The New York Herald Newspaper, December 11, 1876, Page 8

FIRES IN THEATRES. How They May Be Prevented and Avoided. SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTION! The Views of the Chief of the London Fire Brigade. PUBLIC OPINION ON THE QUESTION PS ae OPEL Mr, Eyre M. Shaw, chief of the London Fire Brigade, baving carefully and laboriously studied the subject of protecting theatres (rom sudden destruction by fire, bas embodied the knowledge which he possesses in a pamphiet, and given it to the public for the benefit of those interested. The prineipal recommendations and suggestions made by Mr. Shaw are below, STREET APPROACHES AND SURE REMEDIES, The external street approaches should invariably be kept {reo and unobstructed, as they may at any mo- ment be required for a rush of the audience, and such of the inlets as also form the exits should be not less pumerous than the internal divisions of the auditoe rium, according to prices. ach inlet should be easy of entrance at its outside point, weil lighted, free from small projections or ob" structions likely to cause injury, quite free from steps at any point where a crush is likely to take place, and grad- ually narrowing to the width of the narrowest internal passages through which the visitors have to reach their seats. In long straight passages, where tho pressure of acrowd might be likely to accumulate so as to be- come dangerous, perfect safety can be obtained by placing at intervals strong barriers running trom alternate sides, and 80 arranged that not more than fifty or some such limited number of persons could press on each other at a time. Obstructions of this kind carefully placea will be found not to delay the entrance of vis- ltors, but on the contrary to facilitate it by removing all necessity for crushing, and so allowing them wo walk quickly to their seais instead of being pushed and hustled, as is too commonly the case. As to the sur- roundings, itis to be observed that the safety of a duildiug is very seriously affected by its position with regard to those it, On this account a theatre or any building iu which large numbers of persons as- feinble should under no circumstances be completely durrounded by other buildings, WALLS. Tne external walls of a theatre should be strong, told, well bonded both in themselves and to each other, aud able to resist very considerable shocks. They should aiso be supported on the inside by all in- ternal walls whieh touch them. Numerous instances have shown that it is a great mistake to have a num- ber of internal walls merely touching the external wails, and not bonded into them hor in apy way con- inibuting to the support of the structure. INTERNAL DIVISK There are certain internal divisions in @ theatre hich are necessary for the transaction of business, as, lor instance, the manager’s rooms aod offices, the tressign rooma of the actors, the storerooms, she stage, the auditorium, the passages and gailerics of the auditorium, the corridors, ri Iresbment rooms, staircases, entrance halls, &¢., &¢. ; and all these should be constructed of solid heat-proof materials, aud should form au essential part of the building, instead of being, a8 sometimes happens, a ction of apparently temporary fittings Just to carry themseives aud the persons ordinarily y to pass over them, and of no sorvice to the gen- rral structure, but, oa the contrary, a source of danger te it on account of their great inflainmability. Some of the internal wails are necessarily placed at points at which 1t would be most desirable tu.separate Whe risks of the several parts; as, for instance, be- jween the sides of the auditorium and the wings of the Hage, and again between the auditorium and the cor- riders, between the corridors and the stairs, and so torth, ‘and the more solid and complete the wails are at these poiis the safer the building will be Ina the atre ther: ts which cannot be divided, for instanc . and again the auditorium; and this it 1s which takes the danger of such places arable from their very existence; but there is no sponding reason applicable to the whole struc- ‘On the contrary, there are many why it is de- ture. firable in the interests of true economy, and especially for the safety of Iife, to divive the whole building into as nany* distinct abd separate risks us possible, ot sourse without at all interfering with tho busine: be carried on. For this purpose tho tirst and pbvions point is that at which the curtain falls, as the ppening at that spot is much reduced by the partial tross walis and the supporting wall under the front of Whe stage, In short, at this point the whole house should be divided juto two distinct parts by means of V fire wail, commencing im the basement and going \nrough the roof and to a height of trom four to six fect outside. This wall should be perforated at tho es oa each landing and at the bottom under the sage near the orchestra, and fitted at the perforations with Wrought iron doors, and it shouid, of course, have the ust g0 opening to the stage, but with theso exceptions it should be comple METAL CURTAINS. At opening ag flectual protection could be a means of & tnetal curtain which could be dropped at a moment’s notice, Tbe metal curtain sbuuid be supported and worked by steel or iron At the gr chains. Such curtains, it 1s true, have betore now been tried and bavo oot found javor with managers of the- aires, but that does not at all affect the sulyect under consideration. They may have deen badly made, b: y fitted. or ly worked; bat, even so, it must be obvious that, in the event of a tire bap- pening, they would have done some good, At all events, m the present condition of mechanical skill and knowledge tt 18 simply monstrous to say that the thing is impossible, and itis qaite certain that there Are thousands of the first eagineers of this and other countries who Would pot hesitate to accept an order lor such acurtan, and, if not hampered by rostric- tons, would gnarantee that fire would uot get through or by it under apy circumstances whatever in less than ap hoor or so, Which is much more time than would be required tor saving first the audience and attorward tue auditorium and other parts of the building. XD BEHIND THE CURTAIN, 1p the tirst place be divided into two principal purts, one before, the other behind the curtain. After this there should be the several great divisions of—in iront—tbe auditorium, refreshment rooms and places for exit and entrance; and—behind— the stage, the dressing rooms, the workshops and the storerooms The auditorium proper cannot itself be subdivided, but the audience can be, and each portion ought to have a separate place lor entrance and exit accord ing to price, sO that, im case of an alarm or of anything happening which would require a sud- den clearmg of any part, there would be ‘ho obstruction at the immediate point of exit irom the seats. It would be desirable thateach portion of the audience should leave the building altogether by differ- ent passuges, stairs and doors; but Wus 18 not abso- lutely necessary tor safety. If the several portions can leave their seats without obstruction they may with- out much danger be allowed to join at some litle distance; but in this caso” they should not ve allowed to meet im a common passage either vud on, or, if it can be avoided, even at right angles. It is much safer for the two streams to take the general direction of the common passage belore they enter it Then, as to trifling differences of ievel, it will ve found that gradients not exceeding oue in ten are pertectly