New Britain herald., 1928-07-28
PANIC IN THEA7ER
 NARROWLY AVERTED
Cry Of Fire" StartIes Audience
 at Capitol Playhouse
MANY RUSH TOWARD EXITS
smoke Drawn in Through Ventilst- or From lncinerator in Adjoining Yard Causes Alarm But Cooler Heads Calm Patrons,

few small clouds of smoke. waited into the auditorium of the Capitol Theater from q fire in an ihelherator Tn nearby yard through the fan ventilator in the theater, caused a near panic about 9 o'clock last night, when an ex- cited woman shouted Fire. Fire" With the result that practically the entire audience of between 1000 and 400 men, women and child ren stood up. and a few hundred started to mill like cattle towards the aislcs, Sit down. sit down." cried others Of calmer nature, and in an instant the theater was thrown into intense excitement. Fortunately there was not even the slightest blaze visible anywhere, for had there been anything to bear out the ill advised alarm, with the exception Of the sight and smell of the small amount of smoke, seri- ous stampede would have been in- cvitable.
 Warning Prevents Stampede Chief William c. Hart of the po- lice department and Mrs Hart were seated in the back row on the west side of the theater when the cry went up. At once, the chief guided Mrs. Hart to an exit and told her to remain there unless it became necessary to leave. Then he walked slowly down the aisle, calmly assur-
 ing the audience that there was no fire and no cause for alarm, adyis- l ing them to remain seated. or. if
 an orderly manner. His timely ac- ton had the effect of stemmng the stampede until Manager Carlyle C. Barrett, who had made his way to the front with difficulty on account of the confusion in the aisles, mounted the stage and told the au- dience that slight amount of smoke had been drawn through the fans from the incinerator, and there was no danger whatever.
 John s. Contaras ,one of the own- CTS of the theater, also addressed the audience, assuring them of their safety. but the natural un- easiness that was caused by the thought of the possibilities of a panic asserted itself in the nasty departure of many adults and a number of children. At the same time. Companies 1 and of the fire department responded to a "still'' alarm, and a crowd of several hun- dred gathered outside the theater to watch the excitement. The cause of the call was soon discovered and the firemen were sent back to their quarters within a few minutes.
 Fire Deputy Chief Eugene r. Barnes of the fire department. who alarm, conferred with MT. Contaras and Sergeant Thomas J. Feeney of the police department, advising the latter to have attention paid to the use of incinerators about the mer- cantile district at night. He pointed out that an ordinance prohibits the burning of refuse after p. m.. and he remarked that the violation can cause danger in addition to discom- fort, as demonstrated in the near panic. After examining the inciner- ator. which is used to dispose of rubbish accumulated in stores and toncmvnts in the block at 60 and 62 West Main street. Chief Barnes and Second Deputy Chief M. T. Souney said the load was so great that the smoke was not carried off through the chimney and the thea ter fans provided enough suctions to attract it from the smouldering mass.
 Audience Up En Masse
 After the excitement had abated. some of the theater patrons who had left returned and watched the motion picture, which was not stopped during the rush. Mir. Con- taras said the audience had stood up en masse, reminding him of . response to the playing of the na- tional anthem. but when the ab- sence of danger was impressed up- on the gathering practically every one acted sensibly. Manager Barrett related that two or three men had dashed towards the main entrance blocking his way as he started for foolhardiness.
 Clerk John J. keough of the board of fire commissioners who was in the audience, kept his seat and tried to calm those seated near fearful for the safety of the many