The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-19
DESTRUCTIVE CONFEDERATION.
THE NEW BoweRY THEATRE N RUINS.
LOss One Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars.
CAUSE OF THE FIRE UNKNOWN.

Yesterday afternoon another great Ore occurred in this
city resulting in the total destruction or OF wen
known places Of dramatic entertainment Between the
hours Of four and o'clock r. NJ the entire struc-
ture known as the New Bowcry theatre was crumbled
into runous masses leaving scarcely
" except the supporting columns and arches which
formed tho front entrances About twenty-five minutes
past four O'Clock the residents Of Elizabeth street
startled by vivid Hastings Of light which cleaned un.
steadily in the windows and glanced the dark gray
clouds above Immediately the flames burst out from
three windows In the wall, whom the alarm was
given and thousands hurried to tho Those living
In the vicinity OF tho theatre Elizabeth ana Hester
streets in Of wild exctsmeni-now nsrvousy
watching the extending flames and then In furry or
dread hurrying their household goods out to the
pavements and away from possible danger. Fire
engines came rapidly TO the spot, and the streets
and houses on all sides crowded with eager and
excited spectators attracted from great distances by tho
bright glare which seemed predict heavier conagra
uoh than really TRANSFERRED strong OF policemen
were promptly detailed preserve order ana the rush
ing eager masses OF human beings with much DIM
Guilty forced back 10 lines little North OF Canal spd
heser streets and considerably to the West OF Elizabeth
street Within this compass, policemen, 1rcmen and
fcw Others Only were allowed to enter.
ApPEARANcE or TIKI rRK
From jersey City aud Brooklyn the appearance or tho
rc grand, adjacent either river The
massive flames and thick columns OF smoke high
into the air and gded with bright colors the clouds
above and the waters Of the river beneath while
Of glowing sparks moved thick clusters far and wide
the various paraphernala OF theatre always aordng
the material for a rapid and brilliant connagration. on
the ferry boats speculation rife with conjecures
to where and what the IRE many OF this passengers
no sooner landing than joining with the general flow nj
people TO the vicinity of the As the flames ex.
tended aud the day grew more dark the appearance
still brighter and clearer, hundreds witnessing spec.
tac!s more grand and impressive than anything tho
patrons OF the theatre had within ts wasnot
excepting even the most startling and terrific incidents
OF the modern drama
oRci1 o. rH~ FIRE
Is wrapped in complete mystery Many and very ex-
traordnary theories have been started to for
the sudden conhagration. Each has Its peculiar be-
levers and Supporters who Insist earnestly that
thus and go but careful sitting OF the evidence upon
which these very positive assumptions based dis
closes tho absence or any actual data usyng such
illusions and resolve them INTO matter purely speculative
The most general impresson and tho which has the
greatest show OF and incident suggest IT, Ia that
IL the work OF ncendary ahoa gb there nothing
whatoyer directing suspicion Ia any particular quarter
or eyidencng the existence in direction OF -ucsnt
motive for such act. Tho fire appeared In tho
part OF the building at precisely hafpas four O'Clock,
and IN few minutes Afterwards flames were issuing
seemingly from eycry part OF tho roof Mrs Lewis,
head sweeper Of tho theatre who, with her subord
appearance says rhas Il originated in the ballet
girls room. under the stage, and spread with
such fearful rapidly that shc and her
panons were Obliged 70 make extraordinary
haste 70 escape In safety. II Is a significant fac,
that there we're no ires In The theatre. II being heated
by steam. supplied from boiler situated in vault
under the Sidewalk o. Elizabeth street. Another account
states that h- flames drf appeared Ia the paint room
son OF MI Ingards and one OF the properly boys
~crs IN the building short time before the lre, but
sign OF anything suspicious They wore IN
passage leading rom the ballet gir To the cci
KIND They efs S,s .,.r tire. clock When ny
Lngard was first informed respecting tho Ore ho suf
tered great anxiety Of mind because OF the information
Conveyed 10 him AZ the time thai his
posed TO be In the burning building Subsequent INFORM
stlon OF tho boys safety relieving hun VI this fssr
by comparison 90 rapid wss snS desirsc,ion :. as
building that before I'VE o'clock tho roof fell w. with
Tremendous crash, seuaihg from the abyss Of ams
the surrounding houses aud mo he nsgborng streets
rIk FAILING ~ InE WALLS
n,e ou,st OUT saa.aLH from snr-. openings 10 The
s yaas s', sss eal a
rapidly given. vhsa .--, -. -. S;aa.;s sas s..ps;:
from the nrs discovery Of the nro before rear wall
gradually swsrvcd back and came laundering 70 the
ground spnterng beam and aftsr and dramatic
paraphernsia generally, aadsrewng the adjacent street
and the lower door VI tho theatre with its scattered
ruina Tho flames then burst out hyh and far the
sparks, mail snt bright, lying out In myriad NUMBER
drifting and settling down 10 showers al sde- greatly
.sopadllng the surrounding property, on which, how
ever. thc hrsmcn with commemorate real wor. iurss.
