The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-09
.r.rrifvine Scene at Niblo's, New York
Narrow Escape from Wholesale
Slaughter.

From the n. Y. Evening Telegram, Aug. 3.
Last evening, during the performance of
"Arrah ma Pogue,' at Niblo's, there occur.
red an event which all but resulted in a
| shocking disaster, beside which the Mast
Hope horror would have been mere baga-
tele. The theatre was crammed to ITS Vt
most capacity. The play had progressed to
about the middle Of the first act, and MISS
| Fiddes and Mrs. fitzgerald only were on the
stage. The audience was deeply interested
| in the dialogue, and were intently watchdog
| the business Of the scele, when suddenly
there was a trembling Of the building to its
very foundations, low reyerberation and
| a roaring, followed quickly by tremendous
| explosion, sounding like the report Of
heavy gun. This occurred in the cellar uu.
der the right hand lobby on THE Crosby
street sidel, and the force was 80 great that
an immense hole was torn in the flooring,
the brickwUrk and plaster were shattered,
and immense volumes Of smone, dust, steam,
aud gas Of "a suIphurc odor were poured in
to the front of the auditorium and filled the
entire house. Tne audience gave out stimuli.
taueous shrieks Of horror there were cries
of fire long and loudly repeated, and the
stage manager and employees however, hurl.
ed the men from the footlights into the or.
chesra as fast as they climbed up, and thus
STAYED the rush for sufficient time 10 make
the necessary explanations 10 calm the ex-
cited audience, who were with difficulty in.
duced to resume their seats. II waS found
that q number Of ladies had tainted in the
rush and terror consequent on the exciting
events crowded within few minutes. No
serious Injuries, however were auicrcd by
any one--that is, no bones we're broken
and the play went on, although the house
was in such n iluter that very little Of the
dialogue could be heard.
The dramatic critics, Of course, after the
danger was over, made for the lobby TO as
certain the causes Of the explosion. They
were waylaid by Palmer however, aud de.
coved away to the front Of the house, until
a Gordon Of men, with much shirt front and
great display of diamond cart wheels there.
on, was formed about the shattered part Of
the building, and brutally assaulted, without
word Of gentlemanly remonstrnuCc, any
person whose curiosity led him to pry into
the ruin. This being tbs state of affairs
of course the critics who made report in
this mornings papers knew only by heresay
of the causes Of the accident, and had in
ducements to secresy, more or less potent or
persuasive Great damage was unidentified
ly done; how great the public may never
know, since the press which should give the
information was denied the chance to uso
its eyes, and received it's impression Of the
accident only through its ears-tirst by the
explosion and next BY the explanations Of
the managers. The Telegram reporter was
first on the scene, and simply looked at the
ruin without asking any questions, but to
his astonisbment was suddenly seized by
one of the be-gemmef rowdies, hangers on
of the establishment, and hurled back with.
out word of explanation. This style Of
rutlianism prevailed in the treatment of
many gentlemen in the vicinity, and de
serves severe apprehension, although the
manager who was "A witness Of it stated TO
several gentlemen who witnessed it that he
considered it 'perteetly proper 1t was
e& plaiu-d that by drogen reservoir of great
size, GUed with oxygen gas for the CALCIUM
lights on the stage, had exploded.
Itseems impossible that this could have
occurred without fire resulting, but the Sc.
cresy Of tie management in the matter al
lows Of no definite statement Of the damage
done by .hGt or any other means. The
panic was greater, however, than any that
has ever occurred in any New York theatre;
that fact Is uudeuiabe