The New York herald., 1876-12-08


Pubic icelns is deeply moved by the terrible
tragedy al the Brooklyn Theatre that legislative
action Will follow inevitable result. Before form
ing any conclusion as 10 the means tending oovate
such caamiiies lei Us remember that nres occur
European theatres anc places OF public with
fatal consequences yet principles Of construction,
no regulations imposed, have yet proved efectuai
as preventivcs. Numerous and wide entrances have
been provided. the buildings been Isolated
TO be accessible from all sides, precaution has
been taken, but rrcs will break on, fe
hccd. Churches schools iyceums are in The same
category with theatrcs and are liable 10 similar dis
aster desire TO point out thai the rene.
dies are not 10 bo sought only IN the con
iruciion OF such buildings and in precauiion-
ary measures against hrc, but chiefly in
some control the rush Of the audience
when seized with panic. ana meanwhile to delay the
progress OF the flames IL may seem strange theory
some barriers had inicrposed at the Brooklyn
Theatre the outward rush OF pubic,
subdiv ding the mass that one part cond
upon another, snc thus facilitating steady dow Of the
crowd toward the outlets, believe few ives II any,
would have been lost. This involves principle
dametrcaily opposed 10 The plans generally advocated
that large wide doors and corridors the only
OF salvation such contend they practi-
cay useless When We desire TO stem and control the
eager push OF excited multitude cndeayorng 10 en-
ter theatre, we erect barriers 10 obige discipline
WHY should not similar means prove elccual In
controlling tho exit IL NAV he sad ina, a crowd al
tempting 10 enter theatre Is easily restrained. This
Is an error. have known limos broken flesh torn
from the bones, and on more Than one occasion lives
lost The fronzled struggle 10 OBTAIN front seat with
| twelve cents.
| You audo the catastrophe al tho Church OF San
tiago TINS Case may serve as an illustration. Hero
was aspacious hail. having large gateway as s simple
entrance from an open portico. Durog festival
when the church was crowded, the ornaments around
the altar caught lire, panic ensued congrrga-
ton rushed 10 the door. Wide church door is
provrrbially, the crowd became Janmed in H. some
| women tainted and then The human pug became a
fixture. Ihls .mpcdmcnt blocked up he and
the multitude within persisted IN SIGHT OF the open
/ sky without, seen over the wriihing mass Dur
ing this terrible spectacle vaqucro who
was seated on horseback IN the square
| among the spectators rode up The steps
OF the por,co aud lung hts larat over the heap OF
prosirase bodies into The church. hoping The OF
| his iasso might lind some ono In It's loop. The at
tempt succeeded tor, as he rode down again. he drew
! after hm bodily over the obstacle woman whom no
had thus 1shcd of tho oil re. The OF tho
doorway and tho dircctness Of tins
| SHOWN by the with which sucn feat per-
formed In lace OF such experience not plain
that something more than vide doors and corridors is
necessary? That fires Will break places of pub
lie resort is inevitable that crowds will become pa nc
stricken is inevitable. Let us deal. then, with the
| inevitable. Let us devise some means TO delay
the rapid progress OF tho element and restrain the
frenzed push ut the crowd. There is place of pub
lie resort the world that cannot be vacated by
crowded audience in ten minutes and is quite posi-
| bic 10 check any lire during that time have
desire to intrude personally the question AT this
moment and in this manner. and do 50 only because
the experiences OF thirty years in theatrical practice
may give some little weight % these observations.
| Yours faithfully, DION BOUClCAuLr
SAFE AND UNSAFE NEW YORK THEATRES.
| To EDITOR rnE uERALD:-
/ In tho midst OF tho excitement and exaggeration
| caused by the brooklyn Theatre horror vii! you
kindly allow space for a fow practical words in
favor of moderation and discrimination, and In the
interests OF both the public and the profession? Tho
alarmist reports aud editorials In several OF the
papers calculated 10 tcrriiy the public and nurc
the profession without just AS of fact
the safest public buildings IRON aro the class
| theatres, sincc they arc always carefully guarded
| and abundantly supplied with the means Of
! preventing or cxtingushng a connagration. This
safety will be still assured while the present
excitement lasts, because OF tho extra precautions
adopted in every well-rcgulatcd house. When q
nimsiy constructed. unguarded, evcrcrowdcd church
down and destroys many lives is It fair pru.
the people to go to church any
Whom n,msily constructed unguardod theatre, with
out hose nre buckets screens, with propric-
tor who has his property, a manager who
| Is never present and business manager who has
walked before the last act is destroyed by nrc is
1t iar TO cry against all theatrical establish.
mcn,s and in Keeping the people OF safe and
prudenlIy conducted thcalresy Becsuse specializing
managers permitted TO learn their business at the
expense Of .ne public Is u Jus. that profess onai
TO take care Of thcm should be mado TO suiIcry
Tho calamity at the Brooklyn Theatre began with
jcts the flies. These Jets were stopped by wooden
plugs; the plugs took FIRE from the mel .hbonng jets
and tongues OF flame blew out against OF tho
canvas borders, which Igntcd. fyman doing his
duty properly, cut down the burning border, which
ing over tho stage This new fuel gave headway 10
the flames; then came the rush. tho crush the giving
holocaust OF the public. The master machlnlst says
that effort was made TO stop the lire because
no appliances had been provided Tor such a
purpose. Yet no inspector mad ever reported
The Brooklyn Theatre AS deficient, and Manager
Palmer gravcly swcars that he had recently bought
set OF ropes tssc) in order TO rcnocr everything
safcl Managers ADVISED by the newspapers
adopt tho French system OF fro prevention, but one
tion-has been overlooked. IT. on the morning after
the Brooklyn 1re, every theatre In New York had
been inspected aud impartial reports pub
ishcd the public mind would have been once
quc,ed. Several theatres would undoubtedly have
been condemned and c'oscd--.hcy ought to bo con-
dcmncd and closed now--but others would have been
@ notorious s., ars,raps i, in s,r New York. but a. :.
as nearly hrcproof as skill and care mako such
cdices Why not discriminate IN favor OF these safe
theatres? Why cndcavor To scare the public away
IRON we'll ordered housc because an il-rcguatoI
concern has occnsoncd terrible loss OF life? There
are theatres In New York, and Days Fih Avenue Is
ono Of them, which have ample exits; hre hose in
every available locality, before and behind the scenes;
sod brick walls dvdIng the lobby and the stage from
the auditorum pals Of ready, gauzcs
all exposed lights, floor protected by pascred cell
ing and supported by aud brick columns, 6rc
blators IN every department, and stan trained To
meet such emergency rush or fire. Are
establishments, which invite inspection and defy
| condemnation, TO be carelcssy included In tho
| category with the fire trapsy
The profession have suffered sufficiently during tho
past year Tho poii zeal disturbances or the
try without having the bread and butter taken from
their months by an unjust and unnecessary alarm
against the thentrrs Tho public require upnt
and relaxation, than ever, and should not
be warned or by Unfair and exaggerated outcry.
Presently appeal will DO mado 10 both tho profcs-
aud the public to raise fund for the relief OF the
families Of the Brooklyn martyrs ard both ready
to respond chccriuy and literally but where are they
| to meet, save IN the tLeatresY | write plain facts
susceptible OF easy proof, when maintain that In
we'll built and we'll managed theatre, an audience ~
safer IRON any accident whatever. than in any other
public building, and that such theatres ought to bc
specially exempted by the prcss from this indscrim
mate ccnsurc Yours respectfully,
STEPHEN FISKE.
Fifth Avenue Theatre, December Z, 1915.