Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-10-03
From the New York Courier and Enquirer.
GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

DESTRUCTION OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE, THREE
CHURCHES, AND SEVERAL DwELLrsGs.-About
half past four o'clock on Monday afternoon, Odd
instant, our citizens were alarmed by the cry of fire,
which we found TO be caused by a dense smoke
seen rising from the roof Of the National Theatre,
at the corner of Leonard and Church streets. In a
few minutes every part of that beautiful ediice was
in flames, and so great was the heat that the roof
of the African Methodist Church. on the opposite
side OF Leonard street, was in a few minutes also
one sheet of FIRE. This building was with its con-
tents entirely consumed.
On the other side of the Theatre, the work of de-
struction was also in progress. Tie cupola of the
new French Episcopal Church of Saint Esprit, al
the corner Of Franklin street.-the handsomest bull
ding of its class in America-look FIRE, which soon
spread to the wood work of the interior, which was
also destroyed. The dsvouring element was not
yet stayed in its course. The wooden roof of the
Reformed Dutch Church in Franklin street took
fire, and the entire building was shortly a scene OF
destruction. Such a sSht 5 the conAagration at
this time presented has, perhaps, never before been
witnessed. A theatre and thee large churches in
a blaze at the same moment, and each not a stones
throw distant from each other.
The brick dwelling mouse adjoining the theatre,
No. az Leonard street, also took fire and was com
pletely consumed, and the two adjoining buildings,
Nos. 40 and 81, nearly destroyed. On Leonard
} street, next adjoining the African Church, the
dwelling house No. SIS was entirely, and frame
house No. 60 partially, destroyed
On Franklin street, besides the two churche:
above named, the large brick dwelling houses, Nos
SO, l0l, and 1903, caught fire on the roofs and COZ.
nices, and were slightly damaged, though, from the
taithfulness of their construction, they were saved
from ruin. There were also in the interior of The
block q number OF small buildings which we're con
sumed, and some twenty or thirty houses in variou,
! directions were more or less injured by their roof
, taking fire from the falling cinders.
/, The National Theatre was erected and opened
nine years since as an Italian Opera House, at
cost Of $4,000, the ground lot costing. besides
$4,000 At the time Of its destruction, it wa,
the joint property of Messrs. Mauran and Washing
. ton Coster. They were insured in London fo
: $4,000, and in three several Offices in this city fo
an aggregate of SIS, 900. The loss of properly t,
Mr. Wallack (the lessee is very great, and it il
more to be regretted as he had not a cent Of in.u
rance. His wardrobe alone was valued at $40,
600, and his total loss is estimated as high as S25,
000.1
The actors OF the company too, have suffered Sc
verely, and many of them have lost their entir,
I stock of wardrobe and properties. OF the stock o
; scenery, wardrobe, properties, &C., in the Thea
b, tire, but very few articles Of value we're saved, ex
Il cePt the books and papers in the Office, which wer,
t all fortunately ubinjured.
, The French Church was, as we have before sta
: ted, one of the most costly and beautiful edifces il
a the United States. TWAS commenced seven wear
n since, and has been completed some two years.
. /: is said to have cost over 5000 900. was built o
e white marble. and supposed to be entirely ~fre-proo
which, in fact, was the case, if we except som
r wooden ornaments about the dome, where the fir
first caught. The works of the splendid oreal
were entirely, and, we learn, safely removed,
, From the best information We could procure, III
o hire originated in the gas room, which is situated il
the northeast corner of the building, beneath tn
r stage. The gas-man, il appears, left a lighted can
n die in the room in which the gas was escaping, an,
. the door being closed, the consequence was, that a
explosion took place, and the fire was thus commu
e nicated TO the combustible materials around.