The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-01
THE BROOkLYN rrRE yERDrCT.
The Coroner'- Ju-,'- Mid Ccnsure aud Avn
Iarchc of Suggestions.

The Coroncr's jury in the case Of the
Brooklyn Theatre nrc yesterday returned their
verdict to the Coroner to the effect that William
Denchc of 1ss Nelson street died on Dee. from
burns and nervous shock received in the theatre
fire; that John Cumbcrson died Dec. 10 in the
Long Island College Hospital from exhaustion
consequent upon burns received in the Brook
Ign Theatre and that 2si other persons were
sufrocatcd to death in the building. The
jury conclude also. from n coffin filled
with fragments viewed Ivy them. that more
persons persisted. The jury rccitc tho we'll
known facts ms to the origin Of the fire
IN one of the drop scenes the occupancy OF the
theatre by about 900 persons. 400 of whom were
in the gallery, the escape from the building
through the various places OF exit by persons
in the lower part OF the house. and the sufroca-
ton Of those in the gallery when ovcrtaken by
the smoke and flame. They find TINT the roof
and portion Of the walls Of the theatre fell
thirty minutes after the discovery of the fire.
and that II WIS impossible tO rescue any person
from the theatre. The building they say. was
constructed substantially. and adapted ad-
miraby to theatre purposes. but il would
have been safer II there had been
brick wall extending from the cellar 10
the roof and Ind there been rails on cnch
side Of The stairway leading TO the gallery.
They find that white the police rendered cf1cc-
the paruurt and dress circle. attention 10 the
gallery was almost entirely neglected. No
for ia" force TO distribute itscf. 10 as to render
assistance at all exits The rapid progress of
the smoke and flame Iust a doubt whether
proper distribution OF the force In this ease
would have saved life in the gallery. hut in the
Jury = judgment there IN no excuse for the
officer in command on this OCCASION ncglrcting
to give su' N orders to his suhnrdnutos IA would
have afforded effective help TO those in the gal
leITyt a., ..,.,..o, ,.......
Of the incxcusahlr neglect of the manage
ment of the theatre There wns in the first
place. no responsible head of the employees:
then there was no discipline among the en-.
ployccs the appliances for the cxfnguishmcnt
OF IRE upon the stage or in the nies were Who'll,
" inadequate; the fire hose formerly ut hand
had not been kept IN plac. or use. and the stage
was ovrrorowded with scenery used in former
plays. thereby rendering its condition extra
hazardous and adding H. the volume Of fire. If
not directly the cnuso OF II. The jury also con-
oludp that the d Inference shown In the neglect
TO re"ogn1" danger from lire 10y providing
proper appliances for the eAtinguishment Of
II when warned by the ocrurren 'r Of two fires.
one on the stage and the other in the box Office
only week before the flnh dostru ton, consti
tutrd violation of a MOST vital duty to the pub
Ice. who " re- notified IN roniliing IN the man
gg'm'n' Tor the utmost -..urty IN mat regard;
Tn" hus inrss mnnngcr tMr. Lorraine Rogcrsl
! they nni was guilty of culpuhl" neglect IN that
The means Of exit from thrdrcss circle T. Flood =
alley. near johnson street. was et1c~ually
closed ~ 10 resist the Efforts of several persons
who att"mrtnd t. force IT, Tnov nud also that
II j. the special duty uf manaE' r. 81 places to
which tn" public are invited. to put forth every
effort h. secure their safety and that the slight
criminal when contributed 10y per-
sons holding such relations To the
public. They warn the public tn demand Of the
T proper authorities such Legislative acton as
would hereafter. under severe penalties. assure
/ sreai"r security I? liz" IN tn constitution Of
/ buildings intended rs places ~ public anusc-
/ mont They r''commend a partition wall livd-
ns the stage from tho c''llar: two IRE hydranis
on the stlge--one in the hy gallery. one in the
front gnllrry-al provided with hose. separate
/ employees "a attend IN" hose two wide stair
ways 10 the top gallery: scenery made incom-
! lusthlc; hand rails To each stairway. ana iron
| tenders nj intervals Of not more than twelve
feet upon all the border lights
| The inquest has cost the county $3.50 for
| strnOgraphcrs' fees. The Coroncrs get in fees
t5595o-thc largest sum an inquest ever yielded
| in this country