The inquest on the bodies of the persons killed in
the Surrey Music-Hall terminated yesterday in a verdict of "Accidental death." The evidence taken by the Coroner was of a conflicting kind. Several witnesses stated that there was no alarm of " fire " ; but the testimony of Mr. Superin- tendent Lund and others leaves no doubt that this cry was raised. Two membersi:of Mr. Spurgeon's congregation believe that the alarm was pre- concerted, either by enemies of air. Spurgeon or by thieves ; but Mr. Lund, who thinks it was preconcerted, says it could not have been done by thieves, as on this occasion they were shut out. Seeing the hall tolerably he ordered the gates to be closed on his own responsibility. Besides, no g was stolen. The swell-mobsman goes into a large assembly " with the tail of the crowd." Mr. Lund said he was prosecuting inquiries into the cause of the alarm. Thomas Fullager, house-decorator, made a statement that if true throws a light on the cause. He deposed, that he was within the entrance-hall about ten minutes before the service, and there heard two men whispering to each other. They separated, and one went out, while the other advanced further into the hall, but soon went out also. After the accident, he saw two men near the pulpit, but he could not say whether they were the same men, one of whom he heard say to the other, "Jack played his cards well, and has won his bottle of brandy ; but I wish he had put the gas out."
The Jury, leaving out of consideration the cause of the panic, dealt with its fatal issues, and pointed out a defect in the construction of the staircases. " The Jury in each case find a verdict of accidental death, which occurred on the staircase of the North-west tower. It is however, the opinion of the Jury, that although the staircases of the Surrey Music-Hall are suffi- ciently strong for the purposes for which they are intended, their construc- tion is not of a character to render them safe, more especially when a large number of persons are anxious to leave the galleries in haste. The treads of the staircases are much too narrow near the hand-rail, and the descent
too steep ; and the Jury therefore trust that the directors will give their immediate attention to the subject."
In explanation of this verdict, it may be stated that " the four staircases at each corner wind up in a spiral form to the top of the edifice, and afford the means of access to each of the three galleries, which rise one above the other. There is an average breadth of stair of nearly six feet all the way up; each step has a rise of seven inches, and at the side next the wall aver- ages in breadth from twelve to thirteen inches, but tapers by necessity to- wards the balustrade until it is about six inches. With the steps so narrow at one part, a person running rapidly down them incurs great risk of falling." In other respects the building is secure. There are more outlets than in any other of equal size ; no fireplaces ; and there can be no explosion of gas, be- cause the building is lighted from the top and there is a large ventilator above it.
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