The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-06
THE FIFTH ApENUE THEATRE.

It's Destruction by Fire-Narrow Es-
capes-Losses OF Owner, Artists, &c.
The destruction of the Filth Avenue Theatre
in New York, on the afternoon of New Years
Day, has been described In the, telegraphic
dispatches. Some further facts OF interest
are given by the New York papers:
The Herald describes the fire as having
been one OF extraordinary rapidity IN lts de-
structiyeness, the burning up OF the entire
building occupying less than an hour. The
cause Of the fire, 1t ls thought, was an over
heated furnace which had been used 10 warm
the building for the matinee, aud In which
The fire was kept mp for the evening per-
formancp. The building belonged to Mrs.
Lucy D. Fisk, widow of James Fisk. Jr., and
was valued at 5000, 900. Auguslip DAILY, the
lessee, lost $4,000 In wardrobes AID fine
$4,000 or SIS, 900 in jewels, costumes, DC.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
At the time the flames attacked the stage
Mr.. Roberts, the scenic artist, was engaged
upon the front paint frame on the scenery for
the new piece. Two of his assistants we're
with him. Finding escape cut of from The
front of the house, they pulled the frame up
To the flies, and, scaling the ladder that leo 10
the roof, got away over the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. Mr.. Roberts was dressed in hls canvas
painting clothes. but when he got to The Filth
Avenue Hotel Mr.. George De We're procured
him things to go home in. He narrowly
created frIgbttul noise, and for the first time
the people ia the Fifth Avenue became alarm
ed. The thunder-drum smashed with re.
port like cannon, aud the bursting Of the
rain-boX created q
PANIC AMONG THE PEOPLE
living iu Twenty fourth street. The machine
~ that held the scenes over the sounding
board tore away great portion OF the roof
when 1t fell, and draught was created
through the building. The heat In the thea
tre was very fierce. The dressing rooms un-
der the auditorium seemed The root OF the
fire, and the property room added consldera-
BILE fuel to the flame: A currant OF air pass
Ing through the prompt entrance on the left
hand side of The stage caused the various
bells 10 ring. and the people on the opposite
side of the street thought the fairy scene In
the merry Wives of Windsor" was being
again enacted. AS the elegant sets piled
against the side walls tumbled upon the burn
Ing mass, the flames dashed out In new direc-
lions, and 10 a few minutes the rear wall fell
In. The report made by the crushing Of this
wall upon the burning heap beneath broke
the windows 10 the neighborhood, and the
occupants of the houses
RUSHED INTO THE STREETS,
fearing for their lives. When the rear wall
had fallen, large portion OF the moss of fire
was for the moment stopped. The flames
were for several seconds blinded, but the
smoke Increased In densenes5. Soon alter the
side wall adjoining The Filth avenue gave way,
tearing with 1t part OF the hotel wall. The Ice
house of the hotel ran out almost to the thea
tire, and the roof of that building was entirely
taken of: The flames then started into o15s s1s
The side wall oil the theatre fell tumtled In,
aud Mr.. Darling, proprietor of the hotel. mar
rowly escaped being killed. One OF the kitch-
ems and the larder oil
TIE HOTEL
are situated lust on this floor and against the
wall, and 1t was only through the most stren-
nous efforts OF the hremen that the hotel was
saved.
TIE LOSSES OF ACTRESSES AND ACTORS.
Mr.. Daly lost all his valuable wardrobe and
library, as we'll as the fittings ln the theatre.
Mrs. Gilbert was one of the heaviest sufferers
among the atists. She lost all her diamonds
and large portion of her wardrobe. She es-
Inmates her oss at. s5OOO. Miss Clara Motifs
lost some magnificent costumes and stage
iewelry. IRE lady was 30 distracted by the
news Of the fire she could not estimate her loss,
but it is supposed by the actors In the theatre
she lost at least s2500 worth of property. Miss
Fapny Davenport, according to Mr.. Appeton's
report. was ihe heaviest loser among the
ladies' next TO Mrs. Gilbert. Mr.. George
Clark, the rising ruler of American dramatic
taste. lost all his modern wardrobe and large
portion OF the elegant costumes he wore In
the old comedies. He estimates his loss at
$1,000. Mr.. Ringgold lost modern wardrobe
he valued at $500, aud Mr.. Rockwell, the ele-
CANT. supposes his less cannot be much be
meath $ll0O. Mr.. DeVere and his wife, Miss
Nellie Mortimer, suffered a loss of $500, and
Mr.. James Lewis lost property valued at
$1,000. The actors 10 the theatre not only suf-
fered the loss OF their wardrobe, but the bal
ance of the season is useless TO them. The
treasurer with great difficulty managed to
save the receipts of the matinee but failed to
secure valuables Ia the safe. The Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel was damaged about $4,000.