The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07
NiBL0'S BURNED.
The Grand Thespian Temple a
Mass Of Smouldering Ruins.
laIIa Rookh Amid Her Fire
Worshippers.
The Fire Fiend Leads the Dance OF
Wreck and Ruin.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION Of THE THEATRE.
Commencement, Progress and End
Of the Con6agration.
LOSSES AND ASSURANCES.
Narrow Escape Of the Metropolitan Hotel
from the DevOuring Element.
SCENE AND INCIDENTS
Early Histrionic "reminiscences of
1Jiblo's.
Commencement, Progress and End
Of the ConGagration.
LOSSES AND ASSURANCES.
Narrow Escape Of the Metropolitan Hotel
from the DevOuring Element.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS
Early Histrionic "reminiscences of
rliblo's.
OTHER THEATRES BURNED.

OTHER THEATRES BURNED.
At quarter to eight O'Clock yesterday morning
FIRE broke out in the dome of Niblo's Garden that
IN one hour and twenty minutes completely de-
stroyed the theatre and oil the property contained
In 1t. When first noticed by Officer Cush, of the
Metropolitan Hotel, there was but q slight issue
OF smoke from an opening in the roof; and the
Of1cer, thinking it was caused by some work in the
theatre, gave no alarm for some time Finding,
however, that the
VOLUME OF SMOKE
continued to increase, he into the theatre and
Ut that moment two men at work on the stage
shouted, 1.-THE theatre is on flrel" Cush gave an
alarm, and In an almost incredible space OF
time a number OF engines were on the ground.
second alarm was sounded and the
ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT
was almost Immediately on the spot. This second
alarm attracted the attention of Ben Sherwood the
machinist of the theatre who was on his way to the
building on Blocker street car. He asked one
Of the men on passing engine where the fire was,
and the location was sooner shouted to him than
he jumped or the and started in the wake OF the
nyfng engine. BY this time the fire had eaten it's
way into the store ROOM under the dome, and
THE HUNGRY FLAMES FOUND AMPLE FOOD
In the Immense quantities OF properties laid away
there When the fire had evidently gained con-
troll OF the roof over the auditorium Ben Sherwood
ordered the lines Of the drop curtain to be cut in
order to save the stage from the draught
o. the front of the house. Some little difficulty oc-
CURED in the way OF the DROP and Mr.. Sherwood
snatched up and cut the ines shouting at the
same time to the fremen on the stage below to get
ant of the way OF the BARREL and the curtain fell
M n trcu m ctan for
come time checked the fire on it's march to the
stage, but the dense masses of smoke
that swept through the building stined the
men and made their work exceedingly Ia
serious. The firemen were everywhere playing
water tearing up the tmbers and 1inging out
portions Of the property in the building. They
swarmed like bees every part of the burning
Theatres but, unfortunately, nothing could save the
well known place of amusement.
Fifteen minutes after the curtain was dropped the
dome fell, and the sound Of the tumbling mass OF
masonry sounded like the report of a cannon as 1t
fell into the dress circle and parquet, smashing all
before it. The dust Of the falling stones, mortar
and burning timbers added to the already heavy
cloud OF smoke that had gathered on
the stage and made it almost impossible for the
men in the wings and flies to do anything to stop
the work Of the flames in that direction. Mr.. Sher-
wood had managed to get into the wardrobe room
ever the carpenters shop by means Of a ladder
placed against the outer wall In Crosby street. and
BLINDED AND BURNED WITH THE SMOKE,
sparks and the flames flung quantity Of the ward
robe out Of one of the rear windows into the
street.-the value OF the wardrobe being
stated at $4,000. AS fast as the master
machinist flung ont the tights shields, helmets,
casquetS, robes, ermine capes and Roman togas
William Vail, Jim Leo, Gill Sherwood and number
OF other stage assistants received the property and
took # into Mrs. Tlanagan,s opposite, and Nbo,s
robe Ben Sherwood crept out the flies and
dropped upon the stage. Desiring Flanagan, the
night Waterman, to follow him, he struggled through
the smoke across the stage, gained the Office on the
80. r." side and from there rescued the plots
Of
A NEW SPECTACULAR PIECE,
which was TO have been produced some time dur
ing the month Of August. AS number of the men
TO give Mr.. Sherwood some air the new drop which
wos intended for 'Lala Rookh' took fire, and
SsseS up IKE much paper This
was considered masterpiece of art The flames
rom TINS drop caught some OF the sets hung for the
were being
EATEN UP BY THE DRvoURING ELEMENT
The whole inside of the theatre was then a mass OF
seething, dashing names, that swept from side to
nde ana nom wall TO wall tapping all the substance
or ruins. Properties furniture and dresses were
hung from the rear Of the house to the front chairs
forum, the stage and corridors Books music
manuscripts and instruments of theatrical
warfare were dashed in all directions
and although the ircmen were pouring tons of
water into the house the flames seemed TO slack
nothing OF their fury. A number on the stage,
seeing that all hope OF saving anything more ut the
back OF the house was useless, endeavored to get
through the auditorium. but the flames were at the
time SO fierce that they found 1t impossible. Headed
BY Ben Sherwood they rushed around the theatre to
che front on Broadway. and Mr.. Sherwood, Selling
ladder, made for the private Office OF the firm, and
was fortunate enough 70 be able to save all the pri
vate papers belonging to Jarrett g. Palmer aud the
SAFE, CONTAINING TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED
DOLLARS IL CURRENCY.
among these papers were some very valuable
documents connected with the theatre for some ten
years BACK and a number OF deeds belonging TO
lake LAX zimmerman. In that office we've also guam.
My OF Jewels, statuary ana objets Ge rtrtu the
property OF Jake Zimmerman, and many Of them
were WET, saved although some Of them consider
Try 10, % py ,he handling they had received.
lne booi crest belonging to tile master machinist
was then got through one OF the VIA
COWS that opened upon the garden and
StSsr c 9. bsn oherwoods property saved Three
ana Gill Sherwood. were also got ont in fhe same
manner; but this was AL the goods belonging 10 the
~. eP'oyeu on tne stage that were saved from
Inc con1agrafcn. The saving of the tool chest OF
snc macunist was a most fortunate occurrence. for
.sic insurance upon II expired last Wednesday and
not be- eaSY many cslpe implements that could
burning ,...g about haii an hour Tom OakIy the ma.
c c rom Tue Grand Opera House, noticed the
flames dashfng against the walls OF -
Tue METROPOLITAN HOTEL.
ond fearing they WOULD get In at tho windows ana
attack the house, he called tho attention NJ Mr.
sherwood 70 ,nc aet. The latter gave Instructions
10 INC people ~ tc hotel 10 close all the iron shut
ters on the 0utsdes OF tho windows and with the
cxertions OF the nreinen tho hotel was fortunately
saved. IN addition to the numerous streams
poured into the burning building BY the members
Of tho Fire Department, the men belonging 10 tho
1heRtrn hon three streams from tho engines be.