The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-06-22

The spacious place Of amusement. Fox'S
American Variety Ihcatct, on Walnut ST.
is smouldcring mass OF ruins, and consid.
cradle property in the immediate vicinity, on
Eighth street between Walnut and SAMSON
is seriously damaged by fire.
The event occurred last night about half
past nine O'Clock, while the Performance,
was going on in the presence of an audience
numbering about eighteen hundred persons.
The fire broke out in the second story, Oh
hay loft Of II stable, which is directly con.
nectcd with the theatcr and adjoins it OF,
SAMSON street, a few doors above IIirhtb.- -
Owing to the combustiblc nature OF the ma
terlal here, the flames spread with remarkn.
bic rapdity, and soon immense volumes Of
fire and black smoke issued from the doors
and windows taclng on Sanaon street.
Before the flames could be got under they
communicated to the rear Of the thcator it,
self, and i'll q few minutes the dressing
rooms, property rooms, &C., situated on the
second floor OF the rear or performance por-
ton of the theater were in light blaze
The flames spread with fearful effect over
the root of the building, which extended the
entire distance from Walnut street to San.
som street, and when that portion of the
theatcr situated on Walnut street was en-.
vcloped in flames the scene was indescriba.
bly, grand.
In less than half an hour after the discov.
cry oil The lire the theater was a total wreck
AT the time of the breaking ont of the fire
the large ballet troupe connected with the
establishment was engaged in dancing the
Demon Dance from the Blnch Crock
There were some twenty five or thirty young
girls on the stage, and for u time all knowl.
edge that the rear ,oriion of the thcater was
on fire was kept from them, as we'll as from
the audience, although the different attaches
OF the establishment We're aware of the real
condition Of things. 1t is claimed it was
thought that the fire would be extinguished
before any intimation of it would reach the
performers on the stage or the audience
presentand Il panic be prevented by adopting
this course.
While the dancing was in progress. how.
ever, smoke was seen, by some of the an.
diehce. issuing on the stage from one of the
Wings. This smoke cont inned, and several
OF the audience commenced to retire. The
movement soon became general, and mod.
crate rush soon commenced for the doors.
The ballet girls then jumped from the stage
into the parQnet, and mixed with the retiring
audience.
AS soon as the building was cleared Of the
audience and performers, the latter present.
ed unique spectacle the majority of them
were ballet girls, dressed in exceeding Hgh,
costumes; others were Ethiopian perform.
ers, male dancers, &C.. all mixing with the
excited lhrong OF citizens and fremen in the
street, aud threading their way for different
places of safety.
The panic might have occurred when the
fire was first made apparent to the audience,
had there been many ladies present, hut the
audience at lhc American Thnater were
composed almost exclusively Of men, who
smoke their cigars and drink lager while wit.
Messing the performance.
The Theater was one Of the most capa.
cons in the city, and was formerly known
as Welch's Amphitheatcr. Subsequently, il;
was rented by Mr.. Wheatley, for dramatic
performances. and under his management
number orbalIct girls were burned to death
there during performance.
The most lamentabe story connected with
the catastrophe remains TO he told.
just before o clock. about fifty feet Of
The front wall, facing on Walnut street, fell
IN with q tremendous crash, killing nine fire.
men and wounding fourteen Others
The lircmcn, just preceding the falling of
the wall. had been running in and out Of the
main door Of the theatcr. Without a mo-
ment's warning the crash came and some
thirty became enveloped in the mass OF