The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-16
THEATRE RISKS FRET JEROME
CbNSU LTTNG CHIEF CROKER AND
DIR. BENSEL ABOUT THEM.
Personally Convinced That the Gallery
Exits ut Lew Fields's New Theatre
Arc Not safe, but Told That They
Comply With the Law as IL stands.


District Attorney Jerome said yesterday
that he had asked Harry de b. Parsons,
the engineer. to inspect several theatres
which he Understood violated the Build
ing and Fire Department laws. MIR. Jerome
said he needed no expert to tell him that
there was at least one dangerous theatre
in the oity-Lew Fieldss new house in
West Forty-second street.
Mr.. Jerome made this statement after
he had had talks during the day with Fire
Chief Croker, Mr.. Parsons and DR.. Walter
Bensei of the Health Department. Dr.
Bensol is a member of tho committee on
theatres appointed by Mayor Mcclellan
shortly after the Iroquos Theatre fire in
! Chicago Mr. Jerome said that DR.. Bense
had brought him reports received by the
committee on the safety OF theatres. In
explaining how he came 10 take up an in
veetigation of the theatres, Mr. jerome
said:
when Sheriff Hanson, who brought
Charles +. Dodge back from Texas. was
here in December | went with him to
Fields's Theatre We had stage box,
Hanson is a big. heavy man. Between the
acts in walking out noticed that the stair
way was so narrow that we couldn't walk
abreast The stairway was extremely
steep. The electric lights projected so
that they would strike a man of my height
In the forehead. / counted. " remember
right. nine turns at right angles fr ON the
second gallery to the street From the
first gallery l think there were five turns
at right angles. All around me | heard
men saying that they would never take
women to that theatre, and l heard other
men say that they would never go there
again. II required no knowledge Of
building laws TO know that II there was
panic OF any kind. with jamming at those
turns, and walls Of people we're banked up,
there would be serious injury to a large
number Of people.
Il wrote to the Building aud Fire depart
ments and was informed that the theatre had
not violated the regulations of either de-
partment. 1t was admitted that there was
something wrong with the electrolier, but
this was spoken Of as a trivia matter. easily
remedied | remembered that there had
been no serious fire that could recall since
the Academy Of Music fire in Brooklyn
but began TO feel that these things occur
Just so often. | was a good deal anxious and
worried when Chief Croker called On me
last Friday in relation to another matter.
spoke to him about the theatres. Looking
after the theatres is not my job really, but
if there was anything wrong IL ought 10 be
made right regardless Of the expense or Of
whether the theatre must beclosed or not.
Chief Croker told me that the Casino was
ono Of the worst theatres in the city and that
he would never let Mrs Croker 20 toit
Il believe that n theatre could comply
with the building code and Fire Depart
rnent rules and yet not be recognized as
safe. II does not require any expert to
show that theatre with nine turns In a
stairway thirtyhve feet steep is dangerous
Other theatres certainly do not comply
with the law. In the back OF some OF the
theatres there are moro seats between
aisles than the law permits, which would
be dangerous in case OF a panic. There are
several upstairs theatres like the Casino.
II they are in a condition dangerous for
human safety. then we wHnt 10 see II al
che departments pulling together cannot
do something OF course you cannot ex-
pect absolute safety. 1t il simply a ques-
ton of the degree Of peril
Mr. jerome said that no thought it would
take Mr.. Parsons about n week 10 make
his investigation. DIR. Jerome said that if
theatres were found to be unsafe the Health
Department could close them as public
nuisances or the District Attorney could
proceed against them criminaly on the
same ground. Mr.. Jerome doesn't think
that the Police Commissioner could revoke
licenses except for immoral performances,
or some other similar reason The Police
Commissioner might refuse to issue licenses
on May J. MIR. Jerome said. TO theatres
considered unsafe.
Oscar Hammcrstein built Flelds's theatre.
No ono at the theatre would comment
on Mr. Jerome,s attainment lat night.