safe for a crowd, fd (hat eveu the smallest steps are more or less an- tate. When there 1s a gradient, however, it is most desirable to avoid any pressure bear it, a8 persons after entering a gradient downward involuntarily attain an increased speed, and if this be further accelerated by & pressure from’ belind accidents may bappen, This danger, however, is very easily guarded against either by having the entrance to the gradient at a wide angle from the communicating passages or by a simple ar- rangement of barriers at alternate sides reducing number of persons in each compartment, so to speak, to about fifty or thereabouts, as this number cannot create a sufficient pressure to do injury. WAND RAILS. In enclosed passages and staircases hand rails ata distance of about three inches from the walls on both sides ure always an advantage. It is true that they oc- cupy some space, and this is against them; but, on the other band, they aimost invariably prevent persons falling down and being trodden on. When a crush comes the persons at the sid old OD vo the and those inthe middle bold onto them, and it ts mnost unusual with such an arrangement for any one to bo thrown down and trampled en, whereas in passages without a rail there is nothing to prevent persons iall- ing, and, when they do fall, the consequences are most serious, not only to themselves tnrough being trampled ‘on, but to all in the Vicinity, on account of the ob- etruction and the increased impatience or panic which ia sure to follow it CAMP STOOLS. hould be licensed and legibly { persons itis to contain, in Each part of a theatre marked for the number She same way as boon omunibuases, & jhould be a misdemeanor here, as it is on Bi ff the Atlantic, to occupy the ways between the sents with camp stools or allow persons to stand In the passageways duri: formance, or in any way to interfere with tl Fogreas or egress of the audience In the common aisles, REPRESAMENT ROOMS. The refreshment rooms should be separated from Meo auditorium proper by a sound, strong wall of masonry, with of course the necessary number of Openings for the transaction of business, fitted with strong wrought iron doors The lobpies, corridors end landings should also be torium proper in the same wa: of such a capacity that they could holdon an emer- gency the whole of the persons accommodated in th: ts of the theatre opening on them, With such an Bfrangement as this ay audience would have an almost absolute certainty of satety in caso of any accident on d, finally, the retreat into the open eir, which, under auch circumstances, could be made at leisure, LEGITIMATE RISKS. There are certain operations carried on within a theatre which form the especial and legitimate risk of such a building, but there are others which, though best carried on in the immediate neighborhood, necd not necessarily be done within the walls. Both kinds will be considered separately, and it so happens that it is insome of the latter that the greatest danger lies ‘The quick shifting of light scenery tn the immedi vicinity of powerful gaslights, the intense beat caus by the lights in the upper parts over the files and slides, the rapid manipulation of gaz, ot!, lime and other lights for scenic effect, and the occasional use of explosives in the midst of a vast quantity of highly desiccated Wood, a labyrinth of cordage ond a quantity | of banging drapery moving about with every draught and blast of wind; these and some otters bardiy ently important for special notice, as lor istance, trifling carpentering repairs or glue-pot work on a small scale, constitute legitimate risks which may be sometimes capable of reduction, thoagh y cannot be altogether abolished; and of them it can only be said that they are generally well known among all engaged in a theatre, from the artists to the carpenters and other operatives, and that consequently Yery great caution ts commonly used to prevent igni- tion of even the most trifing article of any kind, as they are weil aware tuat the result would almost in- eviiably be the sudden blazing up of the whole, UNCALLED FOR RISKS. The operations which need not necessarily be per- formed within the walis of a theatre are carpentering on a large scaie, scenery making, scene painting and decorating; and these, if carried’ on away trom the building, are by no means specially dangerous. When, however, they are done within the wails and subject to high temperature aud desiccation as before explained, as well as to the chance of other materials suddenly biazing up near them, they increase the danger to avery serious extent. ‘When, again, to these opera- tions is added the storage of large quantities of timber, clothing, furniture, lumber and the thousand articles known in theatres as ‘property,’ it will be seen that the danger is intipitely increased. ‘he remedy here is, as before, a separation of the risks, frst into two great divisions, the necessary and legitimate forming one and those operations which can be carried ov outside the walls tho other. Then come the subdivisions, which, unfortunately, cannot afect the former, at least to any apprectable extent, but which caa be treely and with great advantage applied to the latter. The work- shops should beeflectually separated trom the scene painting, the scene painting from the lumber rooms, the jumnber rooms from the clothing making depart- ment, the latter from the property rooms, and so on. These room should be floored and cetled with well burnt tiles laid in good cement or plaster, or, if pre- ferred, the floors and ceilings might consist of coment or plaster alone, but it 1s essential that they should be solid, apd not, a generally tound, hollow, witn air passages inside, For convenience of business they might all open on acommon passage If desired, but each should be surrounded by wails of solid masonry, iron doors, which on the first alarm might be instantly closed so as to isolate them, In such rooms, or to auy part of a theatre, except when absolutely ‘necessary, there should be no light inflammable materials forming part of the structure or fixtures. Everything should be of such a kind that itwould under no circumstances blaze up suddenly when ignited, and should be as heat proof as possible, Stairs, floors and partitions should be com- posed of materials both heat proot and uninflamma- ble. All metals for this purpose are objectionable, unless the compartments are very small, in which case iron may bo used with safety, if embedded in plaster orcement or covered in a’ strong casing of wood, which, up to a certain point, is pertectly beat-proot, In the great divisional or fire wall there should be on every level, from the basement vo the roof, doorways as largo as convenient, fitted witn doublo iron doors, which should generaliy be kept closed, but could be opencd irom cither side when necessary, and there should be direct access to these doors from the several wes and corridors ip tront; and, in the eventof the levels not corre- sponding, there should be light wrought iron ladders fixed at the stage side, so as to insure immediate transit in either direction. . +» STATROAB! For the satety of the audionce a theatre should bo provided with at least two principal staircases, and these should be as far as possible upart, so that in the event of one becoming injured, by fire or enveloped in smoke the other might be made available, It would bo much safer to have two separate staircases for each part of the audience, accord.ng to price, leading from the lobby adjoining the seats to the hall of exit, so