New-York tribune., 1905-02-16
SOME THEATRES UNSAFE"
JEROME SPEAKS-ACTS.
II ppoints III. De b. Parsons to In
Uestigate and Report.

After talks yesterday with Fire Chief Croker.
DR.. Walter Bensel. of the Health Department,
and II. lie b. Parsons, a consulting engineer,
District Attorney Jerome announced that he
had engaged Mr.. Parsons to make investi-
cation of several theatres which he believes are
unsafe. Mr.. Parsons aided the District Attorney
in the investigation OF the Hotel Darlington
disaster. He will make careful examination of
the several theatres on Mr.. Jerome's list, TAX
ing measurements particularly of the stairways
and exits, the distances between and the width
of the aises and the height of the auditorium
above the sidewalk. He VIII make a report to
Mr.. Jerome as possible basis for the action of
the Board of Health or of the grand jury. as Mr.
Jerome may decide to it.
Mr.. Jerome said that he was not ready to
make public the list of the theatres which he re-
garded dangerous but that they mostly
second story theatres or theatres which had
narrow and winding stairweys leading to balco-
mics and galleries He agrees with Fire Chief
Croker that a theatre having an auditorium over
stores. like the Casino, is not safe particularly
if a fire breaks out in the building. His infu-
ence will be cast with that of Chief Croker
against permitting the Casino to be repaired
its present lines
The fire in the Casino hastened this action.
which Mr.. Jerome had been planning for weeks.
A feeling that it his duty to take some ac-
ton for the protection of audiences in some of
the theatres, he said yesterday, was aroused by
attending a performance in Lew Fields's new
theatre in 42d-st.
II went to the theatre with United States
Marshal Hanson when he was in the city last
December" Mr.. Jerome said land we sat in
q box. As we were passing out l noticed that
he and I unable to go down the stairs
abreast, the stairs narrow. The stairs
had an inclination of at least 80 degrees Then
tha ala icl1t lou I had ~ str
to save humping my head. looked carefully
at the stairs leading to the gallery from the
floor below IT, and counted five right angled
turns, From the gallery all the way down there
nine such turns.
Suppose" Mr.. Jerome was asked, "you get
report from Mr.. Parsons that shows several
theatres are unsafe. how will you proceed to
have them made safe? VIII you appeal to the
Mayor"
'I do not that the Mayor has the power
to act in such case" he replied. THE author
ity to deal with the situation seems to rest
either with the District Attorney in beginning
criminal proceedings against the persons re-
sponsibe for endangering human life, or for
maintaining a nuisance, or with the Board OF
Health which can declare place to be public
nuisance and close It, if evidence to justify
such action is presented by the District At
torney or by other persons, 1 doubt If the Po-
lice Commissioner mas the power 10 revoke
licenses for theatres which may be considered
unsafe for audiences, long as no charge of
immortality can be sustained to the perform
ances in those theatres, but he might be able to
refuse to grant renewals of licenses TO such the
aires | think we should be able, between the
Health Board, the Police Commissioner and the
District Attorney to compel the owners of
safe theatres to make them safe or keep them
closed
William r. Sill. the general representative
for Hamlin, Mitchell & Fields. asked his
opinion of Mr.. Jerome's plan of investigation.
He said that he thought the District Attorney
talking through his hat and that he did
not why he wanted to frighten the theatres
going public by such an announcement Mr..
Sill said that Fieldss Theatre, which has been
recently built had been passed by various de-
partments, such the Health, Police, ETC., and
that it was practically entirely fiFeproof
"A man wouldn't give 81 30 for all the wood
in the house." said Mr.. Sill. He declared that
the theatre safe any other in the
world having twenty-eight exits and five doors
opening in 42d-st. On turning a crank, an
rangement over the stage let's down twenty
thousand gallons of water. This arrangement
Is extra precaution that has been installed
in the house. There are two staircases. which
run from the ground floor to the top balcony.
near the entrance to the theatre. Only one of
these is really required, it was said. The steps
five six PAGES broad. There is a number
of turns in them they come down from the
balcony. All the wood that is in the house is
fireproof.