The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-07 00:00:00

/ ~,~

DESTRUOTION OF lirg MAJESTY'S

'THEATRE BY FIRE.

Another metropolitan theatre last iiignt succumbed
to that fate to which all theatres appear to be doomed—.
destruction by fire. At about fifteen minutes to eleven
o'clock the passengers in the Haymarket, Pall-mall, and
Regent-street were startled by an immense body of flames
darting out from the roof of Her Majesty's Theatre, and
it at once became apparent that the theatre was on fire.
The alarm spread in a moment in all directions, and a rush
was made for the stage-door in the Haymarket, when it,
was found that the hall-keeper was in entire ignorance
of any thing of an unusual occurrence having taken.
place. In less than ten minutes from the flames being
first discovered the whole body of the theatre was one
mass of fire, the roof being in flames from end to end.
The wind was blowing strong from the north-east, and
tht immense body of fire poured forth from the burning
theatre like a volcano, emitting a thick shower of fiery
flakes that completely covered the roadways and pave-
ments of the adjacent streets. It was past eleven o'clock
before any of the engines arrived at the scene, after which
they arrived in quick succession ; but the extent of the
fire, and the theatre being surrounded with houses on
every side, rendered it a matter of difficulty for the
firemen to decide at what point to begin operations.
By this time the flames had taken possession of the houses
on each side of the Opera Arcade and the houses in Pall
Mall, opposite the United Service Club, and at these
points the firemen, mounting the coloinade in front of the
houses, began to pour great bodies of water on to the
fire, but for some time, owing to the strength of the wind,
with little effect. At this time, half-past eleven, the
scene was impressively grand, the great height of the
theatre causing the flames to be visible at a long distance,
and by their light masses of people could be plainly seen,
completely blocking up the whole of the approaches to the
theatre, while every window, house-top, and available space
was also filled with spectators. The whole of the south
end of the theatre and arcade was soon a heap of burning
ruins, and the efforts of the firemen were directed to save,
if possible, the houses in Pall Mall, behind which the
theatre stood, and the back portions of which were already
on fire. These houses were built on a large scale, and were
occupied by Messrs. Ludlow, hatters ; Boucher, tobacco.
nist; Brooks, wine merchant; Egg, gunmakers, and Graves,
the eminent printseller and engraver. At this establish-
ment the extensive suite of rooms were filled with valuable
paintings, many of them full-length portraits, deposited
for safety with the proprietor. A body of men were set to
work to remove these paintings, and the majority of them
were taken in safety to the United Service Club. By
this time (one o'clock) the fire in the south portion of the
theatre had burnt itself out, and the firemen were enabled
to direct the whole of their efforts to the houses in Pall
Mall, and by this means the further spread of the fire in
that direction was prevented. Soon after one o'clock the
wind moderated, and an alarm was given that the flames
had taken hold of the northern portion of the theatre, in
which are situated the store rooms and other offices. This
was found to be the case, and a body of firemen were at
once detached to that part of the premises. Before, how-
ever, they could bring the hose into play, the place
was one body of fire, and the flames had caught
the back part of the Grand United Hotel, at the
corner of St. Alban's•street and the Haymarket.
After half an hour's unremitting exertion the flames were
stopped in that direction also, but this part of the theatre
was also destroyed, and nothing was now left standing of
the building but the bare walls and the colonnade in the
Haymarket, which was made use of by the firemen to
•play the hose on to the burning mass.
The supply of water seemed ample. The steam en-
gines threw volumes of water with tremendous force,
and where their jets fell they seemed to explode in clouds
of steam. Not so with the hand engines, which required
some thirty soldiers to work them, and the feeble dripple
from which was easily directed and governed by one man.
The exertions of the firemen were beyond all praise.
They climbed along parapets and copings at heights which
made one cold to look at them, dragging with them great
lengths of leather hose with which to play upon the
flames at any point that seemed of consequence, no matter
what the risk to the men themselves. In spite of flame
and smoke and a terrific storm of burning fragments, they
kept their places on the roof, their comrades below turning
now and then jets of water upon and around the men to
keep the spots cool on which they stood.
_ _

