New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-01


corner theatres. which thus has access on two
sides directly TO the street. In addition Mr..
Phelps. the manager, pointed out that there are
additional exits from both balconies into the
New-Y York Theatre making exits from three
sides. OF course, this that the New
York Theatre is similarly equipped The New
Amsterdam. another new theatre at first might
seem, from its bottle entrance en- Forty-second-
St, 10 be less adequately equipped. But in re-
atty the theatre has one whole side Forty
frst-st., and fire escapes and fire exits cover
that whole side of the building, we'll the
back wall which faces toward Broadway.
The Casino, which has an auditorium up
flight Of stairs is. however, on a corner. and
from every window fire escapes lead down to the
ground, while there is extra fight of stairs
for use in an emergency and a wide space at
the back TO mitigate against a crush. The new
Empire, also, ia really corner theatre, with
numerous exits 10 the street and to the Office
building IN front. The construction is all Of
steel and very heavy inflammabie material.
KLAw TAKES OPTIMISTIC VIEW.
Marc KIaw of the firm of Flaw & Erlanger,
part owners Of the burned theatre and proprie-
tors of Mr.. Blue Beard" was seen last night
at his Office in the Knickerbocker Theatre Build
ing. Mr.. Klaw said that there seemed to him
no reason to suppose that the Chicago horror
would affect theatrical business. Accidents from
fireworks, he said. and the sinking of ocean
liners had not stopped frework exhibitions or
affected transatlantic travel He said the proof
of this was in the attendance at the theatres
IN the evening. He declared:
The reports from Chicago are IN most respects
exaggerated. 1 heard by phone tonight that
the damage to the theatre was not nearly so
much as reported, for instance, and that Miss
Annabelle Whltford, Of the Blue Beard" COM
pany. has not been injured. There seems to be
an opinion that Miss Nellie Reed. one of the
aerial ballet, is dead. but L cannot understand
how that can be possible. know that the Iro-
Quois Theatre was as near freproof as IL is pos
slble TO make a building, and that every pre-
caution was taken that could be taken. The
asbestos curtain did not fail to work because of
Interference from he
ballet; that would be impossible In Chicago the
asbestos curtains run on wires, and the draught
evidently bellied the curtain like sail and
caused II to stick. That could not happen here.
where the curtains run in grooves.
When asked about the loss to his firm by the
fire Mr. Klaw said
We have not given that much thought vet; our
own loss sinks into insignifcance in the face OF
the tragedy TO others. OF course have suf-
fered. Mr.. Sykes's death the loss of the Blue
Beard" production, and finally the loss OF the
theatre, preventing the Chicago engagement of
Ben Eur," means much loss, not only to us,
but 10 the hundreds of players, who are thus
thrown out OF work. But for ourselves We have
not thought much yet as have said.
SUPERINTENDENT THOMPsON'S VIEWS.
Henry S. Thompson, the retiring Superintend-
ent Of Buildings. said that judging from the ao-
count. so far published, of the Chicago fire. the
trouble appeared to be due in the first place 10
the fact that the theatre opened before IL
was completed. 1t certainly should not have
been opened until the fire escapes were COM
pleted. he declared. AS regards asbestos cur
tains. he said that inspectors from the Bureau
of Buildings are accustomed to examine such
curtains almost every day in every theatre in
the city with reference to their working and
condition.
After the fire had gained some headway he
pointed out, the theatre was in total darkness,
t winch doubtless added to the panic This. he
thought' could hardly occur in a New-York
theatre under the new rule established in this
city which requires a red light for every exit,
ana these lights are on entirely separate
circuit Another regulation which Mr.. Thomp-
son has himself established requires that every
thing in the vicinity of q calcium or other pov,-
erful lights shall be absolutely hreproof Ac-
cordfng 10 the accounts the Iroquois Theatre
fire started from such light. Mr.. Thompson
recently established rule that If any wood
work is used in the vicinity Of such a light it
must be covered with tin iron, and the ladder
reaching 10 the Platform must he of iron.
ANOTHER CONFIDENT MANAGER
Charles Burnham manager OF WaIlack's The
atre declared last night that he thought his
theatre was one Of the safest in the world The
entire orchestra opens into the street, while the
galleries have exits into large foyer which in
turn through broad stairways, empties into
Broadway and Thirtieth-st Besides this. tha
galleries can be emptied entirely onto the roof
over the main entrance, where there is n space
twenty-five feet wide and more than a hundred
feet long, only one story from the ground left
because the building was never tompleted
From that escape would be easy to two streets
he declared. This would never be changed Mr.
Durham said. while WalIack's remained q the
atre. Then. too. there were all the required ap-
planes. and, besides there were no gas or
boilers for heating in the place
Alf Hayman, manager for Charles Frohrnan
declared enphatically that no repetition of the
Chicago fire could ever happen here. The rules
were strictly enforced, he said, and they were
stricter rules than in any other city. For the
Herald Square. he said he inspected his fire an
paratus every day. and that electric lights dId
away with the gas tanks for the calcium effects
He also pointed to wide doors. emptying into
two streets, and wide separate balcony en-
trance.
William Wood manager of the broadway
Theatre, said that his theatre was thoroughly
equipped with every modern device for any
emergency. and had exits into three streets
Broadway, Seventh-ave. and Forty-frst-st-
besides fire alley from Seventh-ave to Broad.
way forty-seven exits IN ali.
Oscar Hammerstein had a novel theory. at
keep out the children" said he. Men and
women can care for themselves, but they grow
mad when they have their children with them
So I've never let any children into my theatres"
He does not neglect any other precautions as to
fire danger, however. and said he has always
provided more exit space In the various theatres
he has built than the law required
At the Metropolitan Opera House there is a
IRE brigade among the employees, seventy
members Of which on the stage at every
performance, Ernest Goerlitz said Yesterday
The house was fully provided with exits he
euptied into Broadway. Fortieth-st and Forty
flrst-st-, with large emergency exit through
the back of the house into seventh-ave.