The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-10


been summoned. but it is feared they VIII not
arrive in time to save the structure.
| The Palace In Ruins-Sevcn Persons said
to Have Been Killed.
LONDON, June $3.50 p M.
The Alexandra Palace building has been entirely
| destroyed Nothing remains OF the building but
! mass of ruins
1t is reported that seven persons lost their lives
| The destruction or this magnificent palace and
the attendant loss OF life causes CONSERVATION in
| London.
Total Loss and tho Amount or In
surances-The Latest Facts Concerning
the Disastcr-NO Lives Lost.
LONDON, June Q, 1878
The total loss by the burning OF the Alexandra
Palace is estimated at s3,O00,000 on which the
assurances amount to $500, 900.
The fire was caused by the carelessness OF work
men who were repairing the zinc roof
No one was killed, as at nrst reported, but
several persons were injured.
The supply OF water was scarce, and hence the
rapidity with which the fire spread. With half an
hour from the time the alarm was given the entire
structure was enveopec in flames, and one by one
the great domes by which 1t was surmounted fell
in with a sound like thunder.
The large organ was destroyed; but some valua.
BILE pictures and other works OF art were saved.
Opening Day at the Palace In the Pres
ent Scason-Thc Collection OF Paintings
and Statuary,
The Alexandra Palace was opened for the present
season on Saturday, the oath Of May. London
journal describes the scene In the following
Words
Nothing could have been finer than the weather
which favored the opening day Of the Alexandra
Palace, nothing more complete than the success
which attended it. II is probable that Of all the
vast crowd who gathered on Saturday within its
walls. the majority were week since ignorant
even OF the exact locality OF the Palace. They
the north OF London; they had an idea that it was
large building, and had perhaps caught glimpse
OF 1t from the windows OF the Great Northern car
riages; they supposed that, from its position on
a hill, the view would be extensive; and they
had heard that the country in the neighbornood
in their heads, 1t is probable that very few were
prepared for the splendor OF the building for the
Upon no one side, indeed, we may admit, is the
view at all comparable to that from the terraces
OF Sydenham. But at Sydenham there is view
from one side only OF the four, whereas the Alex
andra palace stands upon the apex of a HILL sur
rounded by It's own grounds, which fall away from
pared for what they were 10 see was evident from
the exclamation OF surprise and admiration which
and from the delighted remarks which passed among
the groups which sauntered on the terrace out
side. 1t would be difficult to persuade stranger
| that he was standing within six miles OF the
largest city in the world London is fortunately
cut or from sight by an intervening hill, and
be seen upon the Surrey hills beyond it, London
| itself is quite hid from view. Scattered suburbs
Wood Green are In part visible But IN these rural
villages for they are but large villages, trees are
happily plentiful and even the brick and mortar Of
half hidden by the bright Spring foliage. Never
before can Hlghgate have witnessed such busy
line OF carriages rolled along upon their
way to the Park. and not few must
they determined to make their first trip into this
unknown land in their own vehicles. Hghgate
haa M mp although n st the
character are stu country and very lovely coun-
| try too. The gardens in which the villas nestle are
OF used up brckneld, turfed and becocknified with
round patch or two Of scarlet geraniums. There
Branch rom hampstead to the Palace skirts s;'s
passenger by rail as one halls an old friend when
| one meets him altogether unexpectedly. That
bound. Stili to those who possess carriages we
should say BY all means drive down to the Alex
! andra Palace.
EXTENT OF TIE PALACE AND IT'S CONTENTS
Although its length Is, OF course, nothing to that
OF the Crystal Palace, yet the proportions are so
/ general effect so admirable that NEST people were
| inclined to greatly Overrate Its magnitude. It is
an immense building but in point OF size 1t is small
| by the side OF Sydenham; compared with any other
building it is Of huge dimensions, indeed. In no
manner was this more clearly shown than by
| the apparent size OF the theatre. No perform
| ance took place on Saturday, but the drop scene
was raised and very pretty woodland scene.
remarks were made upon this Every one adj
| mitted the beauty of the scene. but all were in
@ hat as large pray Lane
Impossible 1t s quitela small theatre, was the
general exclamation. But they were wrong. The
| stage is really slightly larger than that OF Drury
Lane, and the fact that 1t looks much smaller
than it is is ample proof OF the size OF ts surround
ings. Next to the general aspect OF the building,
admiration was excited by the grand concert hall,
! formed by the central dome and transept. The SUI
perb organ, with its delicate tints the harmony of
area filed with seats the statuary and the flowers
all combined to make up COUP Gett inferior only
to that or the central transept OF the Crystal Palace
AT the loot OF the column which supports the
dome are eight statues. Four of them are by Bruc-
the other four are BY Mr. penhs@ and
| represent Milton, Newton, Harvey and Bentham.
in the Internal Of the
Bentham sitting by the side Of a semi-nude young
African girl is simply absurd, and as the arrange.
ment Is necessarily IN pairs each savant is welded
to an allegorical figure. We should certainly ad-
wise that some alteration be made in this re-
| spect. AS the groups are now placed the rdic-
uous nature of the situation must strike every
In statuary the Palace is strong, the greater por-
ton OF the statues having been modelled by Bricci-
ami. The greater portion are old friends There
are here Powers 'Greek Slave,n Cannon's 'Three
Graces" the Apollo Belyidere. " the Venus, OF
Milo, the "venus de Medici,v the "Venns'' by Glib
| son. the "Adonis" from the Vatican. the Dancing
Pawn from Florence; the "Fora, rom Rome;
the 'sSatyr," from the British Museum; the
| 'sFaun,n Thorwaldsen's mercury" and shepherd
| Boy" Macdonnels "Eve" and host OF GODS god
desses and heroes from the antique There are, too,
great number Of busts OF roya and ilustrious In
dviduals. on each side OF the theatre colossal
statues Of ''Thalia', and ''Melpomene." Along the
| sides OF the central avenue are large number OF
cases for the exhibition OF objects OF art
istc manufacture and there are also stands for
the sale OF fancy goods. Mention has already
been made OF the Palace, OF the groups OF figures
representing foreign nations, and displayed in APP
| prOpriate dwellings or scenery. They are exceed
| ingly well got up and the surroundings in which
they arc placed greatly heightened the effect which
| they produced when originally shown in the French
| Exhibition. Taken altogether they are perhaps,
the finest collection OF the kind existing with the
ton in the mnsem az Moscow, OF groups represent