The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-14 00:00:00

HIE - SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVEMNG, JANUARY 14, 1865

Total Destruction of the Theatre Royal,
Edinburgh, by Fire.

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

EDINBURGH, Friday Evening, 11 o'Clock.

A terrible calamity has this evening occurred in
Edinburgh—about 4 o'clock the Theatre Royal took
fire, and within two hours was utterly destroyed.
From what is known it appears that the gasman

in lighting the gas on the stage, previous to the
evening performance, by some accident the

" borders," viz., the hanging draperies across
the stage accidentally took fire. The mate-
rial being of a highly inflammable nature,
in a few minutes the whole of the upper
part of the theatre above the stage was in a blaze,
and all attempts to extinguish it utterly useless.
The fire spread with fearful rapidity ; and in a few
moments after the first accident occurred, the
flames burst through the roof of the
theatre to the great alarm of the whole of the
city. The cry of " Fire ! fiire ! " at the top of
Leith-walk, had the effect of very speedily bring-
ing the fire-engines to the blazing building. but
by this time all hope of saving any portion of it
was at an end, as the edifice was one mass of flame
from front to rear.

In a few minutes after the outbreak of the fire,

the roof fell, and for an instant the glare of the fire
deadened, but the next instant the flames rose to an
alarming height, causing the utmost terror to the
whole of the inhabitants of that part of the city near
the theatre. Another cause of fear was created by
the immense concourse of people collected at every
point at which a view of the terrific conflagration
could be had. The police exerted themselves to the
utmost to prevent accidents, but unfortunately
without success.

The embers caught several houses in the district,
but they were saved by the exertions of the firemen.

About 5 o'clock two men were struck down in the
cloister abutting St. Mary's Catholic Churchly the
fall of a chimney through the cupola. One was
killed on the spot, but the other survived some time ;
and while a body of men were, notwithstanding
warnings to the contrary, engaged in their endea-
vour to rescue him, a large portion of the north wall
of the theatre fell and overwhelmed seven or eight
persons in the ruins, including Mr. George Lorimer,
Dean of Guild.

The exact loss of life has not yet been ascertained,
and workmen are still engaged in the extrication of
the bodies.

Mr. Windham, the lessee of the theatre, was in
London at the time of the news of the outbreak of
the fire and the entixe destruction of the theatre,
and a message was at once forwarded to him by
telegraph.
The loss of life is most unfortunate and deeply to be
deplored. Mr. Windham's property within the
theatre is fully insured, and so are also the trustees
of the building.

POLICE INTELLIGENCES—This Dap•

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

SYSTEMATIC ROBBERIES AT THE APPOLONICON Rooms.—
Thomas Leigh Barnard, a respectably-dressed young man,
who gave the address 131, Regent-street, and described
himself as an assistant photographer, was charged before
Mr. Knox, with the following robberies : _ _

Charles Butcher, 137 C, said—Yesterday evening, at half-
past six o'clock, I went to 101, St. Martin's-lane, the Appo-
lonicon Rooms, where gymnastics are carried on and volun-
teers meet. I went into a back room used as a dressing-
room, where the young men hung up their coats. I con-
cealed myself behind some boxes, and at a little after
eight o'clock the prisoner entered the room. Shortly
after several young men came into the room and took off
their coats, &c., and hung them up. I then saw the pri-
soner, when the room was clear, go up to the coats and feel
the pockets outside. I then saw him go up to a coat, put
his hand into the pocket, and take out a purse. He then
took the money out of the purse—two or three half crowns
—and put the money into his own pocket and the purse
back into the pocket of the coat. The prisoner then left
the room for a short time, and went into the large room
where the performances.were going on, and about half an
hour after returned to the room. He then went up to the
coats again, and felt the pockets the same as before.
He then put his hand into the pocket of a coat,
and took out a purse and took some silver money
from it, but a person coming into the room, he put
both purse and money into his pocket. The prisoner then
put on his hat and coat and left the room. I remained
there for some time, and the gentleman managing the rooms
coming in I made a communication to him, and, on the
young gentleman coming into the room, they missed the
money from their pockets. I then left the place where I
had been secreted, and found that the prisoner had left the
building. I then told the young gentleman who had been
robbed to go to Vine-street, and I went to 131, Regent-street,
and asked if the prisoner had come in, and was told by the
servant that he had not. I then waited a few minutes and
saw the prisoner come up. I then 4iollowed him into
the house and told him I was a police officer, and that
I was going to take him into custody for stealing money
from coat pockets at 101, St. Martin's-lane. The prisoner
said he knew nothing of the matter, and he had no money ;
but on taking him to Vine-street I found four half-crowns
in his possession, and he subsequently said he had thrown
away the purse. On the way to the court that morning the
prisoner said it was a very clear case, and he could not
attempt to deny it. He also asked me what he had better
do, but I told him I could not advise him.
Mr. Knox—He is a member of the rooms ? _
Butcher—Yes, sir.

Mr. Henry Wm. Hemsley, of 34, Newman-street, Oxford-
street, and Mr. Henry Brook, of 55, Gray's-inn-road, proved
missing from their pockets money.
Mr. Spencer, the manager of the Appolonicon Rooms,
said within the past six weeks, during which time the
prisoner has been a frequenter of fhb rooms, property
to the amount of 601. has been taken away, and in conse-
quence, for the protection of the members, the officer was
employed to detect the thief.
Mr. Knox—lt is a serious case. I think the best thing
I can do will be to remand the prisoner till Thursday next,
and probably by that time the officer—the robberies being
of a serious nature—may find out something else.
The prisoner was remanded.

