Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-13
Protection From Fire md Panic.


TIE RESULT OF EXAMINATIONS BY INSPECTOR KNr-
WHSLE AND CHIEF cRoNIN-THs CONDITION OF TEE
rHEATKRS.
Building Inspector Entwisle and Chief Engineer
Cronin. or the IRE department. have made a report
OF examinations OF public school houses. the prin-
cipal hotels, and public places OF amusements,
made In compliance with sn order or the District
Commissioners September Is, 1881 They state
that IN the case OF the National thester IN their
opinion, the exits are ample They recommend
tAat al fordS opera house the iron ue-rods In the
roof-trusses above the stage be protected With a
thick covering OF asbestos. and that the
space above the proscenum arch be CLOSED
up 10 the top OF the roof with suitable material
They have ordered an opening IN the partition at
The TheSter ComiQue which, with the great width
~ So sse s srway gives an ext that viii empty the
curing an additional stairway at the Dime NM
SUN The great objection 10 lincoln hall Is its
neight nom the ground They rsronameDd that
at this hail separate meters and gas ~ "tions
Tor stairways and halls in the mont OF l. lding
nom non those on the stage, and At the Ma e, and
ForuS opera house that three-inch sLs.4sd pipe
oe run up on line with the proscenium arch, on
each side WALL and carried directly the arch the
and TO be operated by suitable valves from the
GROUND moor and that large sSyight be constructed
over the stage, and be operated from the stage by
Iisnt copper ropes or automatically The object OF
the latter Is 20 make q direct drsught for the
smoke and flames out through the roof 'sl'hese
says, "by preventing the heat nom reaching
the audience, and the other. by allowing the heat
ana gases 70 escape through the roof, would. In
our opinion, give the audience ample time 20 leave
the building by the main exits Nth the Improve
ment OF the exits and the means suggested for pre-
Senton and extinguishment or fires IN the above
places OF amusement we think that we have re-
commended the modicum OF what should be done,
but DO not assert that II Carried out the buildings
would De absolutely safe and the contingency OF a
panic avoided, but that there viii exist no cause
for panic, and one and all may leave the build
lngs at very moderate speed, without danger OF
chances OF loss OF life or injury OF the audience TO
minimum" The report expresses the opinion
that the greatest protection that can be given is
the fireman now placed upon the stage.
They report that on an inspection OF the principal
hotels they md The statrNays generally ample but
OF combuStfbe construction Mention Il made OF
the wooden structure In the Of the National
hotel. and the report says rre should once gain
headway In this section OF the building l. would be
dirncut TO control "After full consideration OF the
whole subject" the report says, I'VE are Of the
opinion that IT is best to make provision for the
care and protection OF the pubic In those structures
than to rely upon uncertain ana dangerous
operation OF IRE escapes, and would recon.nend
that fire alarm box be placed In each OF the the
aterS and IN the Offices of the following hotels at
the expense OF the owners: National Netropol- an
St James, st. Marc, Harris house, Wizards En-
Dit, Riggs. Arlington, Wormley'S, and the Port
land and Richmond apartment houses: also. a gong
In the once, with connections, 10 strike from the
corridors or passages IN each story, and place every
night Waterman In the passages OF each story,
from pm. to b am, with Instructions that on ap-
peafance OF fire TO sound the Office gong: the alarm
then turned At the ofiicr would he answered low
the presence OF the lire d psrtment In a few min
utes In addition TO the e precautions would
recommend, for prompt nd effective action, that
pipes. iron ladders and b lcont.s IN such number
and at such points be required and desig-
mated by the fire departm Mt"
A DISTINGUISHED PLY IcIaS's REcKpT1oS-This
afternoon nearly one hun ired OF the physicians OF
the District attended reception given by Dr.
Toner in honor OF Dr. W rren Bey now OF Paris
who is visiting this cou ~. Dr. Warren has the
title or bey having been hief surgeon OF the Egyp-
tian army for ten " irS very agreeable
hour was spent. DR.. W .rren wild remain In this
country for about mon and then return to his
practice In Paris
On TRIAL FOR GRAM LARcgyY.-Tn the Crtn.-
nal Court this afternoon a colOred girl named Julia
Tascoe was placed on trial FOR grand larceny two
cases) OF s6i In one case and silver gnbers cameo
set and two bracelets, valued S140 from the resi-
dence OF W. A. Wayne, on January last. Julia adj
United taken the things, and asserted that she
took them at one time. The government claimed
that there were two onenSes.
RANGE OF THE THERNoMErER.-The following
were the readings at the Office OF the chief signal
officer Today q m, So; IL an, 592, pun, 6s6
Maximum. 6sS; minimum, sa9.
Alexandria Affair.
Rerorted for TIE EvESrSG STAR
CRY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.-The two council
boards held their regular meeting last night In
the lower board the president being absent, Isaac
aldermen postponed the consideration OF a petition
asking the repeal OF the order passed by the last
council, requiring the superintendent OF police TO
Washington Ferry, at the foot or King street. TO be
removed within the boundary line. An application
OF John p. Agnew, asking repair OF streets near
bis coal yards, was referred. resolution OF Mr.
Wall, approprtatfng $50 for a cinder footwalk on
Alfred street, from Duke TO Wilkes, and on Wilkes
from Alfred TO Payne. with amendment by Mt
Sweeny for $780, to make crossings on Gbbon street
at Washington, Columbus, Alfred and Patrick
streets, was discussed for some time and then re-
ferTed to the committee streets An application
OF John LannOn and Others, asking the repairing OF
Fayette alley, from Lee street 10 the river was re-
ferred to the committee on streets. The applica-
ton OF VIM. G. simpson, late Hydraulion engineer
aSk1nk the payment OF his salary for the month OF
January, was referred TO the committee on claims
resolution authorizing the mayor and auditor to
borrow $780, or less, for current expenses, was
adopted.
NOTES.-THE funeral OF Cornelius Phillips took
place this afternoon. from his house on Fairfax
near Franklin street-Mrs. Agnes Posey died
yesterday at the house OF M. VIM. Davis on Wolfe
street. near the Potomac Iron works-Messrs
Cathcart, Brooks Roberts have arranged 10 open
wrought-tron works here before the close OF this
month-The Alexandria Light Infantry have
asked the executive committee TO invite four OF the
Washington volunteer companies 10 visit this city
on the I'D OF February--Ihe iron work for the
W., q. and w. railroad bridge over Difficult run
was brought here to-day.-It is expected that the
bridge Will be put In position next week-Nr. A.
j. Fleming Is quite sick.