The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-03
THE FLEE MARsHAL's INVESTIGATION.

The Origin OF the Fire still Undis-
covered-Tcstimony OF the Treasurer
and the Watchman OF the Theatre.
The following testimony was taken before the
Fire Marshal yesterday In the case OF the fire at the
Fifth Avenue Theatre:- reAn
TESTIMONY OF AARON APPLETON. =. a..
Mr.. Appleton said--l live at $40 West lThrty-frst
Theatre; was in the theatre al the time
dressing .ross,s Of the theatre are under the
auditorium; there Is no direct comm unication be-
once at the sine Of the discovery OF the re except
my boy and Charles M. Patterson and myself;
Roberts the scenic artist Charles Dorst. his assist
him. and, think, Kelly, the gasman, were in the
theatre; Chapman, one OF the company. was at the
four O'Clock; | had just finished counting my
matinee money and put 1t in the safe,
saw smoke coming out Of the fan WINDOW Of the
door on the east side Of my ofce, and at the same
instant the gas Ia my office went out gradually as
though turned oil at the meter; the going out OF
the gas caused nae to look up, and then saw the
smoke; the register in my office was open. and a
OF the gas going out had observed no increase Of
heat, nor had smelled anything burning; on OBJ
serving this smoke opened door leading TO the
was met by a volume OF smoke and a fame that
drove me back afterwards made an attempt to
part Of the house; think taere are two Of them
ing, with passages on the east and west sides; no
can tell where the fire started; was the first
one to discover It, and then Ii had too much head
way for me to tell where it commenced; we had q
Waterman night aud day, but he was not In the
building at the time. 'rtt 1% FL.
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM HEssIoN.
Mr.. HessioR, on being examined, said-I live at
ass East Twenty-third street; was Waterman at the
terday afternoon; tsN curtain dropped at Jour
O'Clock; my post was near the foot OF the stairs
at the stage entrance and between two
furnaces. remained there until all the men,
bers OF the company had passed out and
my business Is also to see that no strangers come
in there; no strangers passed me yesterday; after
out Ill the lights in the "greenroom; went to
the stage and asked Kelly, the carpenter, how soon
he would be through; understood from him that
he would not be through Tor some time asked all
auditorium, as was going to lock the back door
and was going home; ! passed through both the
LADIES' and eentlemen's passages in attending to
my duties; everything was all safe then 30 far as
main until after the carpenters had left,
80 RI TO see to the gas lights.
1t was after halfpast four O'Clock
when left the theatre went across the park and
stopped q few moments and then went down
thrOc 9Th Twenty fourth street; had not got half
block down when heard the alarm OF fire; as the
members OF the company go out they give me the
and went and turned out their gas and locked up
their rooms; did not enter any or the other rooms
yesterday; ! usually examine them all; all the
appliances for extingu1shing fires were kept con-
relieved after the evening performances are over
1 was downstairs through the passage ways about
i've minutes before left the theatre; ! observed
no sme II OF anything burning; don't know OF any.
thing thar might have caused the fire.
After this witness had hnisned the investigation
was adjourned