The New York herald., 1878-11-03
PANICs IN THEATRES.
THE USE OF HAND RAILINos AND IMPROVE
MEMS IN PUBLIC STAIRS.


MEMS IN PUBLIC STAIRS.
l34 DEANsGArE. MAScHEsrER, Oct Is, 1873
To THE EDrToa or TnE HERALD:-
characteristic feature oil paIcs as the recent
one at Liverpool Is that the fatal results almost inva.
riaby arise IN consequence OF the rush coming from
the upper or gallery porllon of the building Now,
ttie reflection viii convince one that II Is utterly
impossible Tor crowd o: panic stricken people 10
scamper down public stairway OF the present con.
struction without some oil their number stumbling
forward, aud thus causing a block or obstruction
either in the passages or landing And this Will al.
ways be tue case, even supposing she external
way vide as the bGiIdng itself; the calasro
phe IS therefore a fcregone conclusiou because tho
mischief before the street doorway is reached
But the labiity TO disaster is increased wnen the
outlet at the inside doorways leading the stair.
capaclous, aud this applies especially to tho
gallery any upper story. Any who has cx-
perenced the OF personal pressure behind
when descending public stairway will conceive what
/ mean. Under. such circumstance thers Is danger
in tho merest touch, or, Ike row Of domnos sci on
edge the tall 0. causes the "knock,ng overn Of
those in front The outlet Of tho inside doorways OF
the gallery should therefore, be pablo OF being mar
rowed and tho street doors wdened this would re.
duce the number OF people on the stairway TO safe
mnimum and the struggle would take place near the
inner doorways, where The only danger would be q
crush such as the British paygoer is used TO, thus
vlng Tor those on tue stairs 10 descend freely
HAND KAILINGs.
But the most imperative requirement. IN public
stairway is u liberal supply OF nandrails, the wiatn
belween Il each oil which should bo aD0ut yard. A
stairway ol Two yards wide ought 70 nave central
assistance OF nandrails a crowd may descend n,ucn
more easily ana rapdly tnun whens as now, th0
ra ,na,v OF Inc descen ding mass nave no other
support Tor their bodies than their feet anu the
muscles below the knee The push OF child against
the strongest man standing " Inc edge Of u stair
| M
headlong TO the bottom II no mad no friendly hand-
ran grasp descent II, tnen, the nslue door
wldeneu tue importance VI naudrai5 IL
much more evidenL
Gwen thousand people advancing toward
stairway OIL say l25 steps equal 10 about orty yards
IN straight Incl, what wyGia be the utmost NUMBER
required TO III tne STAR way from top 10 bottom, rsck
oLing iour persons on eacn STAR, ana The answer
500.
Now the slowest OF peaestrians, not en- eebled by
disease could easily walk iorty yards In one minute,
wnlcn At me rate OF littc over q mile hour
Therefore W. may Ilicr that, with the aid OF nand
ras, tne clearancs OF gallery containing 900
sons would be cnected easily IN TWO mnulss, even
surprising they emerged at the funereal pace OF one
mile per nour rhc ABOVE Is the engineering phase
OF tue question, and IS ono which calls Tor prompt
DECISIVE action, ior am quite sure that pub
lie buildings are very poorly supplied with the indls.
pensubte uandraiL Wide tue star ways OF tho
Free rraue Hal and other puDic buildings III Man.
cnesler calamity similar " the one IN Liverpool ls
nol only possioic, but wiii some day as surely nap
pen, unler ike circumstances. as that gun properly
ioaded amt capped Will 20 oil wnen she trigger Is
puled.
Another sal eguaru would be 10 nave large pacards
posted up about theatre anu fol-
10 :-.On any alarm ol nre the audience are
esty quested to Keep their seats. Tue hre brigade
close hana, anu the theatre can be cleared In an
orderly maune iour minutes. Disorder anu crush
ing may result IN great loss Of lie. Offenders viii
be prosecuted with the utmost severity" &c.
II some OF worthy magistrates instead of
prosecuting "te Sisters' or benehconL ladies',
divert their attention 10 evils ol lar greater
magnitude than imaginary or real cases OF vagrancy,
us direst form, tney would bc entitled 10 tho
lasting gratitede OF the community, who might say,
1--WE nave thank SIR. SO ana SO tor thus" was
Justly said OF SIR Rowland HILL the father OF the
penny post There arc IN mOu uments In perspec.
i've for those who deserve them, marble h0nurs
last tor all time. nope these lew stray thoughts
may be step toward initiating reform N
T. H. HOPWOOlA