The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-30

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Nsw Yoaa, Eoystater n. asA Dew minutes
past this Stsorning; while flreniasi were Re.
turning from q fire on First avesl,fe. smoke
was discovered issuing from the window d
the Arion Saloon, No. T2D Broadway. seee
raj OF the police, instantly breaking ia The
plate tsss Windows, saw through, The dense
slnoke . terrific fire burning In che saloon
while one sounded an alarms the others
who saw the coming danger, btirst in the
door of No. IlS Broadway, aid His the en-.
gtres eams teGfihg to the scene, had rescued,
I'VE persons, Including a sick lady, all OF
whom We're paralyzed with fear, and were
taken to the New York Hotel.
Before an ounce Of water could be brought
to bear the entire destruction of Lima Ed.
wins theatre, adjoining, was foreshadowed.
Snake like the flames crept Under the par
quette to the stage, nred the scenery, and burst
out III fGli view of Lafayette place; while in
the front Of the building the lobby and
checR-taker's room saught Gre. Second and
third alarms had been rang out and were
obeyed with alacrity, and such was the in
trepdity Of the department that at one time
it was thought possible to save part of the
theatre, as no sign Of flame had yet been
seen IN the auditorium. This hope was a
vain one. With n sound akin to that of an
explosion the flames burst out in the balcony,
and in less than minute the entire theatre,
from parquettc to roof, was lurid sheet of
flame.
The tiremen had now to battle danger on
all sides. TO the left, valuable property to
the right, houses OF most ipfiammable
build in front, a house filled with valuable
furniture, articles Of vertu, and stage pro.
perties; in the rear, palatial houses with
wooden verandas, which caught fire in every
direction.
At half-past two the alarm was so general
that both Lafayette place and Broadway
were thronged with half-dressed people,
holding bird-cages, trunks, satchels, and val
liable articles, and were Hospitality cared for
by those who were in places of safety, but
they had little cause for alarm; for, as if by
agreement, roof. walls. and pillars fell in the
theatre with an awful crash, the Gre-demon
gave last lurid surge high in the air, light
Ing up the the entire city, and in five minutes
Lila Edwin'> theatre was heap Of shoulder
Ing ashes. The houses on fire in Lafayette
place and Nos. us and 720 Broadway were
soon cXtincuiShed. The losses are calcutta
ted as follows: Lima Edwiu's theatre, on
building, $4,000; on scenery, $4,000; on
properties belonging 10 Emerson's MiustrclS
and Others, $500; Colonel 7. Allston Brown,
$4,000; owner Of 40 Broadway, $4,000;
owner of us Broadway, $4,000 loss on
buildings in Lafayette place, $4,000; total,
$4,000.
The fire originated in a building in the
rear of TIC Broadway. and spread rapidly to
adjoining buildings in the rear of ia, I16,
us, 72O, and 722 Two of those known as
Lima Edwin's Theatre, now occupied by
Kelley g. Leon'S Miustrels and the Ari0n
Music Hall, were completely destroyed, and
the private residence of DR.. S. S. Fitch was
badly damaged. In the centre of the block
the rear buildings Of 4 number of houses
were burned. Matthew's auction-housc and
G.. l.. Kelley & Co., dealers in wood hang
ings, were badly damaged by water. Seve-
raj persons were rescued by tiremen at great
peril. The loss is thought to be 100000.
The origin of the lire is unknown.
The following arc the reported losses by
the fire: Building No. 720, A. T. Stewart
owner, damaged $4,000, insured; No. us,
A. I. Stewart owner, damaged $4,000.
The loss of Kelley & Leon, MINISTRIES, is $780,
600, insurance small. Other losses amount
to about So, 900, on which there is some in
surancc.