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

THE '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 themselve sto 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 Church by 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 entire destruction of the theatre,
and a message was at once forwarded to him by
telegraph.
The loss of lifeis most unfortunate and deeply tobe
deplored. Mr. Windham's property within the
theatre is fully insured, and so are also the trustees
of the building.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARKETS—This Day,

MARK-LANE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES.—Wheat, 38s 2d ; barley,
27s 10d ; oats, 19s 3d ; rye, —s to —s ; beans, —s —d ;
peas, —s —d.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEER.—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. Iod.

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.

iir.nICHARDSON 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. He moved that precepts be issued
for the following amounts :-City of London, 11,1221.75. ;
St. Marylebone, 10,0061. 19s. 4d. ; St. Pancras, 8,5951. 2s.
10d.; Lambeth, 8,8771. 2s. 10d.; St. George's, Hanover-
square, 10,1211. 16s. ; Islington, 6,8651. 10s. Bd. ; Shore-
ditch, 3,4461. 14s. 2d. ; Paddington, 6,7221. 10s. ld.; St.
Matthew, Bethnal-green, 1,9161. 3s. 4d. ; Newington,
3,3831. 19s. 10d. ; Camberwell, 3,6271. 2s. Bd. ; St.
James, Westminster, 4,3251. 3s. 4d. ; Clerkenwell,
2,2281. 14s. 6d.; Chelsea, 2,7491. 18s. 6d. ; Kensing-
ton, 4,6181. 38. Bd. ; St. Luke's, Middlesex, 1,7111
ls. Bd. ; St. George, Southwark, 2,1261. 3s. 4d. ; Ber-
mondsey, 2,2111. 2s. sd. ; St. George's-in-the East, 2,0531
15s. 10d. ; St. Martin's in the Fields, 2,4381. 12s. 3d.
Mile-end Old Town, 2,0561. 19s. ; Woolwich, 681/. Os. 6d.
Ealing, 561. 3s. 3d. ; extra parochial, 201. 13s. Bd.
Hornsey, 181. Os. 2d. ; Chiswick, 354/. 4s. 7d.
Rotherhithe, 1,1611. 13s. 7d. ; Hampstead, 1,3131. 13s. sd. ,
Westminster district, 3,165/. 7s. 11d.; Whitechapel,
2,9541. Bs. 3d. ; Greenwich, 3,9711. ls. sd. ; Wandsworth,
4,578/. 9s. Bd. ; Hackney, 3,744/. 15s. 9d. ; St. Giles,
2,6171. 3s. 9d.; Holborn, 1,8611. 3s. 11d. ; Strand, 2,6281.
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, 3,048/. 9s. 7d. ;
St. Olave, 1,628/. 145.; the Charterhouse, 18/. 2s. 10d.;
Gray's-inn, 124/. Bd. ; Willesden, 25/.125. 4d. ; Acton, 2021.
lls. 11d.; Croydon, 431. 12s. Bd. ; Richmond, 173/.175. 9d.
Total, 141,001/. 6s. 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. DIFFAN(3ER 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.