The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-16
TERRIBLE FIRE AT A PHILADELPHIA THEATRE.
Fourteen Ballet Girls shockingly Burn
csl-Names or the Dead-FrightfulS Scene
In the Auditory-The ''Tcmpest," sc.


I'm the Auditory-The ssTcmpest," sc.
OUR PHILADELPHIA CORRESPONDENTS.
rinLApELpIuA, Sept. is, 1861.
An unfortunate accident occurred at the Continental
Theatre In Walnut street, Saturday night, by which
the building was for time mperilled and number or
dancing girls badly burned that some have since died
The theatre had been leased by William wheatlcy old
Philadelphia actor, whose long association with John
Drew and s. Clarke at the Arch Street theatre made
him known among the profession throughout tho country
Being succeeded In the management Of the Arch by
Mrs. Drew, Wheatlcy leased and rentted the Contnen
tao formerly General WEIGHS National Circus and
produced tho ''Tcmpest" Monday night in splendid
style Randall, formerly Of Covent Garden, London,
prepared the machinery, and Immense ballet corps
was engaged represent the abode Of ARIEL and other
show scenes.
On Saturday night moro than fifteen hundred people
present The arst act had gone forward uninter
ruptedly and the dancers busy preparing in the
dressing appear in the ballet at the opening Of
act second. Prospcro (whcotlcy) was about retiring
from the STAGE when the audience perceived several
men, apparently stage carpenters running backward aud
forward in their shirt sleeves. Directly those adjacent
the stage young lady, all on fire, run hurredy
the side scenes and at the time succession of
piercing from mperceptibe localities disturbed
the rcposo tho audience and brought half the people
to their feet The cry Of "ire" started from tho
galleries. and the fitting lights and confusion upon the
stage left doubt that awful actually was trans
pirng Manager Wheatey directed tho people to be
Quoted while he retired y learn the extent Of the
| accident.
II appears that Miss Cecilia Gaze Of four talented
and han some SISTERS about rohng hers in ballet
costume She stood ON settee to reach her dress,
ami somehow nirei 1t into jet of gas. when IT was in
stantly gntod. Before the young lady could recover
from her fright her clothing was all ablaze and her sis
te an several OF the ballet girls from an adjoining
dressing room, rushing up to assist her in turn sot
fire. About dozen OF these helpless girls were thus
among thei underclo hes making fast to the close lcggns
| or "tshts,' and lite ally burning to the bone Tneir
thrilling and no scene OF horrors that the
stage witnessed may be compared 10 the terrible
picture hind the scenes where the lire from the burn
ing bazcd tho ceiling and singcd the ashs
| and hair of tho aiifighted woman
Miss Cecilia Gale writing and still in flames darcd
down the stairs stated, and was caught by Mr. Bay
sheet OF used to make waves, and wrapped it
| around her. TO much baracd while doing this. The
| young lady was removed to the hospital soon after
| wa. s.
Several girls eaped into tn, street. through tho second
! story wn.ows, and Mss Hannah Gale, already badly
burned fell uon the pavement bruisng her back ana
| head 80 that h,r case is considered hopeless.
Miss Phoebe Norden, of Bristol Pennsylvania, inhaled
tie fam s, an! was s,ooknsy burned She was a. the
! point OF death last evening.
| Miss Anlc Philips died on Sunday morning.
Ms Anna AcDrd VS. burned in the br asst, arms and
legs and tax 10 the yyania Hospital She suffer
ell tie most excrucatng pain during Saturday night but
iowa ds morning her deiirilm abated, and she died in
| the arms Of Mrs. Whcatlcy.
| Miss Annie Nichols somewhat burned, but in tho
panic which esued after the accident she jumped from
the heal oil tho dies to ths stagetwentyii FIVE feeand
breaking through lot OF mirrors and plate glass; used to
represent lake, her han Is and checks accraed
Ruth and Adsline Gale burned in tho hands and
! breast
| Mrs. Mary f. H,rman suffered exceedingly
| Abby Carr, Margaret Conaway, III mas Bayard, Kate
r,ison and yo.lg maa, name unknown, were more OF
less badly buinJt. Tho last named lha.ed tho lo
| his lungs ave since been bleeding
Three Of these people, it is believed, will die, and al!
will iinser IN acute paia for dayspcrhas we ks and
| months
| The audience ,antmc addressed by Mr.. Wheat
ley, and told u the house without unnecessary
con,uson. Anambsr Of ladies' faated retiring auc
there frei, deal OF tsepidation and alarm in TIN
halls and exit ways.
The theatre was impcrillcd by tho sen cloth partially
ignited ing thrown into the stable. where it dis
covered on the pont OF combustion, and coniagrato
| avertcd.
The scene in the of tn, thca.rc Samson stree.
WIS most peous and az nizng in its character. Han
dressed ballet girls ran up and down and poor women
whose dl ghters took part in tie ssions and show
Scenes screaming their names amid confused sob
bing, cNeccaton and fear. Cargiag and cabs were
driven NJ and Gown, and as each snEerer place.
upon the cushions AMI taken away the crowd pressed
and touched her sores. number of petty tavcrrs
mson street were thrown open 10 the sufferers ana
few badly burned that tn have not since beei
m we'd. There & od &c. If delay before h /,
cou b. obtained; but aftfr time hysicins and lotions
summoned. Some Of th, burned taken t. III,
Pennsylvania Hos pita and others to their homes ia
mote n ts Of the Town.
Tha artists OF the adjacent theatres contribute! TO the
relief o. the needy AID Mr. Couloch, IL said who
playing ut the Walnut, few doors OF, unable to pro
cecil with his pa The exccm mt continued to sprcad
throughout he city, and all Saturday night and Sun ay
morning the theatre surround ID by curious crowds
The Gale sisters beautiful and finely formed CIR
English by BIRTH ard tcy travelled through the country
some time ago, with the K, mani troupe. The manage
nent Garnet re bam ID in any way r the occurrence
The tieatrc will open usual on Tuesday ard Wod
ncsday the sufferers viii receive benefit The event has
| spread gloom and sorrow tn ghcut the city.