The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-03
LOCAL MATTERS.
The Places OF fAmnsement.

The Places OF Amusement.
VISIT or 4 SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE couN-
cIr, TO THE THEATRE AND PUBLIC HALLS
PROVISIONS FOR SAFETY OF AUDIENCES IN
CASES OF FIRE OR PANIC EXAMINED.
Some time ago the City Council passed
concurrent resolution providing for the
appointment OF special committee, con-
sistinr OF the chairman Of the Joint Com
mittee on the Fire Department, the
Chief Engineer OF the Fire Depart
ment, the chairman OF the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings, the City En-
gineer, the Chief Of Police, and others,
members OF the two bodies. to inspect
all of The public places OF amusement
in the city They were to ascertain--first,
whether or not the buildings are strong
and safe as to floors, galleries, &C.; second,
whether they are properly provided with
means Of egress In case OF fire or panic,
and il not, what changes should be had In
order to protect persons who may be in
such buildings in case Of sudden alarm. In
pursuance Of this resolution, Captain John
J. King, Mr.. Charles T. Davis, Colonel w.
+. Cutshaw, Captain G. A. Ainslic, Nr. j..
j. English, and Major Poe met Yesterday
morning in the Council chamber, and, after
;eieeting Captain King chairman, decided TO
proceed at once to carry out the oroer OF tne
Council.
Fom the Council chamber the committee
went to the Theatre, and inspected the
building from one end to the other and
from top to bottom. They asked all sorts
of questions OF Mr.. Powell; looked at all
the gas-fxtures behind the scenes; dis
cussed the chances OF an audience being
able to get out in case Of panic or fire,
and talked about the Brooklyn disaster.
There were seine things they seemed to
like, but others that they didn't. They
found two or three barrels OF water up
stairs in the rear portion OF the building,
and each barred supplied with a bucket to
be used in case OF fire. Several members
were OF opinion that that portion OF the
building was not free from danger. Others
thought the Theatre as safe as any in the
country, that it could be speedily and easily
emptied in case OF fire, and, in fact, SEEM
ed to be SO well satisfied about the matter
that they took little or no interest in part
of the inspection. s...
The committee remained at the Theatre
about an hour, and then went down to the
old skating-rink, now known Us Assembly
Hall. This building they also inspected
pretty thoroughly, and seemed to agree
that, although it was liable to fire at any
time from stove-pipe carelessly thrust
through rear window, or from gas-lets
being turned against the infiammable WOOD
or paper covering to the wall in rear OF the
stage, still there are SO many windows to
the building, and they so near the ground,
that many persons could easily escape In
that way and the balance through the doors.
They next went down to the Virginia
Opera-House, where they were betttr
pleased, although the doors in rear OF the
stage open inwards, and one Of them was
locked and barred with an iron bar.
Association Hall was deemed pretty safe.
At the old Metropolitan Hall now the
Theatre Comique) the committee found the
artists of the com mpany engaged in painting
new and otherwise reiuyenating old scenery
for last nights entertainment. The com.
mittee went into the "wine-room," and
upon the stage, behind the scenes, and out
into the backyard, and then down into the
basement. They found the old building in
a dilapidated condition, and concluded that
it was not safe. .... ,...
At the Theatre Comique the committee
held brief consultation, and between 2
and O'Clock adjourned to meet in the
Council chamber on Wednesday evening at
half-past O'Clock. ....-.. .....