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Burning of Covent-Garden Theatre, [London], 1856. Inquiry into the cause of the fire: 'John Drake Palmer, gasman, said he had the entire management of the gas-fittings of the theatre, and had fitted up the carpenter's shop with gas just previously to Christmas last. The whole arrangements for lighting the theatre were under the control of himself or his assistants. It was impossible, he thought, for the fire to have originated by reason of any escape of gas in the carpenter's shop. Mr. Henry Sloman, machinist and carpenter to the theatre during the last thirty years, was next examined. He said he could not account for the fire in any other way than from the escape of gas. He had noticed a great escape lately, and had begged...and called the attention of the firemen to the fact, and had said that if something was not done to remedy the evil he was almost certain the theatre would be burnt down'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.