The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-27
Exits and l'anics.
Duluth NewS-Tribunc. I


The Efficacy of fire drills in schools
has been demonstrated so often that
their practical uses have come to be
rated at their proper worth. Presence
of mind is utilized to compel attention
and the tendency of the crowd is to
follow the lead of the individual who
forces it's attention. School children
are trained to quick obedience to a
signal.
Every few days, however, the old,
old story of fire in a public building
with attendant loss of life is recorded
in the daily news. Theaters, halls,
churches, packed with humanity, are
needlessly sacrificed.
The smell of smoke, tongue ~
flame. the cry of fire and the panic is
on. Men and women trample over one
another ruthlesly and the weak ones
go down to suffocation or are trodden
to death. The recent catastrophy in
Philadelphia illustrated tragically the
instinct of preservation gone mad.
The newspapers report that the peO-
pie, assembled on the second floor of
the church, made mad rushes for the
curved stairway to the front and gen.
orally disregarded the unaccustOmed
exits The stairway was narrow and
was soon packed, with people wedged
in mass below the bend, for at the
bend some OF them stumbled and re-
lieved the pressure behind them so
suddenly that a screaming, kicking
heap of humans piled up, obstructing
the way completely Very few sought
other exits. These were saved. A
small number remained quietly in the
body of the church and also escaped
injury.
There is lesson in the Philadel-
phia horror, and it should sink into
consciousness of officials who have
the granting of permits to erect build
ings for public uses. A straight, wide
exit, covering the distance between
the floor to be occupied by crowds, and
the out of doors should be prime
necessity in rooms to be used for as
sembly purposes. 1t is not always
possible to secure assembly rooms on
ground floors. The stairway has been
death trap ever since modern con-
ditions have devoted higher floors to
the uses of amusement or meeting
halls.
To officials having the power to is
sue building permits, and to building
inspectors. the public must look for
measures to insure comparative safe
ty. The matter of straight, unOb-
structed stairways and side exits that
are safe in appearance as we'll as in
fact, is one that should command the
most careful thought of builders and
inspectors.
The evil is always imminent At any
moment panic may occur in hall
peopled by a crowd. The reasoning
facilities of the average individual
seem to be paralyZed in the presence
Of danger, and the people must look
to the proper authorities to offer the
maximum of protection in building
permits.
WOrcestershire Sauce.
[St. Paul Dispatch.l
In the senate the other day Senator
Gallinger interrupted Senator Nc
|. Cumber, who was discussing ind ex-
planning the pure food billiard, 1t ap-
pears, giving some senators much in
formatiOn-to say that he had his at
tentiOn called to an article in the Ma
tional Druggist stating that the dairy
and food commissioners of Minnesota
had barred from that state the old,
ttme-honored and reputable relish,
Lea & PERKINS, worcestershire sauce,
and asked If, under the pending bill,
any such arbitrary action would be
possible. II 1t were, he would have
TO oppose the bill. The senator from
North Dakota assured the senator
from New Hampshire that he knew
nothing of the action OF the Minnesota
commissioner, but that, under the SEN
ate bill, no such action could be taken.
Senator Nelson interviewed In behalf
Of his state official to say that he did
barred, but IL 10 1t was done under a
law of the state.
We are told that the food commits
sioner's chemist found salicylic acid,
as an ingredient IN Worcestershire
sauce. and, under chapter 26O, General
Laws OF 1909, which prohibits offering
for sale any article intended for use