that hulfof each part of the audi- ence might pass out by itself; but, where there are two main staircases, the stairs could be divided by longitudinal purtitions, which would to a cer- tain extent proruce the samo result by pr venting undue crushing, and thus tnsuring rapi egress in case of necessity. Stairs with bends at a right or even aa acute angle are much safer than straight staire, 1t is true that a uniform move- ment of persons passing down the stairs 1s to a certain extent desirable, particularly in a panic; and angles in the stairs interfere with this uniformity to a certain degree, as the persons on the outside of the bends have greater distance to travel tnan those on the inside; but the absence of pressure 18 of greater importance than uniformity of movement, and consequently where great crowds have to pass down stairs angles are very useful. In some buildings, too, it may be possible to construct the stairs with angles in alternate directions, first right and then loft, and thus, to a certain extent, to comoine uniformity of movement with absence of pressure, LIGHTS. Care should be taken to prevent an undue aeccumula- tion of heat in any one spot, particularly over the prin- cipal hght of the auditorium, und no wood or other in- flammable material should be permitted in the 1mmedi- ate vicinity of this or any other place in which the temperature is necessarily high. It may perhaps not be known to every one that in many theatres the carpenter’s shop is situated in tho root over the main gas hght, an arrangement wholly incompatible with the safety of an audience in cass of fire. Where there is glass round or over lights there should be a metal grating underneath to prevent broken fragments of glass falling and injuring persons OF setting lire to the place. All lights of every kind should be protected by hang- ing shades above to disperse the heat, and by cages or gratings around, to prevent anything being blown on them or coming in contact in any otuer way, and the footlights should, im addition to this, have trong wire at a distance of about eighteen inches, to prevent the actors coming into danger. Alter the pertormance the lights of the auditorium should on no account be lowered until the whole of the audience has left. No excuse should be given for any one to light matches. In every part of a theatre there should be a few oil orcandie lamps kept lighted to prevent a panic in case of the gas being accidentally or otherwise extin- guished. When small repairs in painting or carpentering are unavoidable they should invariably be dono without artiicial heat, and, if possible, without artificial light, and should be concluded at icast an hour before the opening of the doors, 80 as to allow time for the discovery of avy dam- age likely to arise from them. It artificial light be ab- solately necessary it should be supplied either by means of the fixed gas pipe, which should be attended during the operation by the responsible gas man or by means ot locked salety lamps surrounded with metallic gnuze, and in charge of a ireman or other responsible ofticiai who would know what to do in the event of an accident. All stage lights should be guarded with metal wire at such a distance that any material coming in contact with the guard would be out of reach of the flame, It is better to have nothing at all over or around the lights than to have guards placed, as is too commonly the case, in such a way that they serve to hold falling materials witbin reach of the flame; as, where there are no guards, there is at least the possibility that the falling materials may extinguish the ight WATER AXD HOR. Every theatre should have in constant readiness a supply of water under a pressure capable of forcing it to every part of the building, and in quantity sufficient to last until the arrival of external aid, and there should be a rising main and distributing pipes mounted with proper hydrants or fire cocks in such a way tbat no part of the building should be at a greater distance than thirty feet from a hydrant. FIREMEN, A fireman, or, in large theatres, a staff of fremon should always be present whenover any of the audi- ence are in the house, and there should be smaili bells, which could be rung from various parts of the build- 1pg, to call the firemen in case of any anxiety without alarming the visiiors. By tho term “fireman” here used is to be understood a man trained and instructed in the busi of extinguisting Gres, and not, as too commonly is found, ® mere laborer, sceno shifter or other subordinate assistant, clothed in a costume resembling a Greman’s uniform. CONCLUSION. It being then assumed that the existing arrange moenis are not satisfactory, it appears to be a duty de- yolviug on some one to propose others, ‘The two objects to be atiained are thes First, to Save the audience; secondly, to save the property; and these objec: ll De best accomplished by subdividing both auaienee and building ito ag many separate risks as possible and so arranging the gei of the contents as to prevent that sudden é whien has hitherto constituted the special danger of theatres. All light, inflammable materials are dangerous; stores aud other accessories adc bulk, and so increase the danger; separate the two and the risk 1s very con- siderably reduced. Ali doors for the entranee and exit of visitors should be made to open both ways, and should be of such light material that in any great emorgency they could bo forced open, even i! closed and bolted, CREMATING THEATRES, To te Eptror ov THe HRRALD:— The first act of the most terrible tragedy ever enacted in this country was produced at the Brooklyn Theatre on Tuesday evening, on which occasion over 300 real ~and appalling murders were persunated. But deep and bloody as that drama is it was only the first act, be 1t remembered, and many more scenes yet remain to be | Performed ere the climax is attained. Truo the re- maining acts cannot be concluded in that samo house but there aro numerous others, of far greater propor: tions in New York, where the “play” can bo com. pleted any evening. And what assurance havo we that the tragedy will not proceed? Let as reflect ® mcment. Is there a theatre, or other place ot pubifo amusement, within this city and county, where the publicean go with the sempbiarfte of seeu- rity? Is there one where tho hives, to say nothing of the comfort and convenience of those who frequent them, stand for anything a8 compared with the pecu- niary ¢ of the proprietorships? Can one go to either of them without the almost positive assurance ‘thas in addition to the tortures which the mercenarily L designed seats impose, the probability of their being supplemented by a sudden and resistiess conflagra- fou is not imminent? Many of these cremating Structures are located far trom the streeton which their single entrance fronts, and even these are pro- vided with strong iron railings, effectually barring escape, even by that slender egress, Does not every one (hat enters them unconsciously abandon hope, or, M he pauses to thipk, Gan he escape # conviction that he takes his life in hisown bands? Have the ple who so liberally spend their money nightly at those places any rights which managers are bound to respect, and are there any laws relating to the sub- ject? Yes, there are both righte and laws; but it isa ieature of our social organization that if any law or public interest is to be protected it can only be done by the creation of special societies jor that sole purpose. Otticials, a8 a rule, reason thus:—*I now receive, for three or more hours a day, from $8,000 to $10 000 per annum; I am politically located ia my position, and in case 1 should manifost any becoming zeal in ‘office would I get any more pay? No; not a cent; why, therefore, disturb my present repose ?”