This terrible event has produced a very large number of
lettere in the papers from parents and old Etonians drawing attention to the awful risks of fire that exist at Eton in the older houses owing to the little winding wooden staircases, the narrow past sages, and the tinder-box woodwork, which has been in almost all cases installed with electric wires with strong currents. We have no desire to enter upon any attack on the authorities, and certainly not on the house-masters, who not only are doing their best., but have been overwhelmed with the com- plaints and suggestions of excited parents; but we hold that the principle should be admitted that in places occupied by active boys the window should be recognised as the proper way of escape in case of fire. Narrow passages with sharp turns, and 11111 of thick, blinding, suffocating smoke, are almost certain to prove death-traps if used as means of escape. But if the window is recognised as the proper exit in such an emergency, then each room should have a rope, or a ladder, or a canvas fire-escape such as is supplied by Messrs. Merryweather, by which its inmate can escape. He should also, by means of a weekly fire-drill, be taught to use it. In every house, too, or group of houses, a night-watchman should be on duty, and should patrol each passage every half-hour during the night. If this were done, no fire could go undis- covered.
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