The scene at about twelve o'clock was one of terrible
grandeur. The roof of the theatre fell shortly before
amid a shower of sparks and burning fragments, leaving
a gigantic mass of white flame in the centre, the very heat
of which alone was charring up and burning building after
building around it. All the steam fire-engines were at
full work, and the monotonous thud of those worked by
hand were the only sounds which broke upon the hoarse
roaring of the crowd and the heavy flap of the great sheets
of flame, which seemed to jeopardise the existence of every
building near the place.
It has always been said that Her Majesty's Theatre was
so provided with large water tanks on the roof that any
like danger to the building from fire was impossible.
What these tanks were doing this morning it is impossible
to say ; but we can speak of one, at least, which, wnen
the flames reached it, burnt with a fierce flame like so
much straw. That there could have been any water in it
is impossible.
A most distressing scene took place in the Opera Arcade,
running at the back of the theatre. The occupants of
shops and houses in the Arcade had succeeded in getting
their goods and furniture out into the Arcade, but such
was the intense heat and the rapidity of the fire that they
were obliged to leave them there and make their own
escape, and in a very short time the whole length of the
Arcade was one mass of fire, every particle of the goods
and furniture being destroyed.
Such was the concourse of people assembled that the
police available were utterly unable to keep back the
crowds, and at twelve o'clock several strong detachments
of Foot Guards were marched down from the barracks in
the Birdcage-walk, and with fixed bayonets formed a most
effective cordon round the burning pile. At least half of
the troops were in full marching uniform, the rest in
undress flannel jackets, just as they had been turned out
of bed. With the assistance of this force the streets
leading to the theatre were then kept clear. Fortunately
there was no performance in the theatre, or there must have
been a great sacrifice of life, the audience portion of the
theatrebeing in flames within ten minutes of the fire being
discovered. No certain information could be obtained as to
how the fire originated, but it is thought to have arisen in
the carpenters' workshops. Nothing whatever was saved ;
the costly wardrobes, the valuable music, and the
orchestral instruments were all destroyed together, and
the amount of loss must be very great. It is to be
feared that the musical scores of many of the principal
operas have perished. Mr. Mapleson, the lessee of the
building, was upon the scene of the disaster before twelve
o'clock, but, as a matter of course, he could merely look on
with other spectators at the total destruction that was
overwhelming his property. Tidings of the catastrophe
were brought to him while he was entertaining some
friends. He saved only a few valuable papers from his
private office. The value of his interest in it is estimated
at £12,000, and unfortunately he had effected no insurance
upon the property. We believe that one was in course of
preparation, and that in a few days the policy would have
been signed. The building and valuable library, &c.,
belonging to Earl Dudley, were insured for £70,000, with
£20,000 in Consols as an additional insurance. His lord•
ship is therefore well secured. But the loss in valuable
scores, &c., is one that cannot be replaced, and the collec-
tion in many other respects was unique. Mr. Mapleson's
misfortune will be deeply sympathised with by the pub-
lie, who have long appreciated his labours in the cause of
the best music. He has for many years upheld the opera
in its old classic haunts, producing year after year new pieces
and fresh singers with an energy and a taste that will
be long remembered. By two o'clock the fire NeLs
got completely under, and all apprehension of its spread-
ing any further was at an end. In the confusion and ex-
citement which prevailed it was impossible to ascertain
any details, or the amount of damage done to the sur-
rounding buildings. Several of the engines were worked
by a detachment of Life Guards from Albany Barracks.

A variety of rumours are current as to the origin of the
nre. One is that at half-past ten o'clock, when the fire-
man attached to the establishment was going his rounds,
ho discovered, on examining the stage, that a fire had
broken out in the vicinity of one of the "wing," and that
it had been smouldering for some time. According to an-
other account the watchman had gone round, and finding
all right bad retired to bed. Other accounts attribute the
catastrophe to an explosion of gas.

