The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-02-14 00:00:00

BURNING OF THE THEATRE ROYAL,

DUBLIN.

On Monday afternoon the Theatre Itoyal, Dublin, was
destroyed by fire. A day performance of the pantomime was
to have been given at two o'clock, and Mr. Gunn, the lessee,
had generously promised to give the proceeds of the day ;o
the fund for the relief of the poor of the city. The Duchess
of Marlborough had given her patronage to the entertain-
ment, and had promised to attend.—The Daily Telegraph
of Tuesday gave the following particulars of the sad occur-
rence—telegraphed by lts Dublin Correspondent on Monday
night :

"one of the gas lighters went into the Viceregal
box to light the gas, and, in doing so, the upholstery
took fire. In a few seconds the hangings were in a blaze
Mr. Hyland, acting manager, was present at the time,
and immediately shouted to have the drop curtain
raised, but, none of the attendants being present, the
curtain remained down. The hose of the theatre had
no effect on the flames, which extended with great
rapidity, and filled the whole theatre with smoke.
The city fire brigade was immediately sent for, but
before they could arrive, the fire had reached such
proportions that it was at once admitted to be hopeless
to save the building; in fact, so rapid was its course
that in a few minutes portions of the roof had fallen
in. Mr. Hyland, on finding himself almost suffocated
with the smoke inside, made his escape; and he states,
Mr. Egerton, the stage manager, remained after him,
and as there was tto appearance of that gentleman
outside for some time, it is feared he is lost amongst
the ruins.

"When the tidings of the catastrophe became known
throughout the city, the greatest excitement pre-
vailed; and thousands collected in the vicinity of
Hawkins-street. Rain continued to pour throughout,
but this did not prevent the people from watching the
conflagration. A large force of police was promptly
upon the scene, and, with a detachment of the 77th
Regiment, assisted in keeping order. The mili-
tary were under the command of Major-Gen-
eral Glyn, and the police under that of
Captain Talbot. It was soon apparent that the
efforts of the fire brigade, who were commanded
by Captain Ingram, were useless. A strong breeze
fanned the flames, which, when the roof fell in, shot
up to a great height. The brigade could only direct
their efforts to prevent the fire from spreading, and
in this they were assisted by volunteers from the
barracks. About two o'clock the principal part of
the roof fell in, bringing down a portion of the
wall into 'the street, and then the flames burst
out with renewed fury. The fall of the roof
laid open a full view of the interior of
the theatre, every portion of which was di-
tinctly seen in the bright glare, At this time
nearly all the available police, and large fatigue
parties from the 77th, 82nd, and 87th Regiments,
together with a party of cavalry, had arriv.ed, the 87th
and 77th bringing their barrack fire engines with them.
Major Briggs, of the 82nd Regiment, who was field
officer of the day, and who arrived about two o'clock,
directed the movements of the military. Major Briggs
Immediately despatched an orderly to the Castle to
acquaint thepLord Lieutenant of the occurrence. Ten
lines of hose—the entire number available—were
brought into use.

"A fire-escape was brought to the scene:of the disaster
with the first contingent of the brigade, and as appa-
rently there were no lives to save, it was employed in
hoisting hose and men on to the roofs of the surround.
ing buildings. Lieutenant Boyd was at an early
period severely hurt, while carrying a man on his
shoulder down the front staircase. Mr. Water.
field, son of Mr. Edwin Waterfield, Chief En-
gineer of the Alliance Gas Cbmpany, was en-
gaged in roolbeg-street endeavouring to cut off
the supply of gas there, when a considerable
portion of the parapet, together with about three or
four feet of the retaining wall, fell uplin him and
severely crushed his body, a breakage of one.of the legs
being a principal injury. A young man who occupied
apartments in the neighbourhood of the Viceregal box,
where the fire originated, had, with the members of his
family, a very narrow escape. He states that he
had been attending a rehearsal at the Gaiety
Theatre, and was on his way to the Royal
for the rehearsal there, when he was informed that
the theatre was in flames. He rushed immediately
to his room and entered, to find his wife lying
In a swoon, and his three children in imminent danger
of their lives. He rescued them by his own efforts,
the fire brigade not having arrived at the time. He
passed down through the theatre and crossed the
stage portion of which was at that time in flames, his
progress being considerably impeded by smoke. which
nundea no—. as every tonbirtp. Ms wile, being
herself quite helpless, was rescued with great difficulty.
He says that at that period several of the actresses
and others connected with the theatre were on the
premises but they succeeded in escaping before the
flames reached the dressing-room."

Her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough has ex-
pressed the deepest regret at the sad occurrence. The
Duke of Marlborough expressed his regret in the
following letter to Mr. Gunn :

The Castle, Dublin.

--
Dear Mr. Gunn,—His Grace the Lord-Lieutenant wishes
me to write and express to you his great regret at the sad
catastrophe that has befallen you to-day. Ms Grace is much
concerned at the melancholy death of Mr. Egerton and some
others who are reported to be lost. He farther wishes me
to say that he will be glad to subscribe to the fund which
will doubtless be raised for the assistance of the families of
the victims.—l remain, very faithfully yours,
.11.3ui3 M'CALMoNT, Capt. and A.D.C.

The Dublin Correspondent of The Times telegraphed on
Tuesday night :

"The scene of the fire was visited to-day by
crowds of people, who watched for hours the smonld-
ering mass. The interior of the house can be seen
through the charred and shattered windows in
Hawkins street, and presents in its chaos and
havoc a melancholy wreck, some outlines of the
circular tiers of boxes and galleries being traceable,
and the debris thrown into fantastic forms. It was
not until five o'clock this morning that the flames
were finally subdued. The fire-engines have been
playing with three hoses upon the ruins all day. It is
now ascertained that Mr. Egerton's was the only life
lost. He is believed to have over-balanced himself in
the excitement and hurry of the moment and to have
fallen into the orchestra. The two donkey-boys
and the scene-painter, who it was feared were
en the stage, are safe. An explosion of gas took
place during the fire, which caused the destruction of
one of the walls and fractured the leg of Mr. Water-
field, son of the engineer of the Alliance Gas Com-
pany, and injured Lieutenant Boyd, of the Fire
Brigade, and three bystanders. The injured men were
conveyed to Mercers Hospital, and are now doing
well. It was with great difficulty the gas supply was
cut off, and until that had been done great streaks of
gas flame could be seen at different parts of the build-
ing. One corner alone of the theatre has escaped de-
struction. This contained the office of Mr. Egerton,
the manager, and Mr. Guon's private office over it.
The latter contained a number of valuable oil paint-
have been saved."