New-York tribune., 1884-12-31
BURNING or THE THEATRE C0HQrE.

A Defence or ruG DUnDiSG-LiMiIAlloNs !"
TIE rIRE-PROOF QUALIFY
To me razor o. me IT. tbnne.
SIR: am sorry To be obliged to differ with
TuE TRnu Of December -. wherein 1t Is rad r''i
ring to the loss Of IIarngan lars Ihcatrethat aIch
tects and propricors may talk about the great nnn'ci
Of exits and the certainty that audience could have
escnpcd II the fire had broken out when the house was
crowded with people but they know that they are not
telling the TRUTH" etc., etc.
think the general tone of this article IL snrh hat VIC
public would infer that this theatre WIS constructed IN
ainsy manner and Of highly comhustihle hatollal
throughout II occurring doubt to the writor OF the
article no;cd that by OF the rapid destruction o
the theatre il must necessarily have been thus con
atructcd II does not always follow TINT building III
which iron aud brick II largely used u lhd'stin'llp'
n depends entirely upon ita purpose. If IL IL designed as
u storage house for iron any material not hnhhhpo
there /. no danger to hc feared internal nrcs Bat
when II contains nnlmmablc material of any sort
Whatever then We may apprchcnd some damage Ia case
81 IRE In proportion the nature aud extent of t con-
tents.
The writer snw IN London eleven ycnra largo nrc
proof building entirely destroyed by fire ln two hours
time and not wall was left standing II was ntod ~ -
stornro house like instance occurred In the Portland
fire. largo fire proof building somc dis
lance from whcro the fire began was used
~ temporary storchouao Tho lrc reached THIS point
and ptit ed the building do not wish to he unloeio"d
of buildings. but think too much Dependence 4 placed
ON ron constrnctinn tho ucgeot of certain necessary
precautions which should be- cmrluycd 10 prevent th'
spread of IRE when N iH once started
hcllcye Ia nn automatic system which viii hc Get IN
operation when the temperature IL faised to certain
degree The discharge of water IL HnV,firh 'h'lN ny
the oytont OF the nro That is cd'h sprinkler so 'nll,
a sr m oprrnttnn only II l. reached hy the IRE nud
literally used In buildings and placed nt the required ~
crNnls. the Are record wQuli ho mal'rl'lN l"'''""
The rnpld destruction a., fhratto toulluo ma} hn
attributed FIRST, to the uro not being dA'9t'l'"
uuill II had gained complete control, hul nrc"idl /"
tlnf ftgt pl Is y
ami intervening ionrs a. la ordinary buildings whore
nrc H. mnto under control nud confined 10 one story i1
n MANY instances. In the evening ihr employees Woud
have been duty dud this drplofdhlc l"7h W"""'
believe, not have occurred 49,.
As 10 the exits ~ this theatre. no ono can question
their amplitude or improve on the arrangement me
stnrcascs all of iron throughout ana "i cNh Wluh
r.lrs the three large -nrcdsrs In the front lobby two
directly in the lobby and separately for the use or
gallery Out ln case OF an rncI gcncy OF tho lobby
were indrpenlrnt iron saircass leading from each Tier
10 the courts either side platforms, -trca~rs. ana
supports entirely Of iron and la theopcn air. lheh nom
these courts there were separate eNt, 10 thr st'cu 10
prevent any conflict with the current or people leaving
by the way OF the regular direct eNl@ Mhat more
could bc devised to facilitate eges' IN case ot an cmeF
gcncy think yo9 VII agEre e1S4 KIP m lne iiM M ~ e!H
ire fires that it due to lack of proper means Of
cgrcss.
lrs now stan Tim i'm the ruins after being subjected
this theatre considered by many 10 he admirable
beg leave refer sou the proposed new pmin- law
you will observe thai the plan therein ptol9''I l'r li
theatres hereafter TO hc built and tha OF me Theatre
Comiquc are Identical In justice 70 Nrs'r ilarrigan
Irt who when rebuilding thl theatre now destroy ,d
were mo.t liberal in their outlay 10 secure 1comprnIo
and safe theatre MISUNDERSTANDING should exist Inc
heating and lighting Trrr done according 10 tht very
Yc,c York. Dec. % Kimhar g wiscdcll, architects