It seems certain that the fire was first discovered on the
stage. Under this part of the building were immense
receptacles for the stowage of old scenery, properties,
&c., which were of necessity of a highly inflammable
character, and the flames seizing them caused the fire
to spread with the rapidity, literally speaking, of
lightning. Upon the roof of the building was an im-
mense tank of water, capable of discharging thirty tons'
weight of water per minute, and there were lengths
of leathern hose attached thereto, so that every part of
the theatre could be reached in case of a fire taking place ;
in fact, the appliances were so perfect that the direction
imagined that with proper care on the part of the firemen
and the water at hand the establishment was reasonably
safe. The fireman at once turned on the water, and every
hose was brought into requisition as soon as possible, but,
as will have been already seen, the inutility of all the pre-
cautions was unfortunately but too well shewn by the
lamentable result.
It is more than 160 years
since a Royal building was first
erected on this site for the performance of operas. Strange
to state, it has only been burnt-down once before—a rare
exemption in the case of theatres, whose natural death
seems fire. It was rebuilt and opened in 1791, and the
exterior colonnade and facades completed by Mr. Nash
in 1818.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
TRIUMPHANT AND BRILLIANT SUCCESS.
The carnival of Venice, at the conclusion of the first act, has
been unanimously pronounced by the press and the public to he
one of the grandest spectacular effects ever witnessed on the
stage.
THIS EVENING, her Majesty's servants will perform the new
Romantic Play, in 4 Acts, entitled THE DOGE OF VENICE,
adapted by Bayle Bernard from Lord Byron's Tragedy of " Marino
Faliero," with additions from the play of " Marino," by Casimer
de la Vigne, and Musically illustrated by Selections from the
Operas of "Marino," by Douizetti, and the "Duo Foscare" and
"Bravo" of Verdi and Mercadante, with New and Magnificent
Scenery by Mr. \Vm. Beverley. The music selected and arranged
by Mr. J. 11. Tully. The dances and pantomimic action devised
by Mr. J. Cortnack. The costumes and masks invented by Mr.
R. W. Keene. The play will be produced under the direction of
Mr. Edward Stirling. Principal characters by Mr. Phelps,
Messrs. J. C. Cowper, H. Sinclair, E. Phelps, Barrett, James
Johnstone, C. Warner, W. M•lntyre, C. Harcourt, Webb, F. More-
land, &c.; Mrs. Hermann Vezin, Miss Grattan, &c. Increased
orchestra and numerous chorus.

---
It To conclude with each evening THE LADIES' CLUB. Mes-
dames Beatrix Shirley, Kate Harfleur, Grattan, Hudspeth, L.
Wilmot, Mre. H. Vandenhoff; Messrs. J. Rouse, Barrett, Har-
court, &c.
Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7 o'clock.
Box-office open from 10 till 5 daily.

QUEEN'S THEATRE, Long-acre.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan.
THIS EVENING the performances will commence with (at 7
o'clock) HE'S A LUNATIC.
After which (by particular desire), the celebrated comedy, by
Tom Taylor, Esq., called STILL WATERS RUN DEEP. Prin-
cipal characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, W. H. Stephens, C.
Wyndham, W. M. Terrot, C. Seyton, Miss E. Terry, and Mrs.
Alfred Wigan.
To conclude with the Comic Drama of THE FIRST NIGHT.
Achille Talma Dufard (a French actor), Mr. Alfred Wigan.

NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE ROYAL.
Mr. and MRS. ALFRED WIGAN every Evening.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining.
THIS EVENING, THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr. Dion Bouci-
cault; Messrs. Dominick Murray, E. Atkins, G. F. Neville, J. G.
Shore, H. Mellon, Gresham; Miss Elsworthy, Miss E. Barnett,
Mrs. Addie, and Mrs. Dion Boucicault. The wild scenery of
Kerry and the Water Cave have been painted by Mr. F. Lloyds
and assistants.
The Drama preceded by A LITTLE FLIRTATION, and fol-
lowed by NO. 1, ROUND THE CORNER.
Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7.
N.B.—Due notice will be given of the nest representation of
ARRAN-NA-POGUE.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, THE WINNING CARD. Mr. Compton.
After which, BROTHER SAM. Messrs. Sothern, Buckstoue,
Compton, Johnstone, &c.; Mesdames Chippendale, Robertson,
Lewin, &c.
To conclude with MY WIFE'S MOTHER. Mr. Chippendale,
Mr. Howe; Mrs. Chippendale, &c.
Commence at Seven.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Fechter.
THIS EVENING, at 8, ROMEO AND JULIET. Romeo, Miss
Vestvali ; Mercutio, Mr. Walter Lacy ; Friar Laurence, Mr.
Ryder; Nurse, Mrs. Marston; Juliet, Miss Milly Palmer.
ri Preceded by, at 7, PERFECTION. Messrs. J. Neville, Dalton,
J. Francis, and Miss Maud Shelley.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, at 7, NOTHING TO NURSE. Mr. Thorne
and Miss Newton.
After which, a New Comedy, KIND TO A FAULT. Messrs.
Parsolle, Belford, and Turner; Mesdames Johnstone, Gwynn°,
and Hughes.
To conclude with Byron's WILLIAM TELL WITH A VEN-
GEANCE. Mesas. James and Fenton; Mesdames Holt and
Weithersby.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
New Management.
Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. H. Wigan.
THIS E VEN 'NO-, FROM GRAVE TO GAY. Messrs. li. Neville,
H. Wigan, Addison, and C. Mathews; Mesdames L. Moore and
Stirling.
Followed by IF I HAD A THOUSAND A YEAR. Messrs.
H. Wigan, Cooper, C. Mathews, and Farrell; Mesdames L. Moore
and Sr. Henry.
To conclude with MY WIFE'S BONNET. Messrs. 11. Souter,
H. Cooper, and T. U. Taylor; Mesdames L. Moore and E. Farren.
Commence at Seven.

TIIEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII.
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER.
Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon.
THIS EVENING, at 7, MAN IS NOT PERFECT, NOR
WOMAN NEITHER. Messrs. G. Belmore, J. G. Taylor, C. H.
Stephenson, Miss E. Pitt, and Mrs. Alfred Mellon.
After which, 40th time, MAUD'S PERIL. Messrs. Billington,
G. Belmore, Ashley, Eburne, C. J. Smith; Miss Herbert, Mrs.
Billington, Miss Emily Pitt.
To conclude with UP FOR THE CATTTLE SHOW. Messrs.
G. Belmore, Ashley, Miss E. Pitt, and Miss Harris.

HOLBORN TIIEATRE ROYAL.
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry.
MIS EVE,NLN G, at 7, the highly successful Drama of FOR
LOVE. Mesdames Stephens, Henrade, C. Saunders; Messrs.
Montague, Price, Widdicombe.
At 8, Burnand's new Burlesque, MARY TURNER; or, The
Wicious Willin and Wictorious \Virtue,. Mesdames Fanny
Josephs, Saunders, Wilmore, Clinton, &c.; Messrs. Robins, Mon-
tague, Garden, Wilmot. &c. Magnificent new scenery, dresses,
and appointments.
DOTE.—Seats may be secured a month in advance.
Box-office open from 10 till 5; and all Libraries.

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LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 7, 1867.

