The New York herald., 1867-04-04
the FIRE IN TINE AcAUenaY OF MUSIC.

IHE FIRE IN the AcAoemf Of MUSIC.
Further Particuiars OF the Anair-The Build
Ing Narrowly Escapes Deseruceien-One Man
Nearly burned 20 Death ard Five Bsys In-
jnred-ssatsment Of One sr no Victims. &c.
lhe statement exclusively published IN the HEaALD OF
yesterday giving some particulars Of the gas explosion
and nrs in the Academy Of Music on Monday night has
served 10 open the eyes Of the cxeps Of New York
the subject OF the insecurity OF places OF public amuse-
men and especially the catseombs Fourteenth street
BY the merest chance the Academy escaped destruction
by IRE ON last Monday night Few among the audience
who visited the opera that night had the slightest
idea that the building had undergone 10 narrow
an escape from disastrous csshasraonL Little I
did the fair demoiseiles, stately DANES or gal !
liant cavaliers who honored the occasion with
their presence dream that those sprigntly little fellows
who nightly attracted their attention they coursed
through the obbics or the asss vending nbrsttos
OF the opera, and who this occasion were nowhere
TO be heard-little did the hobtues OF the
Academy imagine that those same lads lay at that
moment wrthng in the most intense agonies surrounded
by their afflicted parents and suffering from the injuries
caused by explosion which but short time before
the commencement Of the evenings entertainment
threatened to destroy the edince and lay the whole
structure for the second time in one mass Of ruins
It appears that Monday evening" shortly after seven
general business man, proceeded, In company with
the boys engaged theatre small room used as
library for the purpose of providing the little vendsrs
with tho copies Of the bretto As soon the door Of
apartment opened the escape Of gas noticed
and one Of boys remarked that would be dangerous
TO bring in light for fear Of causing explosion The
sagacity Of the boy overruled by Mr. Gosche, who
struck a match, which sooner ignited than a loud
explosion followed dahing the unfortunate and care
less to the floor enveloping the room In flames
and dreadiuly burning the boys All who were In the
the time the explosion took place were thrown
prostrate and it is next to miracle how they escaped
with their lives or how the building was saved
from destruction. The shock SO great
that 1t was not only heard, bus felt through
out the whole building. As soon as the boys
recovered somewhat they staggered, in the best
way they could, down stairs crying out Fire, fire.
AT this time the book room all in flames The
greatest CONSERVATION prevailed among the employees
rushing wildly in direction others In another,
and among all the most Observation-Disclosures Of confusion
everywhere evident All this time the unfortunate
little sufferers compelled stand in the lobby, sui
fering all the pain caused from the injuries they re-
ceived by Of the dreadful fiery ordeal through
in reaching the Streets though not however, without
being instructed 'to go straight home Don't 80 TO
| drug storen sSay nothing about the fire."
BY this time the employees connected with the theatre
got OF water from the hydrant TO play upon
the fire. and after the greatest difficulty the flames were
Is rather mysterious, and to say ths least, oct
transaction that although the alarm OF he
was gwen and Of the fire companies In tho mme-
diste vicinity received still alarm Of the re Il was not
until long after the flames we're extngushed that u was
where the accident had taken place. Even
at The Academy itself person knew anything about
the affair. The police officers on duty were uniformly
heard anything about the matter wha,svs But in face
of Ill this reccnce Of the attaches Of the Academy
Fourth svenue and Fourlocnth street snd procured
glass Of brandy stating At the same time that one Of the
iiculaIs. but said he Thought .'ths man would die
On yesterday one q our sspcrssss sscS "a sss o. me
boys wnS ~ss & ny ns sSoo
fifteen years Of age, 70 feartuly mutated. His fsce
dreedfuly scarrsd the hair y,rt;sY husped nom ns
and hands badly burned that the pnys.cians 10
attendance him state that the utmost sk and caro-
n most drssdfa state state From the little sufferer shs
most intelligent boy, the following statement Of the
l explosion has been reo0ived:--
STATEMENT OF JAMES cox.
Last Monday night about seven o'clock i In company
e: r. boys e as q
Mr. Goschs TO the book room 70 set sbc books
Az We approached the room, and amer the door was
unlocked got strong smell OF gas, and one OF the
boys remarked in aloud tone Of voice, Don't BRING
light here wen have explosion" MI Gosche paid
NO attention 20 the remark, but struck match and IN
instant load explosion took place, knocking down
the boys and setting fire to tho room As soon
as could ran down stairs with the other boys calling
We asked s usSsrsso e. Us out as
the vhouse was on dre" Al first they took no notice Of
US they seemed confused, and up sairs leaving
us in tae lobby Atiength We got out and got home
| the best way i could.
The boy who gives the above statement Ia at present
lying in Almost critical position While speaking 70 him
ne inquired after Mr. Gosche who he said he thought
| would die from the injuries he received
On tuesday the father OF this boy In company with
friend called At the Academy IN order TO ascertain some
facts in relation the when hey
cooly told u "a accident and that 'only one
| man was injured" The gentleman who accompanied
Mr.. Cox then asked II that was all, when he was In
and may possibly lose his eyes Mr.. Coz then in.
formed the copsderate gentleman who thus humaney
gave the Information that his severely burned
and In most critical state when, as II annoyed
mcnt agau replied that ut was an accident and that
all he knew about It," At the ticket Office in Broadway,
the afflicted father met with still heartess
treatment according TO the statement Of Mrs Coz,
| her husband and his friend were told that IF they
wanted satisfaction they could 90 to Law about IT,"
or the six boys employed in the theatre II 70 said that
nys in most prccarious condition from the dreadful
effects Of Monday nights nre.
Had the explosion taken place at later hour Is i'm
possible 70 say what might have been the consequence
An immense sacrce Of human life might have been the
sacrificed 70 Ne no0mpeency and careless
Of payes toty unntsed for tho Important positions Of
caterers ths amussmant.of the public TAe occur-
Ss an, s ~ Ssv y sS nu
Ahe brief - Ahs asnhlshent has endangered its
existence On she fous4h q 9th psIiosnncs this same
room, being sPsned was found IN such state. fron
Impossible TO enter T. and great fears were sussrapsd
fer the safety Of The building
TINE UNION MsuIirAa CENTRAL cummITrEk
Apecisl meeting a ihs body mas held lsss night a
hsadasarssEs, Argus Hal No zoo Broadway, the Pres
A~~s rh~vls~ Qrz~nr sw ~ rh~t-