Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-10
BURNING OF THE THEATRE ROYAL,
EDINBURGH.

BURNING OF THE THEATRE ROYAL, |
EDlNBuRGH
The destruction Of the Theatre Rlya Elin-
burgh, was announced in our abstract Of news
by the Cuba. An eyewitness wrtCs to the
London Times
The fire which broke out shortly before
O'Clock in the afternoon, originated from the
| following incident Shortly before the hour
mentioned, a gentleman named Casey, who was
enployed in the establishment proceeded in the
discharge Of his ordinary duty, to light up the
rows Of gas Jets which run along what are
called the 'borleIe," or tile strips Of painted
canvas which are stretched across the tops Of the
scenes to hide tho machinery behind.
These "hoTdor" lights, which are intended to
cast q powerful reelection on the stage, are gen
| orally lighted before the men go to tea, aud it
appears that on Friday Casey commenced to do
this litt!e earlier than usual, because the
occasion was TO be what is called juvenile
night, when the pnutomime preceded the other
entertainments. llc had lit up the second row,
aud was attending to the first, when the border
! accidentally caught drc--an occurrence which
is said to have happened on former occasions
without serious consequences, the border having
been torn away in time TO prevent the ire
spreading.
On this occasion, however, the flames spread
so rapidly that the man was unable to get the
border down in time, aud ho rushed along the
"iiies' or wooden stages upon which the men
walk when regulating the scenery, and called
to his assistance the head carpenter, Stewart an
assistant named Glenn, and Syme the fireman.
The men had been adjusting tha scenes for the
pantomimc when this alarm was given. and they
at once ran to the lilies" and hy cutting down
the borders and hacking away the side scenes,
slrose 10 prevent the fire gaining mastery.
, Syme, the most experienced Of the men tried
to adjust the hose in order TO put out tue fire by
, means Of the plentiful supply of water which is
kept in tanks aud pals ready for such au
i emergency. While thus engaged he was un-
, fortunately overcome by the dense smoke and
A the other men rau to rescue him Meanwhile
the 4 amos spread with almost Incredible rapidity
@ and the scenes, on account of the oils and tur-
@ peniines applied to the canvas, were iu feW
@ minutes wrapped in sheet of flame; the woodCi
n "[rooycs' aud stagngs lloit quickly caught the
,, flames, aud tho fire was speedily roaring to th'
a roof
q 50 rapid was tho connagra,ion TINT the few
/. men in the house had barely time to escape
y after they saw their attempts to exiinguish tb,
flames were hopeless. stewart, the heud car
Il penter, fell in one of the galleries, by
0, the smoke, but he was aided by his comrades
/ aud they all got unini iured out of the building
Tho only other person in the theatre besides
m those above named WIS the property man. who
v succeeded with difficulty in making his way tt
II the balcony in front OF the theatre, whence hi
" was rescued by means Of ladder.
=, At about six o'cock ii became evident tha
l. the wall which nbulted on the Roman Cathol,
chapel, injured by the great heat, was in
as tottering condition. Rents were visible thToug
n which the FIRE could be seen, and the structur
"A was gradually leaning from the perpendicular
u just before the hour chimney stack on tbi
ie side fell with loud crash, crushing the roof 0
a. the cOister chapel and crashing into the vesiry
is Here occurred the saddest incident Of the fire
n. Only two men were in the vestry at tho time
They were found by those who rushed 10 thol
no assistance ia shocking condition. Que q
ie them was jammed with his face against the va
N of the coister, crushed aud dead the other la
l. with a great stone upon him, but he was alive
Fl. and called piteously for help, "For Gods SAX
H. try and save me !"
in They who we're within hearing rushed to th
d. rescue, but where the man lay was oyerthadowe
as by the wall Of the THEATRE which was totterin
A. to its full But tbs effort was made, and som
r. wentip. Foremost among them was Mr., Lorime
10. the Dean of Guild. As he worked to rescue II
man some sign was given Of the impending DANCE
re and be was warned by eager voctH He sai,
I'M an try to save the mans life, and risk my own.
,th A minute afterwards, aud with a thuuderir
noise. the will fell, hurying him aud others 0
the rubbish being cleared away six bodies wei
xtricltel flom the ruins Of the cloi=ter. thtoup
the root Of which part Of the n orth wall Of Il
VS., tn eate fell.