Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-06
Burning Of GrisWold's Opera House
IN Troy.

o'clock, FIRE was discovered in the rear O
Griswold's Opera House, in Troy, and al
soon as possible an alarm was given. TIL,
fire had evidently originated on the stage
and owing to the infammable nature Of
the scenery, spread with inconceivabl'
rapidity to other portions of the house
Although the fremen responded with
their customary promptitude, everything
upon the stage was either wrapped in
flames or consumed before stream o.
water could be brought to bear upon the
fire. The appearance of the burning
building as the flames gained control o.
the doomed edifice are thus graphically
described by the Troy Times:
The scene was soon one of almost I'M
paralleled grandeur, and no scenic effec
was ever before produced upon the stage
with such thrilling and startling majesty
From the large rear window and from
the roof immense columns of threatening
fame assembled towards the sky. Every
minute these columns increased in volume
and grandeur until the heavens seemed
to be mass of light. Enormous guam
titles of thick smoke of the blacklist hue
rolled out from the front windows, and al
the fire spread from the stage to the side
galleries and thence to the center, it gave
way to the on-marching flames. Soon the
upper part of the entire structure was
cracking and blazing with the light of the
fiery demon. The streams of water thrown
upon it by the iremen were quickly lap
ped up and to all appearance had not the
least effect in extinguishing the fire. Then
it became apparent that the Opera House
could not be saved, and the fremen la.
bored with all their might to prevent the
destruction of the adjoining buildings
As they worked the harder the fire grew
the mightier, and in few minutes the
entire interior of the theatre was a mass
of fame and smoke. The fire soon worked
its way down into Bishops saloon.
In the billiard hall of this place were
five billiard tables, valued at $3.50 each
One was taken out, but when it had been
carried hundred feet it was broken
almost beyond repair. The others were
allowed to remain in the saloon, and all
shared the fate of the other contents Then
followed the falling in of the roof When
this occurred flames and smoke were for
The top of the walls were hkened to 6
fire. The sparks were carried by the
wind in a southerly direction. Some OF
them lighted on the roof of ST. Paups
church. and for few minutes it was ap
pretended that at least one of the steam
ers would have to cease working on the
secular and throw stream on the religi
Gus edifoe. Arduous exertions OF
the part of the Rev. DIR. Potter
Engineer Knibbs and other mem
bers of the Arba Read Steamer Com
pany prevented this necessity, which, hat
it occurred at that juncture, would hav'
entailed the loss of several buildings ad
joining the theatre on the North anc
South, besides serious damage to the
church. In the rear of the theatre are {
large number of wooden sheds, which
were subjected to an intense heat, anc
every few minutes some of the streams
playing upon the burning building were
diverted and thrown upon them. A door
at the entrance to the parquette led from
the theatre to w. D. Van Arnum's resi-
dence, and through this door the fire com
municated to the dwelling. Here ensued
hard struggle. The flames seemed Il
udN6 concentrated IuolT anu iuSheG
through the opening in almost over whelm
ing force. A line of hose was laid through
the dwelling, and for more than an hour
a stream was necessary at this place. A
last the flames became less powerful, anc
the fremen conquered them.
Col. Steenberg's barber shop and resi-
dence adioiued the theatre on the North
and after the frat hour it seemed that it
s.l al
| and tho tinInnai was congratulated upon
his good fortune. He received the con
CALCULATIONS with his usual urbanity, and
started on an exploration to ascertain the
condition of his building. just after leav-
ing it, and going across the street, loud
crash was heard. A portion of the wall
of the Opera House had fallen upon his
building, and had crushed in the roof anc
second story. The wreck was complete
During the progress of the fire the Colone
had removed small portion of his house
hold goods, including the silver service
recently presented to him by the officers
and members of the Twenty fourth regi
ment. Everything else. with the excep
i ton of the contents of one small room
was carried down by the mass of bricks
that fell upon his dwelling. This occurred
at o'clock, and after the firemen had got
the fire under control.
The firemen exerted themselves to the
utmost to stay the progress of the flames
and that the FIRE was not more disastrous
in its results is due to their arduous eff.
forts under the excellent management Of
the Chief Engineer and his assistants
Some cases of narrow escape frem injury
occurred, but fortunately no lives were
lost, or any one seriously hurt. The
Times has the following in regard to the
damage by the fire;
The loss is of course very heavy, but tbs
exact amount has not been definitely as.
eertained. Expressed in round numbers
it may be called $4,000. Mr.. Van Ar
MANS loss upon the theatre and dwelling
is about $45 900 Bishops loss on saloon
and fixtures $4,000. His loss was total
Mr. Bishop not having dollars insu.
rance. John Fl. Allen, who occupied a
portion of the ground floor as an exchange
Office, loses about $3.50. The rear part Of
the Crystal saloon was slightly damaged
and the owner, w. o. Carpenter, loses
$3.50. Col. Steenberg's loss is between
|
ing south of Mr.. Van Arnam's residence
was slightly damaged. Messrs. Mitchell
g Wilton, lessees of the theatre lose $500
and their lease. A number of the actors
sustained considerable loss by the de.
struction of their wardrobes. Miss Laura
Paige seems to be the heaviest sufferer.
Several articles of jewelry and valuable
dresses owned by her were destroyed
The loss to the company is about $1,000
Mr.. Van Arnam is insured for $4,000
Col Steenberg for Sc, 800, and W. o. Car.
penter for more than he loses. The other
losses are all total. This light insurance
is accounted for by the statement that
the rates demanded by the insurance
companies upon the theatre property
were nearly five per cent.
The following is the insurance on the
theatre:
Franklin of Philadelphia, $4,000; An