The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-23
Pur Firemen Supposed to Have
PeriShed in the Ruins.
wo BODIES RECOVERED.
CASUALTIES, SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
STORY or THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
&c. &c. &c.

ne flames that burst forth in lurd spcndor from
lin the Academy of Music Monday died away
srday at dawn, after destroying two human lives
consuming much valuable property. From
ig place to Third avenue, from Fourteenth TO
zenith streets, the Are king for a time held
4, finally retreating and leaving as memento
his stay charrcd and crumbipg walls where once
massive edifces Of iron and stone. Spite of the
~ breeze that drove the devouring element from
roof to house roof in search of fitting f0od-spite
fiery breath that and scorched the faces
BE brave workers-spite Of the onniprcsence of
h masked behind totterng structures, veed by
rs Of flame, the undaunted nremen worked unceas-
until at peril, or rather at sacrifice OF life and
and though hindered by lack Of mechanical assist
4 the flames were mastered and dwellings and lives
mbered saved.
s fire broke out shortly before midnight on Monday
,troyed the Academy of Music, buryhg under the
: of the structure unfortunates IL crushed the
ersity Medical College in its embrace made Of
III steeplos flaming spires and of factories shoulder
buns. AT daybreak yesterday its ravagcs were
u, and the tiny pillars of smoke that from be.
the crcyiced walls Of the Academy alone explained
at element the massive structures around had
q prey
excitement throughout the city intense.
is focked 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 a score of anxious beings, seeking 10 recover il
ne mangled corpse Of friend comrade. Hour
hour the assemblagc gathered on the sidewalks OF
. zenith street increased in number, and neither
ling walls falling fragments of masonry could
flight The hordcs Of curious ookers-on anxious
hvince themselves how quickly and cfectaaliy
n pix OF the destroyer had been done.
THE STORY or AN EYE WITNESS.
" curtain had scarcely fallen upon the last oct Of
,.,re on Monday night, the audience had just de
and The artists had only let their dressing
\ when the alarm OF fire given in the Academy
n lie The gas not yet extnguished in portion
Building The doors on Fourteenth street werc
en-. There were few peopis lingering srcund
kemises, when it became evident tfni the oyerG
Twas fire. The hrst indications OF the catastrophe
Deserved in light wrcaths Of smoke issuing from
bper windows, Immediately under the roof The
Reached the engine house In Thirteenth street at
iwcnty minutes before twelve, and instantly the
pre engine was on the spot, in front OF the stage
II ID Fourteenth street. Il took fully ten minutes to
III engine III hOlhlnR McaullMt lne UItfnth
the hose into the building, and. aslsOon water
e supplied, they poured stream the portops
house where the fire visible. The flames, Il
/, were FIRST discovered breaking through
= Of the parqdet, on the Fifteenth street Side,
section r. but Il was soon perceived that
ortions OF the building we're also Ere and
these the balcony to the right and the upper por
the house above the sage. The fact that the
alton commenced in three different places at the
me suggests the suspicion that the FIRE was not
tai The volume OF smoke IN the auditorium was
Q that il was impossible for the hrcmen, police
oral 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
es 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 the FIRST appearance OF FIRE the exterior
building. but II soon worked is way down. The
kiblc material on the stage and in the gal
I've took fire. and the whole building was n
lin an Incredibly shor, space OF time. present
,agzf8cent appearance. All attempts to subdue
In the Academy proved futile. In vain the en-
ere Piled and the hrcmen, at the risk Of their
shed into the burning structure. The flames
along the woodwork OF the balcony, tho dress
he psrquet aud the smphithealre, snd Sirged
fearful roar through the mass Of canvass
BY desperate effort portion Of the music
few Of she instruments Ia the orchestra were
" the aremen, some Of whom, we regret to
yer got out Of tho sanocating smoke which
the whole interior OF the buildings like
,ne:rsble mantle. smsh portion Of the ward
gt.t ous NJ fts 90, entranra With grcst ALA.
put the large par, Of II was destroyed, some the
y Of the Lessee aud some belonging to Mr. Cran,
company playing for the second night
season at the Academy, and, as the fa,es had
|, for the las, time. Grau's property was unn.
He lost considerably In the valuo % hts ward
ID the score Of several operas. The artists
81 more or less Of their private property.
stage jewels Of Madame Noel Guid sere de.
The rapidly with which the IRE spread
the buildir = AZ amazing In twenty minutes
e are displsy cd itself the whole house, from the
o the roof was a mass Of Dame Conspicuous
ne smoke aud Gre stood the flagstaff on the -Four.
tree, front. and seemed to brave the bery Gle
at licked Il around from the base to the golden
a the top. II was a source Of astonish.
10 tho spectators that held its place
g; hut finally IL topred over and came
9TH crash upon the balcony, carrying away the
which we're still burning with ssickly glare, amid
flames nov bursting out from every window.
bee OF saving the Academy was now gone II
Inifestly condemned TO destruction. To eutor the
was certain death; TO throw water upon u vas
Of labor; consequently the hremer directed THEFT
n 10 saving the adjoining buildings, 40 Ear a. pos
IN this they we're successful 10 a certain eHleu,
Tall and the houses On the west side Of Twins
capped. The Church OF the Redemption on -Four
street, was IN constant peril but although th'
ndows Of The church took hre three times, il
ltanoe the burning frames driven out int
~, and by this precsution, as well as by the con
n water poured over the building the ednc'
Cd The buildings between the Acsiemy and
ycuns, however, did not fare 80 well. The uin,
lbe namos 10 the roof Of the Medical college
lc-,monced N burn Hereby. They spread dowI
cor 10 noor, and In quarter 81 an hour M
,asd,ns ys Pnss Of nsSs pss hsoal