The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-13
THEATRE FslsHT.
The Werld wide Scare Caused by the
Chicago Tragedy Reaches Sumter.

The Werld wide Scare Caused by the
Chicago Tragedy Reaches Sumter.
In the annual report of the secretary
and health officer TO city council,
which will be presented at next coun-
Gil meeting, the necessity for adol-
tionaI exits to the Opera House to oe
used as fire escapes, will be touched
upon. with recommendations as to the
manner in which the exits can be pro-
Vided. It is proposed that the eight
windows now located on the alieyWay,
four Gown stairs in the orchestra and
four ND stairs In the balcony. be cut
into large doors. It is farther propos-
zed that two wide balconies be placed
In the alleyWay one on level with
the floor of the balcony and the other
on level with the orchestra, and that
vide steps be provided for getting
down to the lalleyway from these
balconies. The balconies in the alley
way, it is suggested. should be the
entire width Of the alleyway, and as
long as the balcony and orchestra floors
in the Opera House, in order to give
as much room as possible, and pre-
vent q crush on the escapes. The
steps from the top balcony or IRE
escape IN the alleyway should lead
down TO- the ground towards the rear
OF the building and the steps from
the lower balcony should lead down to-
wards the front in order to avoid the
coming together at the lower exits of
the people from the balcony and
orchestra as,.is the case inside. the
Opera House at present. The doors
at these exits should be of glass. SO as
60 be used fer light and ventilation,
bus provided with rollers and made to
slide bseS against the walls Instead Of
opening in or cut. This method is not
the safest way In the world to escape
from the building, as the distance
from the me5escapes tosthe ground is
pretty high; but with the stairs pro-
tected hys:a high railing to prevent
falling off. it is much better than the
one exit now provided at the front for
lthe audience, ard where the balcony
and orchestra audiences must meet at
The Junction in the small lobby now
Brov;ded Some changes as to the
front ensrance and doors are also sng-
gessed.
Mr.. Abe Rytenberg, lessee and
manager Of the Opera House, says that
In case the proper exits are construct
ed. he viii employ competent men to
stand at each exit during perform
sance to help control the crowd and to
throw opeawide the doors TO the exits.
Members scf the fire department to be
designated by the chief will be given
preference for those places. Each
exit will be pIacarded in large letters,
. Fiye Escape. and the fremen at
The exits will be equipped to stop
wild rush, and will be men who are
able to handle a crowd. Men will be
placed, also. near the present exits to
help control the crowd and prevent q
stampede.
Suggestions as toimproving the build
ing in order to heat it better as well
as, TO avoid unusual drafts. which
would fan fire to rapid destruction
of the building are also made. The
city board Of health will hold meet
ing before the next council meeting, at
which the proposed steps for public
safety AID comforts at our public
plaeeecf amusement will be consider
ed. and recommendations to council will
zoe made. There are said to be other
plans on soot besides the one suggested
Soy tie health officer and the manager
of the Opera House, and if they are
better and safer, why so much the bet
ter for the public good. Escapes from
the peanut gallery are also being
studied out. Two fire eztinguishers
for the stage in addition to the
hydrant aud hose now on the stage
viii be asked for. The chief of the
fire department will be requested to
look into the matter with view to
giving advice to the city council.
Something should be done to guaran-
tee the safety Of the audience, or at
least decrease the danger to life and
limb, and it is quite certain that the
facilities for heating the Opera House
should be also improved upon, be-
cause il is an ice box in real cold
weather. and hundreds Of people keep
away in order to aviod the discomtorts
and probable menance to health from
exposure to Arctic like cold and
drafts.