The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-23
w0 BODIES RECOVERED.
CASUALTIES, SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
iTURY or THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
&c. &c. &c.

ne flames that burst forth in lurd splcndor from
i'm the Academy of Music Monday died away
srday al dawn, after destroying two human lives
consuming much valuable property. From
~ place 10 Third avenue, from Fourteenth to
,enth Streets the Are king for a time held
\, finally retreating and leaving mcmento
ais stay charrud and crumbng walls where once
massive ediGces OF iron and stone. Spite of the
y breeze that drove the devourng element from
roof to house roof in search of fitting food-spte
fiery breath that and scorehed the faces
he brave workers-spite OF the onInipresonce OF
u masked behind lettering structures, or veiIed by
Is Of flame, the undaunted iremen worked unceas-
I until, at peril, rather at sacrifice OF life and
and though hindered by lack Of mechanical assist
\ the flames mastered and dwellings and lives
mbered saved.
ID fire broke out shortly before midnight Monday.
'troyed the Academy of Music, buryhg under the
of the structure two unfortunates II crushed the
Sarsity Medical College in its embrace, made Of
h stecples flaming spires and Of factories shoulder
runs At daybreak yesterday its ravages were
a, and the tiny pillars Of smoke that from be.
i the crcviced walls OF the Academy alone explained
at element the massive structures around had
q prey
excitement throughout the city intcnse
Is nockcd toward Irving place and Fourteenth
to gaze upon the scene Of desolaton and comment
The supposed causes of The FIRE. while in the midst
arena amid ascending clouds OF smoke and steam,
d score of anxious beings, seeking TO recover IT
he mangled corpse Of friend or comrade. Hour
iour the assembagc gathered on the sidewalks OF
eenth street increased in number and neither
ling walls falling fragments of masonry could
flight The hordos of curious lookerson, anxious
iyInce themselves how quickly and cGectaay
pix OF the destroyer had been done
MI THE STORY OF AN EYE WITNESS.
curtain had scarcely fallen upon the las, sct Of
afre on Monday night the audience had just de
4, and the uriists had only LETT Their dressing
when the alarm OF fire was given in the Academy
fic The gas was not yet extiagushed in portion
building. The doors on Fourteenth street
len. There were few peopis lingering srcund
iemises, when it became evident llia; the Opera
Twas on fire. The arst indications OF the catastrophe
Deserved in light wreaths Of smoke issuing from
bper windows Immediately under the roof The
-cachod the engine house In Thirteenth street at
twenty minutes before twelve, and Instantly the
Fire engine was on the spot, in front OF the stage
10 Fourteenth street. II took fully ten minutes to
engine In working order. Meantime the hremen
the hose into the building, and. aslsoon as water
e supplied they poured stream on the portiops
house where the fire was visible The flames, It
were first discovered breaking through
. Of the parqGet on the Fifteenth street Side,
section F; but i was perceived that
ortions or the building also on FIRE, and
these the balcony 10 the right and the upper por-
the house above the Stage. The fact that the
alton commenced in three different places at the
me suggests the suspicion that the Gre was not
tai The volume OF smoke In the auditorium
Q that il was impossible for the hrcmen, police
cral private citizens who attempted TO render
to accomplish anything. They were driven
gain and again into Fourteenth street, having
cd in gettiag out few mirrors and sofas from
cs' dressing room and the managers Office on The
place corner In fifteen minutes after the alarm
en- the flames burst forth from the upper win
This was the FIRST appearance OF fire on the exterior
pudding but IL soon worked lis way down The
ible material on the stage and in the gal.
ve took fire. and the whole building was IN
In an Incredibly shcr, space Of time. present.
,agsihcent appearance. All attempts to subdue
In the Academy proved futile. In vain the en-
ere piled and the hremen, at the rick OF their
ishcd into the burning structure. The flames
along the woodwork OF the balcony, the dress
he parquet aud the smphthestre, and Sirged
fearful roar through the OF canvass
BY a desperate effort a portion Of the music
few Of Me instruments Ia the orchestra were
~ the nremen, some Of whom, we regret to
.ver got out Of tho saHocatng smoke which
the whole interior Of the buildings like
,ne.rsbie mantle. A smah portion OF the ward.
got out Of the stage entrance with great difi.
put the large part Of II destroyed, some the
OF the lsssee and some belonging TO Mr.. Crau,
company was playing for the second nigh,
season at the Academy, and, a. the fsies had
for the last time Grau's property was unin.
He lost considerably In the value OF hts ward
hi the score Of several operas The artists
s. more or less OF their private property.
stage jewels Of Madame Noel Gudi we're De
The rapidly with which the IRE spread
the buildir as amazing In twenty minutes
Are displsy I'd itself the whole house, from th'
q tie roof was a mass Of Game. Conspicuou
Ne smoke and ere stood the flagstaff on the four
frc.t front and seemed 10 brave the merry Gle
st licked II around from the base 10 the COLDER
the top II was a source OF as,onish
o the spectators that Il held Us plec
e.; but finally Il ,oppled over and cam
ID crash upon the balcony, carrying away th
which we're still burning with asickly glare, ami
flames nov bursting out from every wndow
zee Of saving the Academy was now gone.
hfestiy condemned TO destruction. To enter u
was certain death 70 throw water upon u va
OF labor; consequently the hremer directed ihe
TO saving the adjoining buildings, - Ear a. po'
n this they we're successful TO a certain sHleu
1all and the houses on the ives, side Of Irwin
capped The Church OF the Redemption on rou
street, constant peril but although N
ndovs Of the church took hre three times
tancc the burning frames were driven out mi
a. and by this precsution, az well as by the coi
v Of water poured over the building, the edhs
ID The holdings between the Academy an
enus, however, dId not fare 30 well. The wrn
bs fames 10 the roof Of the Medical Coii.a
c-,ncnoed N burn sercely. They spread sow
nor 20 foor, aud In . quarter 81 an hour n
pusdins ys nss q nsps nne Ecu