The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-03
The Bnrnine of the Fiftn-Avenue
Theatre In New York-Totai Destruc.
ton Of the Buiading-The Scene Of

tton Of the Buialing-The Scene oil
Excatement-Iosses, tSc.
NEW YORK, january 1.-The Fifth-Avenue
Theatre was burned to the ground soon aitef
the afternoon performance today The fire
Which totally Consumed the Fifth-Avenue
Theatre commenced shortly after O'Clock
in the afternoon. 1t was about 400 when
the smoke was first discovered ascending
from near the roof In the rear of the theatre
although the fire must have started long be-
fore that time in lower portions Of the build
ing. The matinee audience, which attended
to witness the play Of False Sbamc," had
scarcely more than dispersed.
Passcrs by, witnessing the smoke, gave the
alarm upon the streets, and q crowd Of seye-
raj thousand persons was soon gathered;
nearly filing mp Twenty-iourth street ftotn
Broadway west ID Sixth avcnuc. The thea
tire adioins the Tifth-Avenue Hotel on the
Twenty-fourth street side, and is the first
building west on that street towards Sixth
avenue. On the Broadway side the hotel
shuts il out from view, and hence the flames
were not to be seen from that direction. Tn
scarcely more than fifteen minutes after the
discovery Of the fire the whole structure was
abaze, burning like so much straw.
The flames assembled with great ficrceness,
and lit up the surrounding squares. =:
The crowd which by 4:45 had assembled
almost wholly blocked up Twenty-fourth
street, and took possession of the door-stcps
md riazz's of private dwellings on the north
side OF the street to witness the con1arra.
ton. The streets at that hour were well
filed with men making their Ncw-Year's
calls, who, as they ncarcd the vicinity, added
to the throng.
There seemed to lie considerable delay in
the arrival Of the Fire Department., as fully
fifteen minutes elapsed from the time the fire
was well under way before any engine ncared
the spot, and upon their arrival the usual
nlacriiy seemed TO be wanting in gcttin.
water on.
There WAS great excitement ut this time IN
the Fifth.Avcnuc Hotel, aS it WAS found tho
fire would spread to that cdiiicc but il was
saved by the cXcrtionS of the tircmcn.
After the arrival Of the tircncn The police
drove the crowds Oh TWenty-ioilr'h street
clear back to Sixth avenue. and even pre-
vented many WHO were residents III The street
from getting to their homes.
Mr.. Appleton, treasurer Of the Fiftl-Avc-
nue. Theatre. SAW the tire come Up the regi>-
ter ut AS, but before lie reached the street
10 give The alarm the flames had run through
the whcl: building, eNrei"pinG it ina mass OF
fire, and in less than III hour completely tie
stroyed the theatre.
The servants in the Fifth-Avcnuo Hotel,
who. almost simultaneously with Mr.. Apple
ton, saw the IRE, became frightened ami
rushed wildly into the corridors, bnt tl!e
chief Clerk, Chalfec. at once restored or
der, and directed thirteen streams from
the hotel to play or the fire, thus saving the
hotel. .....
About twenty minutes after the first out.
ereak the south wall of the theatre ielL carry
ing with 1t the east wall; which struck the
west wall OF the Filth-Ayenuc Hotel, smash
ing hoe in il twenty feet wide 10y fifteen
lcet high, ana destroying the fryug md
baking Kitchen Snd.i The west wall of the
stnSc !ell. and striking the root or two pri-
eate stables, belonging to Philip Phcnix and
Arnold, Constable Il Co.. conplctcly dc.
molished thsm. The horses were. however,
saved;
The lircmen were assisted Ivy the hotel fire
brigade, and thus were able 10 contine the
fire to the theatre.
The building was owned hv 4. Z, Emo,
who G :ti'.!a!E;; Ills IUSs at $4,000, while the
lessee. Aug,l>tin DAILY. loses $4,000 i'll
scenery, wardrobe. and Improvements.
All the private wardrobe .! Tue actors WAS
destroyed.
The fire, which was caused by q defective
furnace, broke out twenty minutes after the
close Of the matinee performance.
Several persons, among others Mr.. Oar
ling, one of tic proprrtUrs Of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel were slightly injured while
attempting 10 save The property.