THE EXETER CATASTROPHE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2697, 10 September 1887, Page 2

THE EXETER CATASTROPHE.

London, 7th September.

Purthet details of the Exeter oatastrophe showed that the scenery took fire just as the drop scene Was being lowered. The side escape doors were opened, and the draught from those had the effect of causing the fire to burst through the gallery'portion of the auditorium. A fearful.struggle took place in the pit, the. whole of the occupautß of which esoaped..' Sixty of them were injured in the struggle, and one has eince.,succumbed to, his injuries. Dead • bodies blooked tile stairway leading, from the; gallery. Before the flames reaohed .them, scores t»f people were, aaffoijated, and their bodies, afterwards- burnt to ..oinders. The scene: among the -spedatorr.out-/ side who had friends br.relations in the burning building rasa terrible one* Thirty unknown' bodies have beaii remains. In many were' found oharred, their arms • eii;, ciroliug their mother's ,neo,k.. THe'.car--pouters of the.oity are busy cojEniug the remains," and the, Town Council arearrauginga public fuaeraL,'.,:Her Majesty the Queen has. sent a message, of condolence to the bereaved The press ar&making strong repies'env tations on the generally faulty;;§fe : struction of:£ubho buddings. ■.. Mjjff;' Matthews,-. : Home Secretary, y-Ms-announced that the Government \ will legislate immediately for the 'prevent tion of such calamities; •'•■.-■ ' "•-'-•:■•" ~',; Latest'. : "-, : One hundred and fifty lives were lost by the burning of the Exeter, theatre. The Paris journal La Temps states that the lesson of the Opera Comique disaster has been ignored. It a'dvoV cates that theatres should be illuminated by electric light generated in a separate building; that scenery of a non-inflammable oharaoter should be used; that doors for egress should everywhere be kept open ; that a fire brigade should be attached to every theatre, composed of machinists; that the seats should be of an automatic tilting kind; and if these conditions are not complied with, no license should be granted.