An inteeesting subject was referred to in the
House of Lords last night. Lord REDESDALE, as
chairman of committee, raised some objections to
the course which the Government were taking with
respect to the East London Museum Site Bill. He
said that they were endeavouring to hurry it on in
too inconsiderate a style, and with undue precipita-
tion. The uninformed among the public, who are
constantly urging upon the Government to do
this, that, or the other in the shape of
improvement, can little realise the delay
and doubts that hinder all progress. What
with form and precedent, and one thing and an-
other, the chief difficulties seem to begin when the
task has actually commenced. According to the
noble lord, who must be an authority on the sub-
ject, some of the parties interested in the matter
have not had due notice of the changes proposed.
The bill in question proposes to deal with certain
lands in Bethnal-green, which, under the deed
securing them to trustees, were to be kept for ever
free from building. It is true, as Lord REDES-
DALE says, that in densely-crowded portions
of the metropolis it is expedient that
some open spaces should be preserved, and
surely the present case is one which fully justifies a
partial departure from the rule ; but the chief ob-
jection seems to rest in the fact that due notice was
not given. The various stages of the bill were
hurried over in both llouses, but we think that this
shows the great unanimity that prevailed on the
subject, which shows the importance that was at-
tached to it.

Lord REDESDALE admitted that he had great
confidence in the present Government, but he did
not deem it advisable they should have unlimited
powers over land is the way thus proposed. The
Duke of MmanoßouGir made a very grave reply,
in the course of which he said if the noble lord
thought fit to delay this bill on his own responsi-
bility, to defer the progress of the bill, the Govern-
ment must bow to the rules of the House. The
noble duke expressed his regret that a valuable op-
portunity would be lost thereby, and he argued
with some force that he thought it was
" competent- for the Ministers of the Crown for the
time being to bold lands in the name of the Crown."
We consider it a matter of regret that time should
be lost, the more especially because at this time any
excitement would be better left alone for that part
of the metropolis ; and besides, as the Duke ob-
served, Lord REDESDALE seemed to object also in
point of policy. There is no real meaning in the
argument which the noble lord subsequently put
forward as to the inadvisability of having
a garden at the public expense for the parish
of Bethnal-green. The second speech of Lord
REDESDALE in some respects explained the first one,
because he appeared averse to the whole affair. He
said we have got at South Kensington a National
Museum, established and maintained at the public
expense, but why is another portion of the metro-
polis to have a museum and garden added ? The
taxpayers of Birmingham and Manchester
may say that they have as good a right
to have a similar establishment set up out of
the public purse. According to this theory there
would never have been a Museum at Kensington at
all, and as one thing must be done at a time such
objections are quite fallacious. The Duke of
MARLBOROUGH fully exculpated her MAJESTY'S
Government, so far as auy charge of carelessness or
undue assumption could have appeared to be
against them. He declared that they had very
carefully considered the question, and that the
duties with which the noble lord was entrusted
by that House were to see that bills were in proper
form, and that notice had been duly given ; but as
to the policy of the measure, and as to whether her
MAJESTY'S Government should be entrusted with a
particular scheme or not, " that was a matter for
Parliament to determine, and which did not rest
merely with the noble lord, who would not exercise
the powers entrusted to him merely to stop a public
measure because he did not think it desirable." We
hope that when the House reassembles in February
these resolutions and questions will be put aside,
and that the Government will not find itself any
further impeded by the restrictions which now arrest
their progress. It is always more to be regretted
when any hindrances are put in the way of improve-
ments in the poorer localities than iu those more
flourishing quarters of the metropolis which are well
able to take etre of themselves.

Last night the news of a terrible conflagration
spread rapidly through the west of London. Those I
who were at too great a distance to ascertain the
exact whereabouts of the fire were fully prepared by
the flames that shot up under the clear frost sky
and the glare that coloured the horizon for the
startling new which reached them this morning.
Her Majesty's Theatre has been totally destroyed,
and so rapid and uncontrollable was the work of
destruction that it is a matter of thankfulness and
congratulation that the destruction, great as it was,
was restricted to the building itself. Much damage
was necessarily done to the houses in the immediate
vicinity, and great was the alarm and anxiety of
their occupants. One of the first thoughts of the
lovers of art, on learning the terrible nature of the
fire, would be for the safety of Mr. GRAVES'S
beautiful collection of pictures. So great was the