Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-01-08
The Lesson Of the Hour.

lac hccSOH VI tue I1Our.
The fearful Chicago tragedy will
serve one good object at least, and that
Will be to determine iust where the
best means lie for avcrting such terri.
bic calamitieS. 1t will lead possibly to
a reliance upon common sense and
reason, rather than upon assurances
OF the tire-proof character OF public
buildings.
in fact, so far as the Inflated Iro-
Iuols theater was concerned, il is
claimed that it was constructed oil
fre-proof material and was supplied
with about all modern appliances for
fighting fire, as we'll as to ensure safety
OF It's patrons. The result shows that
while the building itself may have
been constructed OF non-intiammsble
material, that there was enough OF a
combustble nature in the curtains
and upholstery, to create a blaze that
caused panic, and that was all that
was needed TO start the horror which
followed. Underwriters dread more
the damage from water, in an ordinary
fire, than from the flames; and re-
suits always prove that the danger
amid large crowds Of people, is more
from panic than any other cause; and
il is ever present, and IS likely to re.
suit from a cry of mad-dog" as oil
fire." though neither may be, at the
time, a menace.
The only guaranty for safety is TO
90 construct buildings as to make au.
dlences, as a whole, confident that
there is no cause for peril. Theater
auditoriums should always be placed
upon ground floor, not, primarily. to
enable the people to get out with the
least danger. but to inspire confidence
that it is possible to do so. Even then
ii people become "wild," the danger il
only minimized. 1t will be remem-
bered that on the opening to the pub.
lie OF Brooklyn bridge, several lives
we're lost, in the broad daylight, sim
ply from the existence of fight OF
three steps, its full width of 80 or 100
feet, when the immense concourse oil
people were passing over it. Very few
realized the true nature of the acct.
dent, but added their weight to the
common impulse to pass onward. and
the result was trampling OF the life out
OF half a dozen human beings.
Our local theater is supplied with
ample exits, has signal box with the
Gamewell fire alarm and ample hose
connections, not so much for use as to
make the people hold on to their
minds, should occasion for GOODNESS
and elaboration occur. The fire.
doors, in times past, opened by electric
touch; the hose-reels were always
ready and the main exits continually
open when an audience was present,
as an aid to safety, but not the chief
reliance. The old-time programmes
constantly reiterated the statement
that ample provision had been made
to care for patrons in case of fire; that
over 40 feet Of openings had been pro-
vided, and that the house could be
emptied, if system was maintained, in
two minutes. But all this is now oh.
solete, and no effort is made to have
audiences rely upon themselves, while
the elevation of the auditorium so high
from the ground makes it 90 much
the more necessary. The success that
has attended fire-drill in the public
schools OF some of the larger cities,
shows what may be done by system.
In San Francisco some time ago, 3. 900
school children were assembled in or.
der by tapping Of bells marched from q
burning in perfect order to the strains
OF the drili-march played by one of the
pupils, without the loss of life, and
many other instances might be enum.
Grated.
The escapes on the local theate1
would prove very frail defense if q
fire had got we'll started. Although
the platforms are strong enough IL
sustain much weight. the ladders and
stairway on the east side would prove
veritable death.traps in a panic, and il
is difficult to see just how that danger
can be averted. II the stairway wa,
wide as that of Brooklyn bridge, i,
would have, necessarily, TO be a score
OF times longer to reach the ground,
and simple misstep might render il
not only wholly useless but add i'm.
measurably to the danger in the rear
from fire.
1t is by no means our intent to dis.
courage Improvements suggested TO,
reducing the danger, ever present, .,
Olympia Theater, but to make them
good ss possible, to enable people to
take care of themselves, by that best
possible fire-escape-the human brain,
Something should be done, and done
at once, to inspire confidence that am.
pie means have been provided for safe.
ty. Among these should be an ashes.
tos fire.proof curtain and spray.pipes
over the stage, whereby deluge oil
water could be placed where the prin.
cipal danger lies. Then a competent
engineer should have charge of the
steam boiler, which supplies the heat.
ing'pipes, to guard against explosion
and An electrician to superintend the
lights and keep the wires in safe con.
dition. A blaze in the orchestra sew.
eral years ago, demonstrated what 9