The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07

were not SO effectual In stopping the names as
those nom the powerful engines Of the Fire Depart
horizons OF the building, and especially the walls
Of the hotel fronting the garden that divides 1t from
the theatre. The men working these engines,
streams, and the
were relieved at regular intervals their places sup
piled with fresh men and the work kept going con-
stantly on. When the dome fell the curtain was
standing and tou she wings flies and stage
afterwards the flames took in the middle OF
the curtain and that set fire to the entire rigging
OF the stage In about twenty minutes the cordage
OF the flies was eaten away and the flies FELL carry
ing with them the rain box and thunder drum,
which made terrible report as IL crushed upon
the stage. The lime lights then tumbed down and
A UNIVERSAL CHAOS
set In. Fourteen minutes and a half after the
scenery gave way the stage fell in The barrel OF
the curtain had communicated the fire to star
trap close to the second entrance, left, and the
names dashed In long tongues beneath the boards
until great
MASSES OF MACHINERY,
started loose from their places, began to roll, and
then the entire stage gave way falling distance OF
twenty feet. The machinery underneath the STAGE
which was all designed specially for the theatre by
Ben Sherwood, was all destroyed, and 1t was esti-
mated as being worth at least one hundred thou
sand dollars. The stage itself was an original con-
ceptiOn by the inventor Of the machinery, and was
so constructed and adapted to the working OF the
theatre that one might sit upon any part OF it and
at the procurement Of wish he at once was
transferred to some mysterious region below.
movement, and everything IN the place seemed
phernalia underneath the stage Is supposed to have
been the most perfect Of its Kind In the world and
was capable OF
Transformation scene lately purchased In Eng
land, and which is now on It's way out here the
steamer Glenhavcn, would have tested the ma
chtnery to considerable extent to develop some OF
its beauties; but the stage people felt thoroughly
nee The
in New York; but there is yet no Nib0s Garden to
put it into. Shortly after the stage went the back
oil in fhn yhnrn ofn tnn
ni1cent theatre was a broad gap breaking
out into the FRI armament beyond The gar:
Her the ea garden wallis the Moor Of the
over the carpenters, shop gave way, and nearly
police, who was working in the neighborhood at
the moment, beneath the ruins. This gentleman
was one OF the first to enter the theatre after the
orchestra endeav0rng to get ont some Of the
musical instruments when the dome was blazing.
CONDUCT OF THE POLICE AND FREMEN
during the trying ordeal deserves the highest
hardWorking, while the firemen were the marvel OF
all present A number Of theories were started
yesterday about the
but none Of them seemed to have any more solid
foundation than rumor. One Of these was to the
erect that the fire was the work Of an incendiary
who had got into the hotel, thrown something COM
bnstble upon the roof and then escaped. What
ton OF almost universal discussion, but no one
seemed to be able to arrive at a satisfactory sOlu
ton OF the matter. Another cause OF the fire many
people said spontaneous combustion. Mr..
Zimmerman, the treasurer OF the theatre, stOutly
maintained that nothing Of that kind could possibly
stored away there were entirely free rom any such
accident Several persons well versed In fires gave
currency to the idea that 1t must have been an acct
dent, but
THE PEOPLE BELONGING TO THE HOUSE
said no one ever went near that part OF the build
ing with light, and so the origin of the calamity is
SlrOuuou
people out of employment who had been engaged
at salaries s ranging nom 50 to 600 per week
the breaking out of the fire said reporter of the
HERALD:-"I was in the theatre fixing the foot
ward Quigey were working with me. At halt-past
seven O'Clock heard kind Of cracking noise over
discovered DIRE extending from the rigging loft to
the dome, In place where IRE Is never used for
any purpose whateyer dmmedately attached the
would not reach, and In an incredible short time
| the flames had completely enveloped the dome Of
to sound the fire alarm Before the fremen arrived
the gas border and proscenium dropped to the floor
the following is list Of the losses sustained by
The building has been injured to the extent OF
Jarrett 4 Palmer lost property to the amount OF
100000. They are insured for $1,000.
The Metropolitan Hotel was injured to the extent
Of $1,000 by smoke and water, aud the furniture
was damaged 20 the extent u $4,000 Insured.
]
extent OF SO, 600, but 1t is insured for s25,00o
number ofMasonic lodges In the same structure
other property in the neghborhOOd Of the fire was
4 injured to the extent OF So 600
| The only people belonging to the theatre who suf-
| fered any considerable loss by the fire were the
treasurer, Jake Zimmerman who lost about So, 500
in personal estate; Ben Sherwood, the machinist,
/ who suffered to the amount of about $500; Charles
Norton the stage manager, who lost quantity Of
valuable stage wardrobe; Signor Opertl, the leader
Of the orchestra, who lost some rare music, and
i nj Ufp hah
very fine Amati violin, worth $3.50, burned up.
An examination into the cause OF the connagration
/ The following is the bill used at the last perform
ance given in the theatre, and contains the exact
cast OF the piece now made memorable by the ter
rible events connected with its history
NIBLO's GARDEN.
I Lessee and Managers jarrett Palmer
stage manager EVERY EVENING. '''0 H. MORTON
the oFl Sh&c RF fRib 4 four acts
| produced with
SsS s's %ss;
TIC piece PRODUCED under the superintendent Of
ms .Ss fsIsS ii s s
s ana F SfSisSei MATINEE, SATURDAY At TWO
Rob King, man who loved and lost Jas. w Collier.
Dash Hoffman man who played to win Chas u. Merton
Philip Rysrs man Who bought twelve miliionss '0We'
Nathaniel Budd man of money John jack
AIRY Black, man with confused ideas of property.
A. H. Davenport
Roland Graham. weak young Miss Bessie Sudlow.
Captain of steamer Bristol, man who obeyed orders
4. Tiltonson.
Elder, detective from the Central Office w H. Pope
William, a coored servant. William Cooper.
Cashiers Clerks Messengers Telegraph Boys Janitor
Portcrs, Cabmen &c.
Violet Spearheart of the world Miss Lizzie Price
Rosey Budd, perennial flower Miss Jenny Lee
Mary Graham. the sister we love Miss frankie Mcclellan
Act Black Friday.Ths Stock Exchange .'' 'Ae'''''
Act 2 The Boudoir of a Woman of the World
Acts Departure of the steamer Bristol for Boston.
Act L. The Railway Ofice-The Sequel to Black Friday
The orchestra under the direction Of Sgnor Opert will
perform the following selections of music
Black NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sunrise down the fall
OF Opcrti.
March, ninth Regiment Observation-Disclosures. Downing
Valse. venus, Wine and Song" ........... Strauss.
Eain oh snyr