The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-09-23


the stirring, and many of the sleeping population, of
our cy,were aroused with the alarm of fire, which
was said to have broken out at Niblo's Garden
Such report was calculated to cause great ex-
element, and being followed by blaze and smoke
that to the very heavens such mass as pressed
forward to the supposed pointiof confagration,
through every avenue, and particularly up Broadway
was rarely seen in our city at an alarm Of fire
"What pity" says one-"pm sorry for Niblo.'
says another-"he's id clever fellow" says
third-"and has done as much as my other man to
keep upa correct theatrical TASTE" says fourth
call the theatres should give him benefit, at
once" says a Jeremy Diddler, who was de-
sirous of being placed on the committee of ar
rangements in order to obtain free admission for
the night and supper at the settlement of accounts
How frightened the audience must have been,',
says timid old bachelor "wonder if any body
was killed, or any children burned to DEATH or any
crushed to pieces" says an accident maker; show
did it catch fire." inquiries OF the Madame Paul
pry's of the ton, "whet screaming, and screach-
ing, and hallowing, and bawling there must have
been among the children, and what show of neat
ANGLES and white stockings among the ladies as
they tumbled out" says an old fussy who always
seats himself in an orchestra box on the night OF a
ballet opera Thus went the chat around as the
dense crowd forced itself towards the point Of al
traction with that speed that propels locomoton
on such important occasions. AS we neared the
scene the flames and smoke rolled in clouds towards
the zenith, which too plainly brought the conclusion
that the scenic properties, the gaudy robes and the
brilliant paraphernalia that had so oft been the theme
of admiration, was now the food for the devOuring
element. As flash went up, thought we, "there
perhaps is the last of the gauze.llke and beautiful
habiiments of the tasty Ravels, who have been
burned out before, and whose elegant performances
we shall thus be deprived from seeing for another
year, at least, and the opera, the charming Italian
opera, is thus closed in an instant" "But," we
though, again, "the season is nearly closed,
and Niblo can now erect a magnificent es-
Enlistment and during the winter season change
the character of entertainment by introduce
ducing splendid and brilliant feats of horsemanship,
such as caused the Cookies to carry the fashion OF
the town in their train few years since" These
Elections hastily passed through our mind until we
reached the very scene of excitement But the
inside OF the Garden presented scene more In
terestiDg and awful than the rush and hurrying to-
gether of tine multitude abroad. The high priestess
Norma-Signora Corsini-had saved from the sacr.
fetal dagger, Polloin-SigHor Antognini-the Ro.
man Pro-Consul, and was in the act of delivering
the unstained weapon to Oroveso-Signor Valtelina
the chiefof the Gauls-when cry from the gal
lery was heard "save yourse lves-look to your
lives" The shout was heard above the crash
ofthe orchestra and the chorus of the Roman SOL
dlery on the stage-a pause-the prima donna cast
ing one glance towards the gallery cast the dagger
T.nv, ko,I onl al al. I'll i
by the virgins of the temple in attendance. rush
"a cry-and we saw the mass pressing too and fro
like the waters of suddenly agitated sea- At this
critical moment, Mr.. Niblo himself appeared
on the sage,a and in voice of commanding
power, requested the audience to be calm
The danger was at distance, but louder was the
cry Of the aarmists, who, regardless of all save
themselves, rushed for the doors, crying loudly
g fire fire"' " the theatre is on fire." Amid the
din, ithe voices OF the officers in attendance, and
the more stout-hearted Of the audience, could be
heard admonishing the ladies and the rushing
crowds tokeep quiet, and all would yet be we'll But
who could etay the mass On they rushed over
Benches into the orchestra The STAGE and through
the wings into the garden. One lady having gained
the STAGE after upsetting Signor Ciofii, and making
step ladder OF his PROSTATE body fell faInting into
the arms of Oroveso. Another lady, IN endeavoring
to climb the orchestra, grasped the futist by the
face, but the spectacles giving way, she fell back
into the pit and saved from injury by the dem
sty of the mass We afterwards saw the unfortu-
nate musician trying to rescue his glasses from the
tenacious grasp of the lady, but we had not time to
see whether he succeeded, for other work required
our instant attendance. A beautiful young Italian
lady, in endeavorlng to jump the high back of
one of the box seats, missed her aim, and fell mid
ways, and in this position, with leg at each
side, was so tightly wedged that it was
much difficulty she could be freed from the uneasy
saddle. Hats, bonnets, opera glasses, and canes,
were cast Unfortunately away, the chief object
being the open air. After the struggling had
gained the garden, and were making the best OF their
way through the importing crowd of firemen, we
FASTENED to the roof and there found the fire blazing
fercely among the iwooden shantees. As the flames
arose the sight was indeed exciting. The masses
which filled the street.-the hurrying rattle OF the
fre-engines-the shouts OF the engineers and their
assistants through their rumpeis they urged their
gallant companies to the rescue-the loud ringing of
the alarm bells and the Int up scenery of
the Garden and its crowded galeries-all
gave interest to the scene. Ii was as though the
altar Of Imnsul had suddenly been lighted for the
sacrifice, and the worshipping thousands had
shouted the loud ul-allah. The Ravel family,
headed by the active and industrious Gabriel, were
on the roof, and under his direction manned the
fire buckets, and their exertions, in all proba.
bility, the safety of the garden is due, it was
some minutes before the engines could be worked,
aud the side of the theatre was several times
on fire /; nor did they stay their work until every
drop of water had been exhausted. The engine in
the garden was promptly brought into action, and,
though small, 1t threw stream which did much
service-until by the strenuous efforts of the workers
it was broken The fire companies worked with a
wi,and the hook and ladder companies on the spot,
stayed the progress of the flames by pulling down
the wooden building adjoining the garden, as the
fire was bursting through it. Justice Merritt, AL
dermen Briggs and Brown, with strong detach-