MARKETS—This Day.

MARK-LANE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES.—Wheat, 38s 2d ; barley,
278 10d ; oats, 19s 3d ; rye, —s to —s ; beans, —8 —d ;
peas, —s —d.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 63,806 ;
barley, 64,062 ; oats, 7,941 ; rye, —s to —s.

Metropolitan Board of Works.

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Metropolitan Board
of Works took place yesterday, at their offices, Spring-
gardens-Mr. John Thwaites in the chair.
The cash statement showed that the balances in the
hands of the treasurer were-on current accounts, 22,8181.
14s. sd. ; on deposit accounts, 110,800/. ; and on govern-
ment securities, 51,371/. 10s. I 0 d.
Mr. RICHARDSON moved that the annual report up to
July, 1864, should be printed, and copies sent to the Sec-
retary of State of the Home Department, to the General
Board of Health, to the Lord Mayor, to the vestries of the
metropolis, and to the members of the Board.
Mr. COLLINSON seconded the motion, and it was then
duly approved.
Mr. RICHARDSON brought up a report from the Finance
Committee apportioning the sums to be assessed upon the
different districts of the metropolis for the expenses of the
board for the year 1865. Ile moved that precepts be issued
for the following amounts :-City of London, 11,122/. 7s. ;
St. Marylebone, 10,006/. 19s. 4d. ; St. Pancras, 8,595/. 2s.
10d. ; Lambeth, 8,877/. 2s. 10d. ; St. George's, Hanover-
square, 10,121/. 16s. ; Islington, 6,8651. 10s. Bd. ; Shore=
ditch, 3,446/. 14s. 2d. ; Paddington, 6,7221. 10s. Id. ; St.
Matthew, Bethnal-green, 1,916/. 3s. 4d. ; Newington,
3,383/. 19s. 10d. ; Camberwell, 3,627/. 2s. Bd. ; St.
James, Westminster, 4,325/. 3s. 4d. ; Clerkenwell,
2,228/. 14s. 6d.; Chelsea, 2,749/. 18s. 6d. ; Kensing-
ton, 4,6181. 3s. Bd. ; St. Luke's, Middlesex, 1,711/
ls. Bd. ; St. George, Southwark, 2,126/. 3s. 4d. ; Ber-
mondsey, 2,211/. 2s. sd. ; St. George's-in-the East, 2,053/
15s. 10d. ; St. Martin's in the Fields, 2,4381. 12s. 3d.
Mile-end Old Town, 2,056/. 19s. ; Woolwich, 681/. Os. 6d.
Ealing, 56/. 3s. 3d. ; extra parochial, 20/. 13s. Bd.
Hornsey, 18/. Os. 2d. ; Chiswick, 354/. 4s. 7d.
Rotherhithe, 1,161/. 13s. 7d. ; Hampstead, 1,313/. 13s. sd.
Westminster district, 3,1651. 7s. 11d.; Whitechapel,
2,954/. Bs. 3d. ; Greenwich, 3,971/. ls. sd. ; Wandsworth,
4,578/. 9s. Bd. ; Hackney, 3,744/. 15s. 9d. ; St. Giles,
2,6171. 3s. 9d. ; Holborn, 1,8611. 3s. 11d.; Strand, 2,628/.
14s. 11d. ; Fulham, 2,763/. Bs. 10d. ; Limehouse, 2,3751.
13s. 4d. ; Poplar, 3,085/. 13s. 4d. ; St. Saviour's, 2,544/. 9s.
4d. ;- Plumstead, 1,661/. 3s. 9d. ; Lewisham, 3,0481.95. 7d. ;
St. Olave, 1,628/. 14s. ; the Charterhouse, 18/. 2s. 10d. ;
Gray's-inn, 124/. Bd. ; Willesden, 251 12s. 4d. ; Acton, 2021.
lls. 11d. ; Croydon, 43/. 12s. Bd. ; Richmond, 173/.175. 9d.
Total, 141,001/. Gs. 4d. He moved that precepts be issued
for these amounts, and that copies of them be sent to her
Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department, the
President of the Poor-law Board, the General Board of
Health, the Lord Mayor, the district boards, and every
member of this board. - • .

Mr. DIFFANGER seconded the motion, which was put and
unanimously carried.
The Finance Committee having agreed to the report of
the proceedings of the board for the last year, it was brought
up and ordered to be printed and circulated.

LORD ROBERT MONTAGU'S COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD.

A report was brought up from the Main Drainage Com-
mittee on the evidence given before Lord Robt. Montagu's
committee, and on the statements made in the public ves-
tries relating thereto. This report formed a thick pamphlet,
and was a voluminous vindication of the course taken by
the board with respect to the main. drainage and Thames
Embankment contracts.
Considerable discussion took place on the motion for the
adoption of the report, and ultimately the subject was
adjourned.
Mr. DOULTON, M.P., moved that a copy of the bill for the
enclosure of Wimbledon-common be forwarded to each
member of the board, and said, on a future day, he should
call the attention of the board to its provisions. The motion
was put and agreed to.
Some routine matters were then disposed of, and the
board adjourned.