The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-20
DeSnuCtiOn Of FOX's American
Variety Theatre by Fire.
u Men KILLED, and Over 30
wounded by the Walls Falling.
The Building i'm Ruins, and
Much of the Surrounding
Property Damaged.
nto.. Eto.. ETC., Etop Etc" Tto'


vuv ,ts course in our midst. II was but two
weela ago to-day tnat there occurred on
SAMSON street, above Ninth, terrible boiler
oxpIosion, by which over two dozen unfortu-
nate men were, on the instant, and without
preparatory warning, brought face to face with
death. The bodies of some of the victims OF
this calamity stlI remain buried beneath the
ruins Of the building and before their sorrow
mig friends have had the slight consolation OF
giving their remains decent Christian burial,
we are called upon to record another disaster
which more than equals the former in the de-
struction Of property, and almost rivals it In
the loss OF life resulting At half-past o'clock
last evening, the New American Theatre, rum
ming from Walnut street through to Sansom at
the distance of about sixty feet west from
Eighth, caught fire and was entirely consumed,
the disaster eliminating at about quarter
before IL o'clock, by the falling OF the front
wall, which buried a large number of fremen
and citizens in the ruins
As far as can now be ascertained, the fire
originated in the stable under the rear portion
of the building, in which were kept the horses
Of the establishment when it was used as a cir
GUS. On the SAMSON street front, adjoining the
eastern wall of the building, was a narrow pas
sage.way, used as a private entrance for the
members of the theatrical company. Next to
this were the stables, to which access was had
by means of a raised gangway from the street.
where the hay and other feed for the horses was
kept, and in which, 1t is supposed, the
formerly been an open space, contain
ing ring about forty feet in diameter,
nsed for training the horses OF ihe circus But
to dramatic and variety representations, the
greater portion of this had been cut up into
dressing and property rooms Surrounding
these, and also on the lower floors, were several
other apartments used for similar purposes
while just to the right of the stage, facing Wal
nut street, was the green-room Of the establish
ment, In these different rooms were stored the
large and costly wardrobe of Mr.. Robert Fox's
variety company, and on the stage was large
amount of scenery, much of which was quite
1t was not q matter Of wonder that the flames
spread with great rapidity through such a
variety of combustible material DevOurlng
in the first place, the combustiOle articles stored
In the hay-loft the flames. accompanied by
dense clouds OF smoke, broke through the
doors and windows of the SAMSON street 'front.'
II the proper appliances for extinguishing the
hre had been on the ground at the time, IL
eating with the portions Of the building used
for theatrical purposes. But the confiagration
rooms over and around the hay.loft, and PdHhss Phens
these were gained there was no chance of
portion of Il was constructed of wood of very
dry and infiamable character.
The first warning that the inmates of the an
ditorium had OF the presence of the flames was
given by small clouds of smoke, which issued
from one of the doors by which the members
of the orchestra gained access to their depart
ment. AS there was large number OF persons
lndustriouslv at their pipes and icigars: and as
flame and smoke were very frequently brought
not attract much attention at first But the
volume gradually increased In size and density,
tbro1eh the audiences and several persons h1r. rH
rled themselves into the street, without any
TtheP M Sa rs ssarGey possible IS th
establishment were aware of the real state of
the case; but they deemed it inexpedient to
alarm the audience and thereby cause panic,
which might have resulted in serious Toss of
life in the effort to escape from the burning
building, They also hoped that the flames in the
stable might be extinguished before any great
damage was done. For these reasons they ex.
erted themselves to quiet the com mmotion,
which was beginning to make headway among
the performers on the stage AT the time that
finished the overture to the Demon Dance of
The Black Crook; the curtain had risen, and
from twenty-five to thirty young girls. dressed
evolutions peculiar to that spectacular scene.
The dance was continued for a moment, but
the volume OF smoke increased so rapidly that
the performance had to terminate, Then there
was a general rush for the exit doors on the part
Of the audience and in a short time the theatre
was cleared OF spectators, happily without acci-
dent. Several of the small boys who were
rifed that they leaped reckiessly from the
second story window to the pavement. lad
street, with his Skull so badly crushed that he
expired In few minutes and IL is probable
that he was one OF those who leaped from the
The actors and actresses, as soon as the per-
1ormanee terminated, endeaVored to gain their
dresstng-rooms Tor the purpose OF securing their
several wardrobes Those whose rooms were
nearest the Walnut street front Succeeded in
rescuing many OF their effects but about this
time the flames broke through the floors In the
rear, and all access to the other rooms was thus
shut of, as we'll as egress from the theatre by
means of the private entrance on Sansom
street. Some OF the male performers, assisted
by persons in the audience, endeaVOred 10
retard the progress of the flames by tearing
down the scenery; but while they were thus
engaged the drop-curtain fell to the floor of the
stage, and the work was brought to a close
Ali the members of the company, and the
remainder OF the audience then gained the
street as rapidly as was pOSStble. The per-
senators OF Ethiopian characters did not have
time to remove the stains OF the burnt cork
from their faces, and the dauseuses were hur-
Tied by the throng into the street, atttred in
their flesh .colored tights and short gauzy
dresses. One OF the danoing girls was so over
come by the excitement and exhaustion that
she fainted away just as she reached the open
air. She was immediately removed TO a place
where resLoratives could be applied; and, as far
as we have been able. TO ascel tain no other
member OF the company met with any mishap.
The others also sought refuge in the neighborIng
houses or their homes, that they might as soon
rs possible attire themselves in more becoming
garments.
About one hundred persons we're comprised
an the theatrical company, and attached 20 the
Theatre In various positions, all OF whom.
1or ea, Ine Lime being, are thus thrown out
was Mr.. Robert Fox. Mr. Robert EarnshaIS
was the business manager and MIR Jamas I5ii
Srlm .ne ,a aSthps tbe gsSge manager Tno
taYe Ritter. The leading performers were Fran I
Brewer, Frank Wood, Charles III. Stewart Ssnr.
named ""Fetty stewart"); Mademoiselle La
bers Of the stock company We're Denny Gal.
lngheP, Miss Alice Seidler, Miss Maggie Wesner
and Miss Julia Porter.
names, the hremen succeeded in carrying ouI