IT practicable as The building was situated,
to have had escape from the gallery Floods
alley on the outside? A. II was possible 10 have con.
struced fire escape on Floods alley, but IL would
have been worse than useless in such jam; an iron
staircase outside would have been cicctual relief
but this would have boon an encroachment public
thoroughiarc; lhnk the means OF exit were decidedly
better than IN the average OF public buildings; tho
staircase leading TO the gallery was In two straight
runs, without ''windcrs' the size OF the landing nj
the head OF the first fight about IA feet by feet
inches
Q How was the gallery stairs as to strength and
durability? A. As to tho strength OF the stars lead.
Ing to tho gallery. the first flight, which is not
tirely destroyed, was very substantial and would not
~ sappose tha, I bo other lIsbt was constructed in
the same manner; the plan does not give the spcci-
cation Of how the stairs we're constructed; II Is very
improbable that that second flight or stairs gave way
| until IL was burned away.
O. Was there any means Of escape for those on tho
gallery by way OF the rooiy A. l don't think there
was the roof OF the theatre double pitch roof,
too steep for persons to stand on; cannot tell any
thing about the arrangement OF The border lights and
scenery from the plans.
| .QuIcK SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
O. Can you tell why the hre reached the root OF tho
gallery less than minutes from the time broke
outy A. The scenery and material and fixtures OF the
stage were very niammabe and there was an immerse
amount of this material there; the flames must havc
spread with the greatest rnpdity; the irc
well under way all tho glass in the johnson street
windows must have been broken out by the heat;
tho stage door johnson street. II not the
large double door, must have been opened 10 allow
those tho stage pass OUT that night tho wind
was blowing from the north and northwest, and would
strike directly against that front Of the building,
sha. .nore was strong c%'rens o a wncn caaea
OF the building where the crowd was struggling to get
OUT this accounts for the rnpdity with which tho fire
moved from the stage TO tho other end of the building
and for the consequent loss Of lie.
The investigation adjourned until ten o'clock
this morning
MISS KATIE GIRARD's STORY.
A reporter of tho HERALD called upon Miss Kate
Grard at her residence, No. AZ Union square, ycster
day. Miss Grard played the part OF Marianne, the
outcast In the 1.-TWO Orphans" Miss Girard was
lying abed suffering acutely from the terrible inju-
rics sustained on the night OF the fire. Her
mother was watching anxlousy over the sufferer
Raising herself, with mosher's aid she told her
simple story folows:-.'l had dressed having got
through with my part and had lett the theatre, when
saw blaze OF lght. knew instinctiveiy that the
theatre nro and rushed back, almost iuvolun-
tarily TO tell MRS Aen who was waiting Tor Mr. Bur-
rOughs to come out at once. As attempted TO ro
enter was pulled back oy some one, nc remnn
! was told 10 60 the station house As attempted
to make way ththcr was thrown down on the side
walk in Washington street, and whether was kicked
tram pied q beam fell upon mo know not
reached the station house however, and then
the house OF Mrs Lewis. In Pierrcpont street I"
Having taken his leave tho reporter repaired TO the
IT, vas = asccrlai"ed that Miss G.rnfds INJURIES con-
sised OF fracture OF the ribs, fragments OF which
had pierced the lungs and caused proIuso bleeding.
Ga In rtG ldn hut n
called in DR.. Carnochan, who agreed with his diaeno
Sis. Notwithstanding tho agony under which Miss
own heplessncss prevented hcr from nllcviatng tho
suffering OF others
GRAVE CHARGE AGAINST CAPTAIN SMITH
Mr.. william Kerr, a clerk In the Department OF
Health, Brooklyn, made tho following statement to
reporter in reference that Captain Smith,
OF tho First precinct police station, who In charge
OF the theatre the time tho calamity occurred in
stead Of assisting actually prevented aid to be extended
TO tho occupants Of the burning theatrc:-
and a irieud OF mine, Mr.. George Shaw, who is
ncctcd Eddy's safe uacory, No. 351 Classon
avenue and resides ut No Is6 Wloughby street, ran
to the main entrance Of tho theatre on Washington
street. just alter tho 1re broke out AS we came up
there lew people coming out oil the building, and
when we arrived there saw one leaving II. Mr..
Shaw very anxious TO enter the theatre TO
whclhor he could DO Of any assistance especially no
that night, at the Brooklyn, but he afterward
found that she had been TO the Park. aiso
expressed strong desire 10 euter Inc Oud-
ing and offered my aid for | have had
good deal OF experience at nrcs but Captain Smith
said woad allow us 10 enter the theatre
permit any else go IN 10 offer any assistance
The audience all out and there necessity
for any help being extended while we were standing
there we saw OF the coal hole In the sidewalk
close in front OF tho main entrance raise up and
mans head protrude. Mr Shaw and myself seized
hold OF him aud pulled him clean out tho SIDE
walk, and then another head appeared. This second
was stout and his logs think got bent In somc
way under tho sidewalk, so that wo had great trouble
and had use considerable exerton TO get him ont.
l do not know either OF the men pulled out and
they wasted time beng released each OF thcm
quickly leaving soon he reached the sidewalk,
without saying word. ! fanced that they were
cmploycs about the house As soon the second
man was out Captain smith ordered the cover TO be
replaced the hole without giving any explanation
for the order
PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING.
The Plymouth prayer meeting Of last evening
much more crowded than has bccn usual OF late. Tho