? ‘There is a department in this city which the public pay their money to support, and which has charge of the matter, that has thus been so irighttully presented to our minds the other night. Does it perform its work? Examine tho fragiie tinder boxes where the people go nightly. Are they constructed with the jeast regard to comfort or security? Surely not. Are any precautions even anywhere visible to confine Within certain dreaded limits the calamity which at any moment threatens? Notone. On the contrary ges of the auditorium are often encumbered ‘camp stools.’ Not long ago latiended Nibi Theatre, and on attempting to reach my reserved seat I found it impossibie, because every passage was densely packed with persons occupying tem- porary seats therein, it was the game thing the “other evening at the Union Square, Wallaek’s and elsewhere; and [have re: peatedly by note and in person called the attention of the department to it, to which I reter, but like most other public matters little or no notice has been taken of it. “If these incinerating places of amusement must be tolerated then let their managers be compelled to pay for the nightly presence of ‘a suitable number of firemen, belonging to the Fire Department, whose duty it shall bo to occupy 4 ge and ilies ang ober parts of the house with hos \d prepared for immediate action, This, surely, is a small conces- po to the people whom they nightly threaten to roast alive. is there a concert hall in this city where, if'a panic or fire should occur, more thun half the audience would escape? Located upon the second floor and reached by a steep and single stairway, even those who were fortunate enough to attempi ‘the descent would most provably be precipitatea headlong in their alarm and be trampled to death. The entire system of construction and service of public places demands, like almost everything elsc, reform; but 1s it possible under our bydra-headed form of government? le- spectfully, HENRY BERGH, New Yor, Dec, 8, 1876, AN IRON ROLLING SHUTTER CURTAIN. To tnx Epiror or tHe HrraLp:— In view of the late Brooklyn Theatre calamity, and when the question of personal safety in our places of amusement ia uppermost in the minds of all theatre- goers, allow mo,as an old man au fait on theatrical matters, to make ope suggestion for the benefit of tho proprietors and managers of our numerous theatres, The plan isa simple one and easily adjusted. Itcon- sof o corrugated, tron-hinged curtain to roll up and down, such as aro used by many of our merchants in leu of shutters to their stores, I believe you will readily understand my meaning. Let this curtain commence from the ceiling immediately in rear of the drop curtain, and extend across tho entire stage and farenough on either side to effectually stop of all drait, smoke and fire. Ag all such disasters have orig- inated behind the footlighte, in the flies or among the wings, the good effects of this plan will be obvious. Iclaim for such a cartain three importagt advan- tages—first, that it would hide from view vt thé audience the sight of the fire; second, would allay, it not pre- vent, a panic; and, third, would most effectually check the progress of tho fire toward the anditorium, and confine it long cnongh to insare the safe exit of every person in the body of the house. In order to insure the perfect working, at all ti oft such a curtain or curtains, let {t be a strict ru: the management that it shall come down regularly every night. This will drill one or more men in its use and insure its atility at the right moment, The first cost of such acurtain would be the greatest, But compare that with she loss of over 300 lives! Naw York, Dec, 8, 1876, EB. W. USE UNINFLAMMABLE FABRICS, To te Epiror or THe HkRaLp:— Tho dreadful catastrophe at the Brooklyn Theatre on the oth inst. naturally creates a desire on tho part of the general public and also of the theatre proprietors (who are more dependent on public sentiment than others) to avoid so far as possible a recurrence of that horrible scene. in view of this wo venture to suggest that all textile fabrics—such as canvas, the curtains, &c., employed on or about the stage, and also tho dresses of the actresses—should be rendered non- inflammable by previous treatment with one of the well-known processes—e. g., by a solution of alum or an alumina salt, The frames and other woodwork con- nected with the scenery should be so treated or coated with a fireproof paint. The cost would be trifling, and such precautions do not interfere with the very neces- sary arrangements tonding to secure public safety— namely, ample water supply and distributing apparatus, sufficient means of ogress, and also what is common in England, an iron revolving shutter to divide tne stage from the house, whieh, in case of fire on or near the stage, is instantly lowered; and, if properly con- structed, should give tho audience plenty of time to escape before the smoke and flames render the atmos- phere fatal to life, Thero are many exceilent “tire. proof’ paints on the market which, when applied to wood, &c., makes it a matter of some difliculty to ig- nite its suriace at least. Had the simple precaution mentioned at the outset been taken (for we believe it to bave been suggested before this) in the case of the canvas and scenery, the calamity you so graphically report could not have taken place. In this age of im- ovement let us, at least, have one theatre in New ‘ork city which is not a cremation furnace tor the liy- ing, and the experience of the 5th will not have been altogether in vain, The public will cortainly appre- ciate a thoroughly safe, fireproof place of umusement, nd, other things being equal, th® enterprising proprie- tor will reap a richer harvest than bis rivals, Re- spectfully yours, A. E. MoLEAN, Chemist, New YORK ANALYTICAL aND Assax Lasoxatory Com- Pay, Deo. §, 1876, ADVISE THE PUBLIC, New York, Doc, 7, 1875, To Tux Eprron or tox Hrraup :— The inspection of the New York theatres. by your reporter is worthy of the Hzraup, It {8 to be re- Bretted that tho family circle of the Academy of Music escaped examination, It seems to me little better than aman-trap. Nothing, except a modifica- tion of the nature of man, can prevent acrush upon on alarm of fire in a crowded building, and it follows that some will bo injured therein, That danger can- not be removed, but it can be very much reduced. It 48 useless to provide means of exit if no one knows where to find them, and nine-tenths of an average audience know no way out but that by which they entered. This difficulty may be fully met within twenty-four hours in every piace of amusement in the city, and at an expense of not more than $5 a house. Paste on the back of every seat in the house explicit directions to the person facing 11 what he should do in case of fire or danger. In the intervals of the performance these will surely be ri Then, on an alarm from any cause, every means of escape will be utilized, and that in the most judicious manner, HENRY P. WELLS, A SINGULAR COINCIDENCE. New Yoru, Dec. 8, 1876. To tue Eprror or Tus Heraup:— It is rather a singular coincidence that at the burn- ing of two theatres in which were tho greatest number of lives lost ever known—to wit, the Richmond Theatre and the Brooklyn Theatre—the principal or most prominent actors in