New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-16
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN BROADWAY,
The City Assembly Rooms and the
American Theater Destroyed.
The Continental Hotel and Other Build
ings Seriously Damaged.
LOSS ABOUT S16o,ooo.
LIST OF LOSSES AND ASSURANCES.

Shortly before II o'clock yesterday morn
inc fire was discovered in the rear of the American
Theater No 4ii Broadway. aud so rapidly did the
flames spread that before the Fire Department was on
the ground in full force they had mounted into The City
Assembly Rooms the scene Of many balls ana other
gatherings.
The Fire Department under Chief Engineer hlnes
land were soon on the ground with their powerful en-
gines and dozen large streams soon play ing
upon the fire from the front and Such progress
had il attained however that it found impossible
TO sav the onward march Of The flames ana they eaped
successivey rom story 10 story unt Inc "hOe rear VI
the buildings was one mass of fame.
strong effort was made 10 save the Nlty Assembly
Rooms the remcn lying upon their faces on tne moor
Of tbe ballroom, pipe in hand, playing upon inc au-
yaPcing flames Al their efforts useless. how
ever. The splendid Hail. with its fine decorations.
frcscoed ceiling and all the appliances OF iirst-ciaS,
ball room, were soon consumed, or mass OF charreu
rllns.
In the mean time the occupants of the first floors OF
the front bindings Nos. 4i2, 4i 40, Ais and 40
with the aid OF the Insurance Patrol were busily en-
gagged in removing their goods from the premises occu
pied by them and leaving them for the time being on
the walk and in the easements on tho opposite side
Broadway. The furniture of the City Assembly Rooms
George Alker lessee. was In Ike manner removed.
By 3 clock D. N. the flames were subdued, and thi
amount OF the loss could then be ascertained 1t wa
found that the Assembly Rooms aud the American
Theater were completely gutted. The Contlnenta
Hotel and some Il the adjoining buildings were seTi
ously damaged -
l The ORIGIN or THE FIRE.
Fprru n statement made To the Fire Marshal by WI
liam Holmes one OF the singers attached Othe tbeacI
il would appear thai the fire originated III the property
room OF the thcater by stove pipe becoming ue
tnched rehearsal was In progress AT the time, an
one OF the ballotgirls. noticing a light called Nj
Holiness attention 10 it, He ran into the property
room and saw the flames working through the celuhg
ITe ~ once attempted 10 attach the hose useu IN u
thl..or Ia the lydrant, but found that the coupnn
vo.. Aor IT. ana TO this cause alone Is 10 De atuiu
rt.u the spread of the fire for when irst discovered
small stream would have been sufficient to extinguish
THE CITY ASSEMBLY ROOMS.
4 The City Assembly Rooms occupied the third uppe
stories of Nos 4i2} 10 inclusive. having irontag
of 2j feet Broadway and having deplh OF lOieel
The dancing hall Is destroyed but the 'front.' OF IN
buildng COMPRISING the stores on the lrst moor au
The Withdrawing rooms and bar on the upper floors
are only damaged Ly water The original bulidlnl
was burned the night OF December 20 !eo4, and re
huit hv George W Miller in lc6 at cost OF 0ve
500 OGO II is buit upon easchold of ground belong
ing 10 the Lorillard estate. ON the death OF Mt
Miller It was purchased from the lessees by MY "a
ward Matthews. the present owner Inc loss on Dullu
ing viii amount to about s1JOn Insured IN the iol
lowing companies: -, a.. 90.
Astor .fJSb N.'InSlsnu. mart u''s-t'
Charter Onk Uart'd 1000 Relief y. Y......... ,5O'
N.England Hnrtd. 1900 City Of Hariiord..... 400
Indemnity y. Y.... 900 Commonwealth, Ny 300
Kings Co. Brooklyn $500 Merchants, y. X. $40
| Iir,meu's Trust Dirgo, Portland. Ne. 500
\ Drooklyn ....... $500 A Atlantic Providence. 5 5O0
Breyoort " y. 800 Western Massachu.
Morris " H...... 1000 sclts, Pitsicld Mas ? JN
North. Western, d. Home. New Haven. 1900
u" Total. s.OOO
$1,000 on the building and $1,000 on the rents.
IIa pf hr lk.Ff he q az