New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-15
SOME FIRE DANGERS.
An HOME AND THEATRE.
Er-Chief Bonner Talks to Women
/ While Son SaUes Lives at Fire.

81 don't want 70 make people nervous" remarked
Hugh Bonner. ex-Chef OF the Fire Department,
addressing the Wonen's Municipal League yester-
day morning the Berkeley Lyceum. and then
ne proceeded TO make his audience very nervous
kndeed as he traced the steps of the fire dend in
public and in private. on land and water.
He began with the theatres. which he divided into
avo classes namely those in which the audience
thhs fair chance Of escape in case of fire, pro-
Eiding does not stampede, and those in which it
IS nip ard tuck between the people and the fire.
of the former class" said Mr.. Bonner. ARE the
fheatrcs built since the enactment Of the law of
1884 This law requires that all buildings more
Khan thrtyfve feet in height shall be OF hreproof
material but it does not actually lead 10 the con-
etruction OF ireproof buildings. 1t is only the
empty building that is fi-eproof AS you
put in seats and decorations and ceilings, you
introduce iufammable materials that viii burn to
ashes and seriously injure the building If a fire
FREAKS out in such theatre. there is a margin of
safety in favor Of the audience. If it leaves in
good order and the exits and aisles all open,
there not be single life lost. But if there is
"a panic some are certain 10 be lost and in all
probability the most brutal viii be the
escape. 1t is these people who become crazed with
fear and create panics. They do not care who
snalns inside, 50 long they get out They are on
s. par with the brutes in the Jungle
In the older type Of theatres there is no margin
Of safety in favor of the audience II there is no
panic they may escape. II there is a panic they
lost"
rs there any way that one could get the names
of these theatres?" asked woman IN the audience
Wen that Is matter Of opinion returned the
Is there anything that can be done? ONLY one
thlng They have all complied with the law and
are legsI property, but the city might institute
concentration proceedings against them If it
hasn't me power IL can get IT, and it is always in
seo OF SIZES ior schools, police and fire stations
Aprarles, etc. This is a fair way and the only
way cut OF such dangers that exists We are spend
don, L, ,3 % money IoF improvements; but
couio make than TO institute condemnation pro-
ssI0us ana erect library an emergency hos
pL .7 or some other public building the site.
, %. ~ Lhgss dangers are not confined TO theatres.
ngs You may spend millions erecting a fireproof
house. but when you al il with Curtains and md
go.ueres and rugs and furniture it is longer
So much for the dangers OF the land. Coming 10
nose Or water. Mr.. Bonner drew still appaI-
In burning theatre you have a fighting chance
for your life" he said. "On burning river steam
er you can only put life preserver and Jump.
and fire in midocean is much less dangerous
There II usually begins in the hold and If the crew
cannot subdue It, they can batten down the hold
while the passengers get into the lifeboats hut
there are no boats worth mentioning a river
steamer, and If there were there would be no time
FOR the passengers 10 get into them.
Yet, there is no reason why they should not be
be enacted at no distant date. No Improvement
has been made yet in consequence of the Socum
vessels floating that are just dangerous as that
ore was. They luxurious palaces but
they would be consumed like the grass the
As Mr. Bonner concluded his talk the president
Of the Womens Municipal League, Miss Margaret
Livingston Chamber, stepped forward and said that
news had just come Of the FIRE IN Allen-st., and
OF the saving Of several lives by the speakers
Il am sorry about the ire SAID Mr. Bonner but
The women kept him answering questions for
half hour after this. ana then they assailed him
heir homes.