each were grandfather and granddaughter. At the former Spencer H. Cone, who afterward became one of the most eloquent and prominent ministers in the Baptist Chureh, who occu- pied the pulpit inthe chureh corner of Broome and Elizabeth streets for many years, and probably made more true converts to Christianity than any other minister, His eldest son, Spencer W. Cone, was the fasher of Catharine Cone, who married Mr. Isadore Lyon, who now goes by the naine of Kate Claxton, and if the audience at the Brookivn Theatre bad toliowed her advice probably not a lite would have been sacri- ficed, MA *. PARKER, A ORILD BRANDED AND DESERTED. [From the Indianapalis Journal, Doe. 5.) Early yesterday morning the attendants at the Or-* phans’ Home, o® opening the door in answer to the ring of the bell, found on the steps a basket, which, on examination, was found to contain a small temale child, As the lady opened the door she saw a heavy- sot man, with dark whiskers, hurriedly get into a buggy and drivo rapidly away. The basket containea the following note :— Born, Saturday, Dee, 2,'76, and named “Mise Centen- niai—70."" Matron, please caro for it, and I will write to you in a month or so; for it is the flesh and. blood of me, its mother. If it 1s published in any paper lot it be the Journal of next Wednesday (6th), 90 I can read it, ITS MOTHER” The poor little waif seemed to be suffering intenso agony, and on examination the matron was shocked to find Wiat the little thing’s shoulders wore beth cruclly burned, in fact branded, with a redbot iron, The in- homan'parent or parents had taken this metnod of marking the child with a view probabiy to future iden- tification, In aecordance with the request of the note it is published in the Journad, and the Journal hastens oue day in advance of the time mentioned to give puds Hieity to the inhuman cruelty of the dark-wh skered scoundrel who was in all probability responsive tor the little child’s tortare, only rogretting that his name cannot bo displayed in the largest and biackeat the nead of this Jetson, pi NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER Ul, 1876.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. DESTITUTE —WORKINGMEN, Nearly Fifty Thousand: Men Out of Work. THE SITUATION GROWING WORSE. Superintendent Kellock and Warden Quinn on the Situation. Every inquiry made only adds to the truth of the assertion that the working classes of this city feel they have a winter of destitution before them. The cold weather clearly had its effect in sending many to the Island, and what numbers will have to go there as the season advances yet remains to be seen. That there is need of effost to meet the impend- ing crisis of poverty is admitted by every one who knows anything of the situation, The work- ingmen themselves declare that there 1s no hope for work this winter, They do not see a chance to earn their bread tn this city or anywhere else. The best is stated when it is said that those trades which feed the clothing business are pretty lively, but inall the skilled labor connected with building there is nothing doing. RECORD OF THE IDLE MEX. ‘ A Hematp reporter recently haa a conversation with George Blair, President of the New York State Workingmen’s Assembly, who is well posted in regard to trade afairs, From his own observations, and from the statements made by mechanics of differont trades, the following table was compiled, showing the num- bers of men now out of work in this city, and the figures are said to be below rather than above the reality:— Trades. Laborers— Building... Public Works. Bricklayors Carpenter Stair builders Framers Pinsterers ... Painters Ship carpenters. Plumbers and steam litters... Printers Shoemakers... Hatters, lors, custom. lors, common.. Pork packers. *Longshoremen Cabinet makers. Piano makers. Cigar packers. Other occupati Total....... INTERVENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT, Mr. Blair stated that tho mechanics were so hard pressed there were thousands of their families now on the verge of destitution, with the hard, idlo winter before them. The situation, ho said, was really be- coming desperate. In response to the question as to what he would recommend to be done under the cir- cumstances, he replied that he believed the safest and surest way to moet the emergency was to put tho men to work in the employ of the government, The pre- vailing dulness in trade was not confined to any one large city or to any one Stato; it was spread over the whole country, To give work to the me- chanics and laborers, therefore, would require, at this presont juncture of affairs, the inter- vention of the national government. Public work of permanent utility should be started and the menat once employed to save them from hbungel Not in the world were men 0 peacoable, so forbearing as the workingmen of this country; bat, unfortunately, public men availed themselves of these characteristics of our mecnanics to igsore them utterly, and to de- vote time and talent to vexed political questions and to the interests of miliionairos and moropolies, fe ing and knowing that the workingmen were pationt and would starvo and wait, The contractors in this city were, when they got tho chance, availing them- selves of the utter dulness of trade to reduce the 000 045,375 men’s wages, and boys were put to work in place of men im a number of shops On the Riverside Drive the contractors were asking laborers to work at ninety cents a day, so one might sce to wbata condition this poor class of the community were reduced. Of course it would bo said that ninety cents a day was botter than nothing. So it was, but coulda man and his family live on that money, or ought he to be asked todo so? Mr. Blar then told the reporter that he had on Tuesday last sent a letter to Mayor Wickham in regard to tnis matter, be- lieving it to be bis duty as President of the State Work- ingmen’s Assembly to enter a protest. The following was the communication :— SINETY CENTS A DAY YOR LABORERS. WOKKINGMEN'S ASSEMBLY, } State or Naw Youk, Dec. 5, 1876. W. H, Wickmam, Mayor, £6. I notice by the fore you against Me: missioners, resting being paid to labore! are being paid to lal ve-named Comm. The coarges em: bave more than ordinary facilities to look attor such mat- ters, though not clothed With any authority save that of citizens, Therefore | presame that itis not out of pince, asa citizen and the executive of a trade orgaulzatiou, against which these charges in the main inairecsly are made, ain Me: Martin and O" Donoh: in the position in pe you aa defenders of the \n ted ‘om citizens prexuned to prisons; and, if the gentlemen persist in pushing lavor to the wali, as implied in their charges, the city government must bear the expense of erecting more almghouses and prisons. Is has been stated that {t cost the city irom twenty to forty cents per day for onch pauper and criminal, “It does not take ® smart boy to ascertiin what 18 to sustain a family of four (the Laborer's average farily) at that rate, Compare that thin large in the community that woul limi: below wate! is unjust to ask aman to work. It inyoives #0 in question of lavor and capital, that few men comprele: true meaning. Those who do receive little encourazement ; and I trust that in considering this matt which interents so 1 couclusion will grag] Bh Pu“SIDENT WORKING MEN the decision of community, your ery respeetiuily, S ASSEMBLY, State of Now York. AID FROM THE WRALTIT. Mr. Blatr further said that the workingmen were willing to adopt aay reasonable course in tne terribie