Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-09-24

y.-.s.r .f,sr.oou. between the hours Of four
"a g.. o,rlock. smoke was seen issuing from the
interior Of the National Theatre, particularly from
~. lover windows Of the side on Leonard street.
One or two persons passing by gave the alarm Of
ere and in FIVE minutes the City Hall bell rang The
nort spread like wildfre through the city that the
National Theatre was on fire, and thousands focked
TO the spot .eaI asa.t. ssY
When we reached the theatre the flames were still
confined TO the rooms under the STAGE and were just
breaking through to the pit and orchestra The cry
then was that the fire broke out in the gas roam,
little dark room, under private box, letter A.
Others and ourselves among the number, are Of the
opinion that il breke oat farther back, but still
der the stage Be that may there is little doubt
that it was the work Of an incendiary.
The flames spread like wildfre; and, in few
minutes the stage was burnt through and the green
reom the wardrobe, and the scenery were mass
of flame At this moment, the interior Of the house
presented most brilliant appearance, and all the
new and splendid ornaments, just the of being
consumed, shining with such surprising brilancy,
gave il the appearance OF fairy palace. Unfortu-
nately the fire occurred at hour when nearly all
engaged in the theatre were at home; and hence ali
the valuable properties, dresses, books, music m
struments, sc. were destroyed.
X.
a short time previous, and there then no ere
in the house, and only Everard and his wife there
In the Of half hour the stage manager return
ed On finding that the door locked, and that ne
could not make Everard, the housekeeper, hear, he
next tried to get into the window Of his dressing
room. To his great surprise he found this fastened
He, hewever, succeeded by breaking pane of glass
and putting his hand in as TO raise the sash On
reaching the stage, he found the fire burning all
across the rear, and just then II got held OF the
scenery, and from thence to the body OF the house.
Finding that il would be useless attempting TO stop
the progress Of the ames he turned his attention to
saving some of the dresses, and particularly the
books from the treasury and other valuable effects
Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm Of all pre-
sent in their endeavor to save something from the
theatre. Mr. Rocket, Mr.. Toomer and others, rush.
ed into the theatre at the risk of their lives to snatch
articles from the flames, and acts OF heroism were
performed without parallel. The efforts Of the en-
sines were fruitless. The flames spread with such
astonishing rapidity defy all attempts to subdue
them In half an hour every part OF the house was
in flames The beautiful and extensive private ward
robe of Mr. Wallack, worth $4,000 (not to be
matched in any country was entirely consumed. 1t
was deposited in a small room next to his private
room up stairs. wallack himself was early on the
spot and rushed into the theatre At the risk OF his
ls to endeavor to articles OF great value
bu, too late. The expensive wardrobe of Mr. Van-
aenhof in the theatre, just inside the stage door,
hut mart of il was saved. Charles Kean's ward
robe was there, and only part Of that was saved.
be Besnis had removed enly two days before
vardrobs worth $1,000, but all his valuable music
operas, scores, &C., worth $4,000, were destroy
ed Seguin lost some music. The musicians
lest their instruments: one lost a Cremona fiddle
worth ESQ. Mitchell, Williams, Lambert, Mrs.
Seftos, and most Of the others lost great part OF
their wardrobes In short, rapid was the progress
of the Hames that little besides the iron chest and
the books were saved. The loss of Mr.. Wallack
alone is at least 900 in dresses, new properties,
&c &C. all paid for, and on which there was not
cent sfinsurance. The actors have lost $500. The
musicians have lost ninstruments 5000 And there
were lost in cas- notes. and bills in the Treasury
the time Of the fire s5e0e The theatre itself was
insured in the North American, the Hudson, and the
Firemen's Offices. This was the joint property Of
Mr. Moran and Mr.. Aymar. Ssch is the loss con-
nested with the theatre.
We have not time space to detail the appear
ance OF the fire as the -ooffell in which impos
ing in the extreme Mr.. Hamblin and Mr. Barry
were on the spot rendering every assistance in their
power to Mr.. Wallack, particularly Mr. Hamblin.
waIlack was sadly cut up As indeed he might well
b.. He has passed through two trying seasons. In
the first ne lost large sam; last season he paid of
many OF his engagement and this season had bright
prospect Of being rewarded for his immense exer-
tons and all his hopes thus dashed to the ground
at a blow; at leart for the present.
The flames caught simultaneously the roof Of the
African Methodist Church, corner Of Leonard and
Church streets, and the beautiful French Church,
corner oqChurch and Franklin streets These were
soen consumed. The fire then caught the Dutch Re-
formed Church in FRANKLIN street, and several houses
in the vicinity; some srog shops; some assignation
houses; some respectable dwellings; some schools,
and missionary houses. The strangest medley that
ever was destroyed in one burning. The exertions
II the fremen were tremendous, and after working
four hours they got the fire under with the following
loss:
National Theatre and properties $4,000
rrs,cb rh,reh 10000
Dutch Church, $1,000
Nsr,o r. orch :. $4,000
> .+A.F Houses. 21O01
3Dwsliing Houses, 10000