True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1839-10-05
FROM The New York Courier Of September "a.
Dreadful COMMUNICATION.

=. From the New York Courier Of September "a.
,-. Dreadful COapllngr:stioil. : -' o.
TOTAL DIES FRICTION OF THE NATIONAL,
THEATRE, THREE CHURCHES, AND :
SEVERAL DWELLINGS. -
ABOUT halt.past o'clock yesterday afternoon
"''cn was found to be caused by dense column OF
HoNei seen rising from the roof of the National
hca're' ut the corner of Leonard and Church
s.rcets IN few minu cs every part Of that boau>
t''us cd'ilco was in flames, and so great was The
neat that the roof of the Atrcan Methodist Church.
on ''he opposite side OF Leonard street, was, in a
rev mputes, also one siicct Of fire. This building
was, with lis contents, entirely destroyed.
OL tEe other side of the theatre the work of
obstruction was, too, III progress. The cupoa Of
the new chcIi Episcopal Church Of st. Esprit
~ lhe corner Of franklin street, the handsomcst
building OF Its class in America, took fire, which
soon spread to tho wood work of the interior
winch was also destroyed. The devouring element
was not yet stayed in its course the wooden roof
"i the Reformed Dutch Church, in Franklin street
LOOK fre, and the entire building was shortly a
scene OF utter destruction. Such a sight as The
cohnasrat'on at this time resented has, perhaps,
never before been witnessed ia theatre and three
large churches IN blaze ut the same moment, and
euch not stones throw distant from cnci, other
The brick dwelling house adjoining the thcntrc
NO. IL Leonard street, also took fire. and was con,
Pletely consumed, and the two nd Joining buildings
NOS. AZ and 81, nearly destroyed On Ieonnrd
street, next adjoining the African church, the
d"eliins house No. 81 was entirely, and il frame
house, NO. 6O, partially DESTROYED
On Franklin street, besides the two churchos
above named, the three large brick dwelling houses
Nos. ~, l0l and l03, caug ut fire on the roofs and
coFh!ccs, anu were slightly damaged, though from
'ne lnllhluincss OF their constructions they wcrs
saved 1rola rum, There were also in the interior
OF inc block number of small bu ldngs, which
were consumed and some twenty or thirty, IN
various dircctIons were more or less unred Nv iii.
roofs taking fire from the falling cnlers,
he National Theatre was erected and oncnoa
nine years sice as ar Italian Opera House. Mt n
cost OF sSllO,OO0 the ground lot costing bes,,s
Soo,UOo. The Opera continued, for three Seasons
"ich tue house was Tor time closed, and in 1891
IL was opened as the National Theatre by Nnssr<
Flynn & Willard, who occupied i, for one .r,snn
when 1t WIS again closed. In the Fall of 1897
mr.. NaiAck became tho lessee, at a rent ct'
olu'ooo per ahhum (prevlous lie winch, however,
II mad been open for several months Under t)a
infringement OF Mr.. Hacke,tl, and in his hands i,
mas renamed to the present time. In the Sprny
VI 1000 the property was purchased Of the original
propr!etors by Messrs. Jas. ii. Hac tctt and O. Man
rim, E:q', for $4,000. Mr.. Hackelts share after.
Waros passed through two or three hands, and At
the Tune vi the destruction of the theatre it was the
JOINT property OF Mcssrs. Maurin t. Washington
coster. lhey were insured in London for S4O.OOO
una IN three several offices in this city for an
aSs,esase OF Sl3,OO0 The loss of property to
f'N ai!ach is very great, and it is the more to be
regretted as he had not Il cent of Insurance.
The actors of the company, too have sut}rod
scV rely and many OF them Lave lost their entire
STOCK OF wardrobe and properties OF the stock
oi scenery wardrobe, properties, &C., in the thea
uc' but very few articles Of value were saved
eAc'f' 'nt DOCKS ard papers in the office, which
were all fortunately secured uEjniurcd Mr. Chas
hean, who had just recovered from severe ;nes,
was 10 nave appeared again last evening. and the
slase MAD oec set for the first act Of Richard III
"hcn The fire broke out Mr. kean. vrs,ord,v
morning, sent the entire CT his valuable wordroha
10 the theatre, but from the fortunate situation in
which 1t was placed, VIC have reason IN helev, ,h.,
II was removed safety
The French Church was rs Wa how, hc
stated one OF the most costly and beautiful cdcos
III me United States. II was commenced s-ven
years sihce' and has been completed some two
years. IL Is sad to have cost upwards of 5000 OOn
was punt OF White marble, and supposed to be
o.'''o'y 'l'c'PEoo1-"hlch, in fact, was the Gaze
II we except some wooden ornaments ab,n, Tia
dome, where the fire first caught, Tho worLs ~
inc sple"dld organ were entirely, and. we l.orn
safely removed. wv 'oU'''
from me best information we could procure
The ire originated in the gas rouu which is s,,n
,''o" ~ inc northeast corner of the building.
oonea'h INC stage lho gas man, it appears, left
fhh
was escaping, and the door beng closed the con.
sequence was, llut an explosion took place. .nd
me ire was thus communicated TO the cvmbu.tihle
materials around.
However, us is usual on such OCCASION. , ronor,
soon spread among the multi.u de that tho ,r,,;,
OF the hrc was an lccndary, but the result, of err
iaquires leads us to believe tina, the cnn~n ,o
here assigned is the real one
Tho dwelllng>housos DESTROYED were com,,r,,
lively OF litto value, and mostly OCCUPIED nv mar
families, nearly all OF whom have lost all thar f,r
nlturc, clothing, &c. The amount of insurance nr
II any was effected upon tho churches or lho bniLl
hgs destroyed, we were unable to learn. The
'h'irc apparatus OF tho Fire Department was in n
most "retched, dlapldated condition. and notwrI, |
standing the 1ircmcn cxerted tn. nsolv.s ~, H. |
l,lnost their efforts were, in eonscourncn In, af
nile avail.
l ne cohs'abu!ary force of the city, who are re- |
lnired by law to attend all fires wore nm the ,ros
INT occaslon most of thcm as is to often the p, s.,
Ut latc-Inssng The consequences was that n |
great many articles Of value were stolen and car
led oil by the thieves and loaiers, who were MT
css numerous than usual.
Tho journal of Commerce, of Tucsdav of1ors |
noon, has the following in reference to the losses
ne hFe yesterday afternoon was more deslruc
i've man any previous fire in this city for some
months. we have ascertaincd that insurance had
'oon etccted IN this city on The property DESTROYED
y az "aSt 'he following amounts, most or all of
which will he tota! loss
IN the Theatre, in six Offices so7 500
IN inc French Church, in four Offices %, OuO
IN 'iic Dutch Church, in ono Office 5000
do Lecture Room, do do 25OJ |
~ INC African Church, in two Offices 5000 |
," u"c''''s mouse, 1900 |
$4,000
q i,1 S.s