situation in which they were placed. He believed that the good sense of the wealthy of this city, it govern- ment failed to take any measures for the reliof of the un- employed, would prompt generous help. He folt assured that on the first call {rom the unemployed, if tbat call were mado in a proper manner, an adequate response would be the resuit, He feared very much that the aid of the rich would have to be invited at an early day, a8 the majority of the men were unable longer to hold out, There was but little now in the possession of the workingmen’s families. The situa- tuon, he said, might be summed up by saying the men Wore without the prospect of work, without money and without credit. A MECHANIO’S STARTLING WORDS. The reporter had a talk with a carpenter, who !s an old trades unionist, and well known among mechanics. Ho said :—*‘l could take you to the homes of hundreds of mechanics in this city and show you sights that would convince you at once of the great want that prevails among the workingmen. You would see scanty furniture, rooms almost bare, children but poorly clad, a wife anxious looking and sad, a work. man out of work and not knowing how he 1s to sup, port his family, You would see at a glance that poverty was thera, It isnot diMfcult to tell, on going inte the few rooms occupied by a workingman’s family, whether there 1s comfort or wapt Ikuow myself dozens of families who bave sold the best part of their farniture and who nave parted with whatever clothing or little valuables they possessed. How elso could they have lived? L have been now out of work myself over five months, and though an unmarried man I have found ita pretty tough time, I can too well understand how so ‘ahr merhanics have gone to the Island for a shelter for the winter, When there is so great destitu- tion so early in the season it can be castly smagined how terrible will be the suffering daring the next threo or four moaths. I cannot conjecture how the working- men are to find sheiter for themscives and their famt- lies while this dulness in trade continues. I kuow how it has been with a number of them go far as tue land. lords are concerned, Notwithstending the well known condition of affal business, and the tact especially | vhe estimates now | The distress can scar | athome, are compelled to seek the police landlords have been inexorable in demanding rents. To my knowledge workingmen bave already shifted two or three times from tenement houses, having been put out by | account of uot being able to pay. those families to which I refer will bave probably to move again this month for the same reason. How long this method of procuring rooms to live in will con- tinue | know not, but this I do know that the number of the houseless will this month be imereased by thou- sands if the landlords choose to demand the rent. It can do the landlords very little good in the end to act 50 mercilessly, for the tenants coming in will be just as Poor as those ‘guing out, and cannot pay in advance, By leniency and genero' jealing these grasping prop- erty owners would make more money in the end, However, so far this season they will not see the mat- ter io that ht. But I tell you, and I tell what I ko to be undercurrent of feeling among thousands of the idie mechanics, that the workingmen of this city are not going to starve this winter, nor are they going to be shelterless and see their children dying of cold and hunger either in almstouses or in the streets, Patience ceases to bo a virtue at some point, and the workingmen of this city have exhibited for over three years an exercise of that virtue uaparaileied in the history of great com- mercial cities It will be a terrivie aay tor New York wheu the workingmen grow desperate. But what is it that drives men to desperation i! it ig not hunger? 1s nless some relief comes to the men there will be at the very least during the next three months 100,000 human beings— workingmen, their wives and chiidren—daily without bread? Suppose that relief comes, will it come in such @ way that the men will not be humiliated to tho 1owest in accepting it? Will they be thrown it to muke them feel that they must at once consider themselves to be paupers? This would be bad. The class of men now idie are not the same that needed so much the great help they got a couple of winters ago, The necessity now strikes in among the tamilies of men who, but a few were weil to do and had comfortuble homes; sturdy and independent, and were proud of their use- fuluess in the community, I feel persuaded that when the wealthy come to the conclusion that 1% is good to help the unfortunate mechanics, the appreciation of that help would be vastiy increased if, a8 far as possi- ble, the workingmen were themselves allowed to be the judges of where it was most needed, aud were the dispensers to each other of such tckets or orders for food the money bestowed would warrant, 1 know that this trust would not be abused by the mon, and that they tho solves would bo tho first to expose any attempt fraud, It would be easy to arrange the details t would secure this, If twenty wealthy men in the community gave $5,000 each the $100,000 so obtained would go a long way towardrehef at this time, If the worst continued other wealthy men might supple- ment that amount with as much as was needed. 1 come down to figures, because it is either money or starvation now; all hope of work is gone. There is no prospect of getting through the winter without some- thing of this sort boing done, 1 suppose some move- ment ought to made before Christmas. The ordinary charity of the approaching season could nov at all meet the distress which ‘now provails, becal it would not reach the personsof whom 1 have beon last week the latter associations have been unable te care Jor half the applicants and the result isa demand for aid from the government. Exactly what is to be done with this class 1s now perplexing the Commis- Bio! of Charities and Correction. The enforcement of the law against vagrants has had the effect of flting up the institutions on Biackweli’s Isiand and at the rate the judges sending applicants there for aid new buildings and a great expenditure for relief will ba rendered necessary. During the week just ended over 200 men and women were sent to the island and the number will greatly increase if this cold snap cone tinues. There are over a thousand paupers now Obs taining relief from the government. A STARVING FAMILY. In asmall dark room, huddled up together, at No 223 Mott street, reside a family owned Parks The family consists of a father, motner and four stall cbildren. They are in a destitute condition and re- quire cbarity. The father has been ill for the past four months, and the muther js not able to earn any mouey. The children are ail young and quite unable to provide for themselves, and, with tl ckness of father and mother, snd requiring nance, the future of these young folks seems sad indeed. Tne case deserves the immediate consideration of the charitavle. At one time the family were in good cir- cumstances, but failing in business they began living private ana soon had to change. LITERARY CHIT CHAT. D. Appleton & Co. will publish im a few days the sec- ond volume of Martin’s “Life of the Prince Consort,” which has mado more stir in England than the first volume, Scribner, Armstrong & Co. have issued a handsome pamphlet with the nistory of the Bryant vase, con- taining the speeches made on the occasion of its pre sentation and a fine stec! engraving of the vase, all for the low price of filty cents. Henry