The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-30 00:00:00

MINORITY-NOES, 4S.

Aglionby, H. A. Dundas, Admiral Lascelles, W. S.
Anson, Colonel Ebringtort;Lord M`Gregor, John
Armstrong, R. B. Elliot, John Mullings, J. R.
Bagshaw, John Evans, William Palmerston, Via.
Baines, :NI. T. Foley, J. 11. Eapkacl, Alexander
Baring, H. B. Fordyce, A. D. Rumbold, C. E.
Baring, Sir F. T. Goulburn, Henry Russell, Lord J.
Bass, M. T. Harcourt, Cl. Shell, R. L.
Bellew, R. M. Hawes, Benjamin Somerville, Sir W,
Berkeley, 11. F. Hay, Lord J. Thornely, T.
Berkeley, C. L. Ilayter, W. G. Verney, Sir H.
Boldcro, Henry Iley-worth, L. Ward, H. Cl.
Boyd, John Ilindley, Charles Wilson, James
Brocklehurst, John Howard, Lord E. Wood, Sir Charles
Brotherton, J. Howard, Sir H. TELLERS.
Craig, W. G. Humphery, Ald. Parker, John
_ .

Cubiti, .
Labouchere, henry Rich, Henry

GENERAL TiIEATAICAL FUND DINNER.—The di- I
rectors of this society (Messrs. Worrell, Hughes, Saville,
and Brewster) met yesterday at the London Tavern,
when Mr. Cullenfiprd, the secretary, stated, that in con-
sequence of the serious illness of the mother of Mr.
Charles Kean, the proposed chairman of the anniversary
dinner, who intended to honour it with his presence, it
was rendered necessary to postpone the meeting from
Wednesday next to some future day.

At the time we are writing (six o'clock), a most
terrific conflagration is raging at this favourite theatre.
The flames_ and smoke issuing from the building are
tremendous, and can be seen from all parts of the me-
tropolis. It is impossible to ascertain any authentic- in-
formation, owing to the consternation at present pre-
vailing.

There does'not appear to be the slightest hope of
saving any. part of the building. Engines are continually
arriving, and there is -a copious supply of water.
Fears are entertained for the houses adjoining.
Great-effurts are being made to save some part of the
wardrobe, which since the present lessee has held the
theatre has become very valuable: it is being thrown
.from the windows at the back part of the theatre in
Craven-buildings.
•

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Yesterday afternoon, the inhabitants of the surround-
ing neighbourhood were thrown into a state of the
utmost consternation from the breaking out of a fire,
which, before it was subdued, rendered the once cele-
brated Olympic a mass of ruins. Of the building only
a portion of the walls and the portico in Drury-lane,
which used to lead to the box and pit entrances, are
standing. The first information which the inhabitants of
the adjoining houses and the passers by bad of the ca.
lamity, was from the several persons connected with the
theatre iushing into the streets and calling out fire, and
almost immediately after the flames and smoke were to
be seen pouring out in all directions. Within five minutes
after the first alarm bad been given the engines from the
parish church, followed by those from Chandos•street,
West of England, the Waterloo-road, the Farringdon
and Watling-street stations arrived, and these were suc-
ceeded by those belonging to the more distant stations;
yet with this powerful aid, coupled with a plentiful
supply of water, and assisted by a large and powerful
body of police, under the direction of Mr. Superintendent
Pearce and Insp(ctor Ward, of the F division, the ex-
ertions were unavailing, and the Olympic is totally
destroyed..

The. followieg authentic particulars connected with
this calamity have been obtained from Mr. David-
eson, the lessee in conjunction with Captain; Spicer.
Mr. Davidson informed the renorter that he had been at
the theatre during the whole day, making the necessary
preparations for the production of the several pieces
which were to be produced that evening for the benefit
of Mr. Bender, it being the last night but one of the
season. At ten minutes past five o'clock he left the
theatre for his chambers, at which time the house was in
perfect safety. In less than half an hour he returned to
witness the destruction of his property (ono of the per-
sons connected with the theatre coming with the intel-
ligence of the cslsrnity to him in a cab), and from the
information which he obtained from the several parties
in the building at the time of the accident, the follow-
ing is the origin of the fire:—The drop-curtain on the
the stage, as all the frequenters of the theatre are
aware, was of green velvet, but, from being very old,
it was lined with common cotton. The curtain, in-
stead of drawing up, divided in the centre,
and was drawn to the sides. On that side next
to the right from the entrance to the boxes and pit
was situate the prompter's box, and here a gas-light
was located, over which was invariably placed a tin
shade to prevent any accident. Last evening, the per-
son whose duty it was to attend to the gas was absent,
and the party who lighted the prompter's lamp forgot to
place the tin shade over it; the light of the gas thus
came in contact with the curtain, and in an instant all
was in flames. The carpenters and those on the stage
declare that the fire ran up as if it had caught a train
of gunpowder; for some seconds they were stupified,
but as soon as they recovered their self-possession they
ran to the top of the flies with an intention of cutting
the suppovers of the curtain away. While this was
being done Mr. Stirling, the stage manager, and the
treasurer, had filled what buckets they could with water,
hoping that when the curtain fell they should be able, if
not to extinguish, to at least prevent the flames from
extending until help was obtained, and thus save the
building and property. The carpenters, however, came
running down, declaring "that all hope was lost, for the
flame! had caught the various inflammable matters, such
as turpentine, &c., so as to render it impossible to save
the building from total destruction. This opinion, un-
fortunately, was too well founded, as within an hour the
whole was one mass of flames, ton ering up like a pyra-
mid, and, though still day-light, showing to a consider-
able distance.

