The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-08
AFTER THE FIRE.
The Ruins Of Niblo's INSTRUMENTATION Ints
the Cause of the Disaster Meeting of Pro-
fessionals-Aid for the Victims-The
Metropolitan Theatres Combin-
ing for Grand Benefit.

The terrible fire which destroyed the once bcaufi-
ful theatre known Nibo's Garden has left behind
IL a scene Of unmitigated chaos and disorder.
Where the stage stood a mass OF burned timbers,
irons and dresses are tossed in the widest con-
fusion, mixed with the ruined paraphernalia OF
dramatic announcements The auditorium presents
a picture OF dilapidatcd rows of broken and burned
chairs, swords scmetars, helmets. the remnants OF
armor anu fragments OF the stage furniture that
was slowed away in the loft above the dome. During
the afternoon OF Monday couple of engines wera
kept at work upon the debris to drive out any re-
naming elements of the fire.
This was also kept up during the night, and at q
late hour yesterday morning the workmen were
able to begin to remove some OF the rubbish at the
Crosby street end of the building. The walls be-
tween which the dressing rooms stood are still
standing, hut they viii have to be pulled down for
several reasons. 1t Is now expected that large
quantity of valuable property will be saved,
1t IL said that when the back wall
fell 1t buried beneath the crumbed bricks and NOR
tar machinery and costumes that may yet be made
useful. The new theatre which 1t is the intention
Of Mr. Stewart to build will be
GOOD DEAL LARGER
than the one just burned down. The wall win
be run up from Crosby street, and space hitherto
occupied 10y the dressing at the back will be-
thrown into the stage to give ampler room for
spectacular pieces. In every other respect the ar
rangement of the theatre will be Just the
same. The new Nbo's win be lighted
from the dome by star reflector, after the manner
OF the Chatelet in Paris and every modern appi-
ance tending to make the theatre a comfortable
one ana effective for the kind of drama the man.
ayers intend to represent there will he used. Fire
Marshal Mcspedon held an Investigation Yesterday
afternoon into the causes that led to the Dire. Bent
son Sherwood and u number OF other witnesses were
examined Mr.. Sherwood said he was not IN the
theatre at the time OF the lire. He had left the
building at halfpast nine on the previous evening"
A REHEARSAL OF 'LALLA R0oRHn
was going on when he left the theatre; 1T was,
finished about midnight he got to the theatre on
o'clock the dome was then on fire over tho gallery
seats in the small hatchway: he did not zee it,
burning in any other place at that time: the domei
Tell in about fifteen minutes after he got there; two
men were In the theatre when Mr.. Sherwood got
there, who told him they discovered the fire frat
on the opposite side OF the DOME just the Cur
tain the entire space between the dome and the
outer roof was open: there We're partitions in
the place and only temporary floor, that the,
people could get about: properties of various kinds
were slowed away in there, some of which had
been there for number of years; II Is usually con
sidered the most dangerous part OF the theatre on
account OF the materials kept there; no light Of,
any kind is ever allowed up there: some six or,
space between the temporary roof and the outer
dome about three feet at the lowests
POM ana as s ho as ee' AZ m e ~ had
men ut work until about seven O'Clock on the even ,
ing before the fire; during the rehearsal there
was number of supcrnuneraries up there. He did
not know Of anything in the loft that would ignite
spontaneously; no explosion took place to hiS
knowledge; there were three gasometers in
the house. rOne of which were injured; there were
two fire plugs In the stage and one In the 'front.' con-
nectcd with the Crosby street main, but there was
force enough the water to enable to reach tho
flames; there was no
FIRE ALARM SIGNAL BOX
in the theatre He thought ii there had been the
alarm could have been given in time to enable tho
fircmen to save the theatre. All places OF amuse
ment and public halls should be provided with at
least two fire alarm bONes-One on the stage and
one in the front OF the building There We're two
fire eytnguishers the stage, but they could NOT
| be used on the fire account of the smoke.
Paul Serena, the assistant gas man. said he slept
in the theatre the night before the fire, and the first
| thing he OF the fire was u piece of burning
wood falling on the stage.
Edward Flanagan, the jantor OF the theatre, said
he was duty all night He was up In the dome
at O'Clock on the morning OF the fire with Alan
tern and everything was safe there as far as he
could see. In the opinion Of the Fire Marshal the
calamity originated In either spontaneous cOmbus-
ton from sparks from the hotel chimney falling
through some broken glass In the skylight. The OK
! animation will be resumed this morning. The esti-
mated losses 100000 the theatre $4,000 on
the hotel and about $40 900 the neghboring prop
crty The attaches OF the theatre have lost about
$1,000, none of whom are insured.