Holt & Co. announce for early publication « volume of Philosophical Studies by Chauncy White,” late professor at Harvard. This firm has just pur, chased the plates of Ricnter’s novels from Osgood; also Thackeray’s ‘Early and Late Papers,’’? which ‘will be issued in the Leisure Hour series. Dr. Lewis H. Morgan has written a volume on Am clent Society, which Henry Holt & Co, will publish, «Dr, Morgat papers on this subject in the North American Review have beon the subject of much favor- able comment. Frances Eleanor@Trollope’s ‘Black Spirits and White,” now appearing in the London Graphic, will be 1 published by D. Appleton & Co., with all the Graph 4° 7 illustrations. Tho following new novels are announced by D. Ap- pleton & Co,:—"Sidonie,”? a translation from the French of Alphonse Dandet, and new novels from speaking.” SUPERINTENDENT KELIOCK’S OBSERVATIONS, Mr. George Keilock, Superiniendent of the Poor under the Commissioners of Charities and Correction, was calied on and conversed relative to the present dis- tress in the cit; “ls the poverty prevailing in the city, Mr. Kellock, especiaily marked this season f”” “Not in a oumber of years nas there been such dis- tress among the people as 1 sce every day indicated here betore me. Notsince the panic of 1857 nas the same class of peopie been so poverty stricken. That was un exceptioual year, but so far this season the signs of want trom which I judge have been just as marked, and among the same honest, industrious class too. I bave had as many as fifty applicants bere ina day for outdoor relief, und these peo; plainly members of workingmen’s families.” “The funds wouid soon get run out at that rate.’? “The trouble is that we have no funds at all. The most I can do when some poor hangry man or woman comes here is to give an order for a meal, But as to funds to meet the distress among the families suffering, | bavo none. The Commissioners asked this year for a sepa- Tate appropriation of $100,000 for the outdoor poor; but when the estimates camo before the Board of Apport:onment the item of $100,000 was merged in the total and the total was cut down by sume couple of hundred thousand dollars. The Board of Aldermen subsequently reinserted the $100,000 tor the outdoor Poor, but whether tho Board of Apportionment will grant that separate money or not I am unable to say.’ “I presume you can tell ata glance whether the ap- plicant here is deserving or otherwise ?”” “Yes; [ can easily tell that numbers ef the women who have been recently coming here ore the wives of workingmen, Tney come in sheer desperation for some mouey or food for their tamilies, who evidently mast Le sulfering terrible privation. I bave also had a number of mothers here asking that their children be sent to Randall’s Island until the times would get bet- ter. This shows how bard prossed these poor people must be, But I cannot send the children to the Island, as it is expressly against the law, Here is the law of 1875, which 1s in force: Srcrion 1.—On er January 1, 1876, it shell not be lawful for any justice of the poace, police Justice or oth magistrate to commit any child over shree aud unde teon years of axe as va nt or disorderly, to any county poorhonse of uperiu- vendent or overseer of the pi a any such child, us pauper, to any such poorhouse for support or care, unless the child be an unseachable idiut, an epileptic or paralytic, or be otherwise defective, diseased or deformed, 40 as to render it unfit for tamily cate; but such justice of the peace, police Justice or other magistrate, and also such county superintendent or overseer of the poor or other off. cer shall commit or send such child or ehildren not ab exempted tv some orphan asylum or other charitable or r formatory institution, as now provided for by law. “I believe an effort will be made next session of the Legislature to have this law repealed or amended. The cbiidren now, if the parents wish to part with them, must be formal/y committed to other institutions, and then the parents jose the option of baving them re- turned whenever they please.’ “What, In your opinion, ought to be done to meet the present emergency f “Ithink the wealtby class ought to take some action, The distress is daily increasing. The scason is very exceptional. These poor people are all hon and would be industrious. I do not see how they are to be helped except the rich will help them,’” “You consider there is occasion for an exceptional demand on the part of the working classe: “I think I say everything when I repeat that not since the panic of 1857 has there been such a season of poverty upon us as this is certain to be,” WARDEN QUINN ON THE SITUATION. The reporter called on Warden Quinn at the Tombs to ascortain the Aumber of workingmen who had been e Island during the past few days and his own views relative to the situation. The W id that since Monday last up to yesterday 1 been so many applicants from among the workingmen as during the two previous weeks, but that yesterday the cold woather again brought them in. esterday there wero some eighteen or twenty men committed by Justice Dafly, at their own request, to the Island. This was at the Tombs alone, and Harlem and Essex Market courts sent also their respective lists. “Do you think, Wardea Quinn,’ asked the reporter, “that these men Will continue to cume to you im in: creaging numbers as the season advances?!” “L feel sure of it. Ido not see what else they are goingtodo, I understand that at the present time there are about 2,000 of these able bodied menon the Island"? “Do you think there ought to be public reliet afforded the workingmon and their families at tnis ume?” | Certainly there ought, The Commissionors of Charities and Correction should bave funds at their disposui to help at the very beginning of the distress. But | understand the last annual appropriation was so cut down that they have no money witn which to give any assistance. 1 believe it 1s uncertain atill whether or not they will get anything specially appropriated in efore the Board of Apportionment, sly be relieved ¢: wealthy classes, who may contribute some handsome sums of money td mect the aifbculty.” “Then you believe in having a fand raised for the beneiit of the workingment Have you any plan by which the reliet could be distributed ??" “1 favor reliet by ae suup houses in different districts in the city. bave beard objections urged to this on the assumption that it would bumiltate the workingmen’s families to become the petity ry such an open, public way, I cannot gee buw a work- ipgman, in the present condition of affairs, need feel in any Way ashamed 19 go toa soup house to carry home food tor his f&mi: The number of the idle is tou great and the poverty tow widespread to make it appear a disgrace for a workingman not to have money or food, Ihave seen a vast umount of good doce by soup houses, and | um persuaded they are the best meihod by which « great distress like that which pre- vails cun be most salistactorily relieved. It would be easy to give such other financial aid to the family at would be absolutely nocessary, Woaile the Warden was giviny 1s vitws ap applicant proached the’ desk, asking for committal to the Island. The man did bot know that be should apply at & police court tor the necessary formula The follow. ibg Conversation occurred between the Warden and the applicant :— “What trade are you?” “Ll have beep a truck driver and worked also as & sailmaker, | have been out of work now a few wecks, and my last five cents went for a meal last night.” “Did you walk the streets all mght?’