It is to be regretted that Mr. Davidson is not insured.
That gentleman and Captain Spicer took the house about
eighteen months ago, and, singular as it may appear,
on insurance was to have been effected to-morrow. Mr.
Davidson having come to an agreement with Mr. Farrell
and Mrs. Nesbit to let the house for the summer season,
they were to take possession in a few days. The loss
sustained by the present lessees is about 2,0001.
The house was originally built by Philip Astley for
equestrian performances. George 111. not only assisted
Astley pecuniarily, but gave him the timber of a cap.
tured French seventy. four, of which the whole of the
interiv of the theatre was composed, the masts being
used as the supporters. The ground on which it stood
bel.,ngs to the Eon of Craven; but the owner of the late
theatre was Mr. Cavell, a descendant of old Astley by
marriage, and that gentleman's loss is covered by an
insurance in the County Fire-office for 3,000 L
'lndependently of the above loss, from 15 to 20 persons
have suffered mot., for less by the calamity, most of whom
are in bumble circumstances, but from the confusion
which prevailed it was impossible ,to obtain anything
like a correct account. The greatest sufferer is under-
stood to be the landlord of the Fountain, the corner of
Maypole-alley, which nearly abutted on the theatre.
The inhabitants in Craven-buildings brought out their
goods, and sustained in this way much greater damage
than if they had actually remained in their various
rooms.

By nine o'cicck all danger had ceased; and although
there could not not have been at ono time lass than
from 10,000 to 15,090 persons about the vicinity; yet,
owing to the admirable arrangements of the police, it
was understcod no accident occurred.

The brigade engines were under the direction of Mr.
Braidwood; the West of England under Mr. Connorton

(LATEST PARTICULARS.)
Durirg the whole of the night, and up to this day,
four powerful engines have been constantly throwing
streams of water on the smoking ruins. It appears that,
iith the exception of the theatre itself, no other building
has been totally consumed, and, very different to the
cases of the Royalty and Asti( y's, but little in this me-
lancholy instance is insured.

Several of the houses damaged in the under-mentioned
list are the property of the Crown. The following aro
the numea of the occupiers, an official return of which
was obtained this day:—

WYCE-STREET.

The Royal Olympic Theatre, proprietors C. Davison,
Esq., and Captain Spicer, the whole contents destroyed
—not insured. _ _ _

No. 3. Mr. Dingley, loan-office, the back front of
house, roof, and skylsht damaged by fire and water--
not insured.

No. 4. Mr. J. Bean, King of Prussia public-house,
back of building damaged by fire and water—insured in
the Sun Fire-office.

No. 5. Mrs. Giles, baker, damage to contents by fire
and water, removal of furniture, &c.—not insured.
No. 6. This house is let out in tenements, contents of
every fl )or damaged by water, fire, and removal—not
one of the parties insured.

CRAVEN BUILDINGS.
No. 10. Mr. Gilbert, machinest, contents damaged
by fire and water, building also, and workshops at the
back of the premises—not insured.
No. 11. Mr. Eden, compositor, similar damage to
contents, back windows burnt out—net insured.
No. 12. Mr. Nutt, bookbinder, second and third
floors used as workshops, burnt out, roof, &0., damaged
by fire and water—no portion insured.
No. 13. Mr. Davidson (lessee of the Royal Olympic
Theatre), the entire roof destroyed, and every floor of
the building damaged by fire and water, furniture
damaged by hasty removal, &c. &c.—not insured.
No. 15. Mr. Sanito, let out to lodgers, second and
third floors burnt out, the roof destroyed, rest of
building damaged by fire and water. Mrs. Savage, like
damage to part of furniture and hasty removal. Insured
in the Phoenix Fire-office.
No. 15. This house let out to lodgers, building only
insured in the Phoenix Fire-office ; the back front
scorched, glass broken, and furniture damaged by re-
moval.
No. 16. Mr. Belcher, builder, back of house damaged
by fire, as also furniture by removal—not insured.
NEWCASTLE-STREET.

No. 8. Mr. Walker, scale maker, back of house
scorched by fire, glass broken, and damage to contents
—not insured.
Ne. 9. Unoccupied. Similar damage by fire and water
to third-floor back front.

No. 10. Mr. Moss, Pavilion public-house, third-floor
back burned out, lower floors slightly, and contents
damaged by fire and water—insured in the Licensed
Victuallers' Company.
No. 11. Messrs. Mumford, corn chandlers, back win-
dows burnt out, and damage to the building by fire and
water • believed to be insured in the Sun Fire-office.

No: 12. This house let to families; back of building
scorched, window frames, glass broken, and damage to
the various floors by water—not insured.
No. 13. Mr. Foyle, engineer, like damage ; Mrs.
Simonds, furniture, Sc., damaged by removal, 84C.—in..
sured in the Sun Fire.office. Mr. Little, printer, work-
shops at the back greatly damaged, window-frames
burnt, and other damage—insured in the Hand-in-hand
Company.
Number of brigade engines present 16
West of England Company's engine
St. Mary-le-Strand ...
•••
St. Clement Danes
..• 1
Messrs. Combe and Delafield
•••

Total 20
There were also on the ground about 300 of the metro-
politan and City police, 200 auxiliaries at the various
engines, and the full complement of firemen. There
was an abundant supply of water from the New River
Company's mains.

Lord and Lady John Russell received at dinner on
Wednesday evening, at the noble Premier's mansion in
Chesham-place, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Earl and
Countess Grey, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere,
Lord Seymour, M. Guizot, Mr. Campbell of Islay, and
Mr. Mills.
We are happy to state that the Hon. Charles Ewen
Law, my., who had been seriously indisposed, is much
better. The Hon. and Learned ,Gentleman bee beou
otoyivg at Torquay during the mum wtok.