The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-20
THE FIRE AT THE PARK.


Park Theatre furnished with ample exits. but that
every theatre in tho city 10 also furnished with
them. and that. matter In what way q are might
start in any one of them. there would be no cause
for panic. The audience. unless panic-stricken.
could all reach the outside within fve minutes.
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
AS to the cause OF the hre at the Park Theatre 1t
has not been definitely determined. but the proba-
bilies that the original conjecture of the man.
ager is correct cigar cigarette was probably
thrown AWAY by some one entering and fell upon
pile of rubbish play bills and old papers lying under
the main staircase. Fire Marshal sheldon yesterday
began an investigation. but will hardly succeed in
learning anything definite than this first ex-
PLANTATION. The damage from the fire triHing.
as stated yesterday morning. and all necessary
repairs were made during the day.
As to tho general safety of the New York theatres
q careful inquiry was made yesterday by HERALD
reporters. IL is well known to the public that the
Fire Department compes the proprietors of every
place of amusement In the city to provide all neces-
sary appliances for the extnguishing of any slight
FIRE. and that at each place one more fremen are
stationed by the department every night. 1t is the
sole duty Of this fireman to keep watch for fire. 1t
is not generally known. however, that the Building
Department takes . similar precaution. providing
regular inspection of all the theatres see that the
provisions Of the law carried in respect to
against injury to the auditors case Of
ire.
THE LAW ON THE SUBJECT.
The law of 1874 reads AS follows:-
or to e. bull. IN said y saSh ..
sd esSs:' s.s
or to ss USE; ed for Of public amuse
and .isss shall b. arranged a. 20 ac.ts n
proper decentralization for the public protection in sacS
and s aisle. and passage way: in said build
.hs Be kept free frS camp ssoo Chairs soia: aS
paS :mass
q Building. may any time serve
manager Of any Of said buildings. directing any
buildings and the several herewith
such 3: nails ao s, stairs : and
the public in the which they be sevsray ap
The large discretion vested in the Superintendent
Of Buildings by this law places the responsibility
for any detective arrangements squarely upon his
ingly first visited and questioned the subject. He
produced plans OF every theGtre in this cty kept
city had not paid for). and showed on paper that
each one had ample means of exit for any audience
had oOsrs nightly them All to ses sn mt
the law was observed in the particular OF keeping
the aises clear. "One or two of the theatres per-
sisted in violating this law he said, 'but we en-
forced tho penalty provided. and after that we had
trouble on that score. At present there is no
tried to have bill passed last providing for
exits In proportion to the superficial feet area of the
was a Job In it aud i wasn't passed The present
condition of the theatres however. is amply salts
factory" He then pointed out on the plans the
alterations which had been compelled in the different
theatres.
EXAMINING THE THEATRES
Visits to tho principal theatres In the city amply
corroborated the statements of superintendent Dud
ley. 1t was found that the inspections actually
porters it was found that tho ordinary and extraor
binary means OF exit are all readily accessible.
At the Academy Of Music Secretary Leroy showed
with evident pride the many avenues of escape from
rum are large double doors leading to the ample
the auditorium the stage being the fourth side
From the lobby to the outer air eleven wide
doorways Five of these open on Fourteenth street.
four ON Irving place aud two on an alleyway twelve
feet wide running along the northerly wall OF the
Academy. Besides this there Is wide stage
trance Fourteenth street and two doors leading
from the stage to Nilsson Hail. All this ID the
ground floor. From the balconies there are four
from the head of each aisle to the lobby. On the
stage are the usual appliances. which. indeed were
found in every theatre visited; hose ready attached
to water main. and fre extingushers. Every thing
was available for instant use.
Mr.. A. Nj. Palmer OF the Union Square Theatre.
was found to be deeply interested in the subject.
His terrible experience as manager Of the Brooklyn
Theatre has given him almost morbid dread OF
fire. and as he said. he lies awake at night thinking
Of what additional precautions could be taken. II
impossible to think Of any that have not boon
on tho stage and said: eve have had fifteen engines
hero In three minutes by sounding this alarm,
experiment" Then he showed q patent chemical
tank. which hos capacity of 5000 gallons. ana
planned how scenery was allowed to remain on
the stage except that in actual Then he showed
the numerous exits, and explained how he had been
three min 0es by the watch without making panic
The proscenium arch IL OF brick and the ceiling
throughout lath and plaster. SO constructed to
prevent the rapid spread OF fire. There ave exits
from the upper gallery three from the balcony and
stage.
.'rnE AUTHORITIES WATCH US ALL"
At the Lyceum Theatre Mr.. Haverly and Mr.. Hart
Jackson were found. aud the latter at once showed
his for belief that the Lyceum perfectly
safe. 'The theatres" said Mr.. Haverly, 'have ali
been made safe since the Brooklyn fre whether the
managers wanted to make them not. l know
the authorities keep close watch on us ALL though
they tell that house one the safest in tho
city" tour through the house showed the stair
ways strengthened BY safety bolts and the freest
possible exits provided all directions. On the
nrst door the exits all front and rear no side
doors being possible on account OF the buildings
rum to the lobby. which opens on the street. and
one door leading to the treasurer's Office, which
is q wide passageway from tho stage to Fifteenth
street. There are on the stage the usual signal APP
paraus hose and extinguishers In the hrst gallery
there are four doors TO the lobby and broad STAIR
cases ut eithor side. There also three double
windows, reaching TO the floor. which open on tho
broad shed over the entrance. On this shed two or
three hundred persons could easily hnd temporary
safety and reach the ground by ladders. From the
second gallery there Ave means OF exit two being
windows that open on the roof OF the armory next
door.
At Wallack's Theatre the clcrk in the box Office
said:-"Wo have everything here that can possibly
be thought of In tho way OF precaution;" but when
he was asked to speak IN detail he referred to Mr.
Moss. That gentleman could not be found during
the day. but IL is well known to every hattus Of the
place that ample exits provided from every por
ton OF the house. The fact of the theatre having
sides on three streets makes IL almost possible
avoid fire exits, aud the passages from the audito-
rum to the lobby we'll known to be ample.
The exits ut Niblo's are and have been famous for
long time. Surrounding the auditorium In broad
lobby to which dozen OF wide doors lead.
From the main lobby to Broadway liz a straight pas
sagewsy Is wide rs q comfortable street. The stair
cascs are broad aud strong and there two exits
ON Crosby street besides the stage door In addition
to all this there windows leading to the court
yard Of the hotel through which hundreds could
escape.
At the Thalia Theatre the dangers Of the Old