? “No; f slept in the Sixth ward station houso,”” “Did you meet many idle men in the streets while yon were around?” “I met any number of ‘tramps,’ but not so many workingmen.” ‘Is there no chance for work for you in any line of business?” “No? . ‘The Warden sonta keeper to the court room with the Applicant, and the committal was granted. Warden Quinn stated that in some instances the applicants tell very pitiful stories, Men have been committed who bave not tasted food for two or three days. Several of the mechanics had parted with their tools, and som of the women who were out of work as domestics had evidently fought against the Almshouse with persist ency. FILLING THE STATION HOUSES, Tho station houses ail over the city wore crowded Jast night to an extent exceeding any previous night this year, The many applications were owing to the intense severity of the weather, driving in vagrants and many mechanics who, having neither food nor tre ation, ‘This morning a great many of these will be taken to court and sent up to the island, The police captains Slate that (hey have never before seen the class of men seeking rejief that now appt, The majority are the pens of Julia Kavanagh and the author of “Comin! Thro’ the Rye.” ‘Janet, and Her Friends,” trans lated from the French, is just published. The first volume of ‘Spencer’s Sociology” will be issued in January from the press of D, Appleton & Co. This will be among the most popular of all his works and one of the greatest genoral interest, Hux- ley’s American lectures will be issued soon. The text has been especially prepared by him since his return to England, The illustrations were made under the direction of Professor Morse, Sheldon & Co. have published ‘Olney’s Science of Arithmetic,” the highest of the series. ‘Tho latest African book is M. Sollelet’s “Exploration du Sahara: |’ Avenir de la France en Afrique,” Mark Twain has tarned inventor—not of fan, for that comes natural to him, but of a patent scrap book, which he says will reform the work and cure people who have a penchant for saving clippings from newspapers of com- mitting profanity when unable to find the mucilage pot What he thinks of the invention may be seen from the following humoristio essay, written to the publishers of the book :— Hartvorp, Monday Evening. My Drar Siorr:— * 1 have invented ana patented a scrap book, not to make money out ot, but to economize the profanity ot this country, You Know that when the average man Wants to pat something in bis scrap book he oa: his paste—then so hard that it uses mucilage he can’t read his scrap—the result 1s barrels and bar- rels of protanity. ‘This can all be saved and devoted to other irritating things where \t will do more real and lasting good, simply by substituting my self-pasting scrap book for the old-fashioned one. If Messrs. Slote, Woodman & Co. wish to publish p book ofmine {shall be willing. You see by ove paragraph that 1¢ isa sound moral work, and this wilt commend it to editors and clergym and, in fact, to all right feeling people. Ifyou can get thom, and of the best sort and irom the best peopie. One of the most refined and cultivated young ladies in Hartfora (daughter of a clergyman) told me herself, with grateful teare stand- ing in her eyes, that since she began to use my scrap book she bas not sworn a single oath. Truly jake MARK TWal FOREIGN LITERARY NOTES. Mr. R. H. Shepherd, of London, announces a volume of “Mrs, Browning’s Earlier Poems,” some of which she had excluded from her works as unworthy a place beside her later productions, Mr. Browning 1s opposed to this edition, but the wise laws of England give him no redress, the Athenaum says. “The World Well Lost” is tho title of a new nove; by Mrs. E. Lynn Sinton, which will appear in the Bel- grave. The Athenaum, whieh we have received from Brom tano, announces & new humorous paper, to be pub- lished weekly in London, entitled Yorick, NEW BOOKS RECEIVED. vi Fort, An illustrated national American pne a Hold the The Jealous Wife. A love story. slo. be Levant. ik of travel in the East. 00) Kecitations and Readiny (No. 2). How To Learn the Sense of Three Thousand French Words in One Hour. Second Gevlogical Survey of Pennsylvania, Maps and illustrations. Jonn, A tale, German Home Life. Elements of Physics: or, Nataral Philosophy (Dr. N, Apotty Seventh edition, ‘arlor Car Farce. Queen of france. 1 Classis ography, Mythology and Geoxra| hy. Practical Cooking and Dinner Giving. Instructions tx Cooking and the serving of dishes. Avalea. A novel. Frost's Dramatic Proverbs and Charades, ‘ Comntene Life of Major General George A. Custer, United rt my. Illustrated. ‘The Centary ; Its Fruita and Its Festival, Boing @ History and Description of the Ceutennial Exhibition, Illus teat Beautiful Snow and Other Pooms, Iltastrated, ART NOTES. To-day there will be placed om exhibition at the Kurtz Gallery somo eighty choice pictures, forming the collection of Mr. Charles W. Seabury, of Bos- ton. These pictures wero very carefully selectod, and aro all good specimens of the artists they represent. Although the namber of works is not ovor eighty, the estimated value 18 about $75,000 Among the artiste represented aro:—Achenbach, Boldini, Bouguereau, Boughton, Breton, Capobianchi, Couture, Calame, Courbet, Corot, Dupre, Diaz, Detaillo, Daubigny, Esco. sura, Fromentin, Jacque, Kaemmerer, Lesrel, Michel, Madrazo, Plassan, Rossi, Rico, Strinheil, Simonetty, Sorbt, Tissot, Vivert, Villegas, Volion, Ziem and Zame cos, Tne sale ts appointod to take place on Monday evening, December 18, Mr. R. H. Parks, one of our American sculptors res} dentin Florence, whose works attracted mach atte tion inthe Art Annex of the Philadelphia Exhibuos, is about to place thom on exhibition in New York, They will probably be sold by auction early in the coming year if not disposed of by private sale in ine meantime. Mr. E. Kemeys bas on exhibition at Tiffany's three spirited groups in plaster—*American Panther and Cubs,” “American Panther, Boa Constrictor and Cole Jared Peccary’’and ‘American Panther and Carcass of Kid.” The figures are small and ful! of action, Constant Mayer is bard at work on a number of por. all of them far advanced and somo few only awaiting the finisuing touch, Mr. Mayer is a model of indostry, and since bis return from France has done as much work as would satisfy a less ambitious artist for a couple of years, The portraits are remarkable for the correctness of their drawing. They are vigor. ous and lifelike, R, L, Pyne has two small landscapes in the Brook. lyn Art Exhibition which are poetic in fecling and clover in treatment. They are named, respectively, “Twilight” and “Eventide,” x Tho holiday exhivition of the Goupil Gallery 1s ro. markably interesting. lo addition to the Firmin- Girard, which is attracting a great deal of attention, thero are a number of important additions. The Jimenez has gone to the Pacific coast, paving been purchased by one of the Californian nabobs, who took on a milion or two as a trifle. Its place is oceu. pied by a very clever work by De Boucherville. It is called ‘Springtime,’ and representa a morning party in the garden of an old French chatedu in the time of the Revolution, 1¢ Javorers aud mechanics, who state they have been un- able to find work and have no resource leit, They tir that sho men are adie through no fault of thor own, the apply to the relict associations of a private character and optain Jodging, bus during the_ LOONTINUED ON NINTH PAGK] . ,, | is remarkably brilliantin color, A very charming ex- -¥