SAINT IN their srsriioos From the Borery the walls In
iron, and ,r On co ~, sas, s sood ,a' o.. within
falling beams snd all tho floors literally burning away
Unexpectedly, htc before SIX o'clock the fro1i wall
began 10 sway uniii suddenly u TOPPED over with
fearful crash tbs stree, and pavemenis be.
low, amid the excitement Of tho people, who
rushed 70 the RUNS. fearful lest some one
the nrst story stu remained The isegrarh wires lamp
posts and awnings in front were brukrn hv tn falling
masonry. The northern wall stu stood, unsupported
and threatening tho houses The southern wall
ef, and wasssung around 20 the rear bend.
ing from tho flames VI the theatre From TIN.
massive D OK structure the VARIOUS beams OF tho roor
Projected and all abiaxe About six clock por.
sion u ihe second no"r fell With terrific crash when
great volumes Of snok~ ~boeled above the ruins and
the IRE began 70 flicker and rapidly give SAY under tho
copous streams 81 water bron the roof. Of sdjscen
houses NO arc ladders we're noissd naan Tho north
wall shicu we're used "a pushing tho tall of
masonry bs and forth With view TO topping over
into the srs Of 'ss theatre The wall swsyed 70 and
Hal displayed tsbsaiixng degree u elasticity Thevr
efforts we're rne~si sgsin .nd sgan until on. of ,he
chimneys Tell on Ito pext house, crushing the roof
slderaby, tie most u T. however, falling 10 the
TAs ladders pushed sgsp, when huge 70 he'd
suiIcuiy Oh from the baek end Of the
wall sni lost ighi u smid myriad u Wild and
whlriing sparks Again the ladders pushed,
whom tne VAL svsyed " aud TO over 81
srai test sysry eys upturnsd toward Il snd snriossy
expecting - see topic over shortly before seven
O'Clock huge massive segment rolled over snd crashsd
and crunbied among the cbarrng trnber-, the pe0pis
giving q simultaneous shout Of fetef a. u fell t
cLlmaey ss remained which iumbef over, and tho
Gunner a wall slso showed dos INTO the glowing
emben beneath The adacsni house c.asht hfe on TIE
Orr, door but the nsmes we're speedily essinsssbsd
The southern wall sso partly fell aud crushed ANAL
shAny The nre then dakened aud dared oui wildly ~
Intervals until gave rapidly ssE 70 the strains o.
water which we're shorered upon II from ali sides fm.
tsnatey no one injured al the IRE which Is almost
miracgogs undsr IN. circumstances.
0S nfrrtR rflsArprH srassr.
Ths eyer Gus of the FIRE department, manly directed
to sAvns adjoining house, prevented The spread o.
tns con and even the r0s Of wooden buildings
% Hssisr stresi between Elizabeth and the Bo~srJ,
escaped the sry embrace ~hch a. one ume appeared 70
fnep.r. them with certain destruction. The innat<s
ai.rmsd By the appesnnrs of danger, early removed
their erts from these tsnem@nts and piipG them IN
Inevitable prom sruous cCnfusson On tie opposite
sld.vslk with the aid Of fsw kssrnpd tsss
ksps watch and ward o. household gods Which though
~ very uncomfortable value would probably be serious
los. 10 ibess unforunsis people 80 rnerp~edy TUNED
upon tis street Inc house. 81 Elizabeth street lmuse.
d,stely oxtcsts the OF the tbsstrs, Il tine
on are bet speedily sxtlngnsb.f, tuo streams Of
vstsv /. "a TUNED upon ~ u discovered
Ia haze sAght The nnsiss removed nothing from she
house add although corsd-rsbs confassor ysryasd
tor 4 sh0n tlme, dafnsgs Gas done beyond that
eaussd b. ths water.
ssrsiy rxn wyrrAr "
HE selfshness ~ hsmsn naare pfecsposss y " ca
i0y ,aks other peopiss srpsbse. sven ~ that "a
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