Evening journal., 1904-01-02
MANAGERS PROVIDE
FOR PATRONS SAFETY
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fire or panic people entering the offce
portion OF the building through these
doors would be practically safe from all
injury no matter what might be the con-
dition Of things IN the theatre proper
Each emergency exit Is marked with a
card telling just where the exit leads
"Thc gallery is the safest in this or any
other city. There are i've exits two lead
Ing to Market street and three TO the
roof Of the office building in front. Strong
stairs lead from these exits 10 The roof
The roof OF the adjoining building can be
used - necessary leading block each
way from the roof. Our gallery Is sep
arate from the main lobby both for exit
and entrance purposes.
"Our scenery IS an painted IN water
colofs No Oh was used on any part. Fire
lproof scenery Is an unheard Of quantity
as yet bu, water color is safer than oil
/ Our switch boards are all protected with
asbestos covering on our opening night,
November % 1890 people were IN attend
anca. 500 OF them being on the lower and
balcony floors. II took nine minutes by
my watch t. empty these portions OF the
house We could have saved az least two
minutes but the theatre WAS new and the
people fingered TO view the house on
Saturday afternoon. December 26. the
house was packed and was emptied IN a
fraction less than seven minutes We
claim that should a fire occur on Che stage
which seems TO be the birthplace of all
theatre fires, we could. by dropping the
asbestos curtain give our patrons at least
twenty minutes to vacate the building
which under average conditions Is emptied
In az least nine minutes. While the Gar
rick is the newest and most up-to-dato
theatre 10 Wilmington we viii no, stop
improving e until every patron feels per-
fectly safe under any and an conditions.
The Carries Theatre has both electric and
gas lights. The gas Jets are kept burn
ing constantly so that I'm case anything
occurs and the electric lights fail we have
the gas light which does away with a
dark house IN case OF panic. which In
many cases is worse than fire.
Daniel Humphries. manager Of the ly-
ceum Theatre. which Is controlled by
Burt & Nicoial, said:
1--WE have made a number Of changes
recently In order to protect our patrons
IN onse of fire. These changes were
made before the terrible fire In Chicago.
Fire extlnguishers Of the latest pattern
have been placed IN convenient places
about the house and 200 feet OF fire hose
lhave heen ordered TO afford an additional
protection. The men on The stage are
trained what 70 do IN case Of fire. The
electric wiring OF the house has been gone
over and renewed by Garrett Miller q
company. and is in nrst-class condition.
llt Is always watched closely TO prevent
any accidents. I always remain in the
house during the performance and always
soc that The doors are kept unlocked 50 u.
10 furnish exit ia case OF fire OF panic
} I'VE are always willing to make any
! changes which the proper authorities ma,
J suggest for the protection OF our patrons
! do not allow small children to 90 in oul
} top gallery. ana on frequent occasions
} have sent children into the balcony and
tho first iioor 10 keep them out of m,
top gallery. In the show whicn is now an
4 |pearirg here there is one scene IN whici
there ought 20 be smoke I ordered IA,
5 company 10 cut out the smoke so as ts
, lavcil any danger OF q paalc."