The New York herald., 1876-12-09

there the only nre in the theatre was over the
stage.
on Tuesday night sitting on one Of the top
rows, and when The alarm given dropped down
over the banisters 10 the first light OF stairs John
Lyons called me back and went and the actors
addressing the audience while the hre dropped from
the dies behind them; dropped over the banisters
second time and made my way 10 the street: there
were very tow out before did not see the crowd
ing on the stairs and could not near
what Inc actors said; 1 do not think all
the people the gallery could have gotten out,
even If they had started when Hrst jumped tho
banisters; II was about Two minutes from the time |
heard the first alarm the when got out: saw
no break or injury to tho gallery stars; when got
out went around TO the Johnson street SIDE and saw
the rear OF The theatre all IN names am sure tho
doors were not open there; The large doors TO the
stage were not open; came back 10 the front few
moments affer aud saw no more people come down
the gallery stairs; the place full OF smoke then
could not tell how many got oui.
John Boyle gave the following evidence:-l was 10
the gallery; think there we're 100 peope out before
me; hrst saw the fire In the flies. and then dropped
over the oansers and was carried down the stairs by
the crowd; there was crowd of about twenty five
people after me; heard the actors address the
audience and then returned to my sent; the only fire
saw was over the stage; do not know how II oc
Cured.
LIKE A wHiRLwIxp
Edward Harrison tcstihed:-I at first thought the
falling irc was part OF the play, but much OF II Tell
that ! became alarmed and ran out by the partition
and down tho stairs; some one tell on the stairs ana
the smoke and rc then rushed us like a whirlwnd
John Turner. an old fireman, told me TO look Tor
myself, as tho place was all ablazc the people
panic stricken; they cried out that the were
breaking, and begged Tor Gods sake. 10 let them
out; did not see the stairs break iall think
moro than sevenyhvc people got out; there per-
haps fifty ladies' the gallery did any them
got out; one man cried, III there are men here let
them aside allow The poor women to pass out
hrst;" saw several boys hanging over the partition
crying to the men below TO catch them they tell the
Are had not then reached The gallery but the smoke
up in great volumes; saw Turner go down
ahead OF me, but he must have got lost in the crowd
that tell on the stairs he wns nj time assistant
foreman o. No. Engine. In Prospect street, and, /
thought, knew all about nrcs was thrown down on
the sidewalk, but gained my feet, and waited for
pressed down behind me; saw no effort to clear the
stairs; the people were in perfect panic; yes,
more lhan that; everybody seemed 10 think only of
himself
ruE WARNING TOO LATE.
Charles Andrews was in the dress circle and thus
pictures his escapc:--A made rush for the door /
was knocked down. but succeeded eventually IN res
culng q lady who with me; several lad les
Knocked down in the par quet and others in the yes-
bule; there flash Of tire at the ticket Office
l saw no attempt to pnt out the names IRON tho
dress circle TO the front entrance panic reigDed
several women Knocked down and tho crowd rushed
over them; | no effort on tho part OF the EN-
poyes 10 qucnch the fire; think IL the audience had
flames rsl became visible ali nigh, have been saved.
though there might have been trouble in the gallery
the Dress circle very hot when left It and do not
think all the people got out Of IL saw no break In
the stairs, but heard the fire cracking the stage.
rHE 'JoG" on THE GALLERY STAIRS
Z. NJ. Richardson iesti1ed:-l was in the gallery
and first the nre In the flies the left hand side
every one was on his ieet In an instant; tho people
were pacned for n moment only, and then a stampede
ensued; saw men trying to cxtnguish the flames
with long poles; tho opening from the gallery TO Tho
stairs IS aoout twelve ieet wde and mad doors
In going down the first flight Of stairs all were push
ing, but on their feet the lights were IN; when
passed the rs, landing and got the box office the
oi fA' him ''i then il seemed ali ali who ioiiowca oil
mo were oh that heap; the place was dark,
"e sa Mss
body 10 extricate myself; this was on the jog; men
cried out Let me go" got out and went down
alone am sure there were no bannsters nor handrail
to the stairs nor anything to hold on by except bare
wall; from the street saw one come out, and
tho stage the rear which shut and
nrc; / think got from the gallery after
me- they were all piled up IN heap on the first land
Ing from the street. near The box occ tho stairs had
not given way when l left; there wns no other
stairway from tho gallery there were win
dows overlooking Floods alley, but ! saw
to the front of tho building the police clearing
the street; Mr. Lamb and Mr.. Philips, actors, IN
formed that all tho people safe; tho excite
mcnt and want OF better OF prevented the
people from getting out; the time between the first
and second alarms was fiom two to three minutes;
hose or water used to quench the fire; was
nearly minute in freeing myself from the crowd;
but one place on fire; do not think the people
could have gotten out had tho actors not asked
them stay when they did; the jog or landing caused
the people TO la and their number was 50 large that
they were completely blocked up: | think that not
Than 100 OF the 400 or 500 in the gallery
Got out
A scoRcnEp WITNESS
I Charles Holloway also in the gallery. He
said :I heard runbling noise tho stage, and
after saw the lre In the scenery put my foot over
tho balustrade, and about TO jump down into the
dress circle, when saw sorre ladies below, and
afraid Of falling on them 50 drew back and ran to
the door Leading 10 the s4e jumped over The peo.
up again. and little further, where encountered
pilc Of bodies on the stairs in the dark about nfty
got out; fell thrcc times; did not SEQ tho stairs
break, but think they fell after got down not many
camc down after me; those climbed over on the
stairs seemed 10 be dead; there were two separate
heaps OF people on the stairs the fire overlook and
my was burned was nearly sunocatcd with ter
r.bly thick smoke saw effort 10 extneush the tire.
TWO PREVIOUS FIRES.
William II. Smith, nm actor, was Mt the parqnet door
when the nre occurred His evidence was as olows:-
l1rs saw the hre in the scenery on tho right hand
side Of tho stage once acted nj the theatre under
Mrs. Conway's regime and am familiar with the build
ing was the stage about three weeks ngo during
a performance Of the "Long Strike, when saw the
rubber connection OF the border lights or the third
entrance Ii, then the excitement did pass
beyond tho few people who stood around and the
was shut of At once; II the flame had touched
one OF the borGcrs the result might have
been as disastrous as tho calamity OF Tuesday
night OF the run OF sour Bovsr when John 4.
Owens was there; sat IN the gallery and a
say "sit down and calm tho audience J, have heard
this hre was in curtain In box know that Mrs.
Conway kept large nrc hose attached hydrant
tho cit hand side OF the stage, back, near the WALL
some axes labelled Not TO be used except
OF nre the slage;' they were there think. up to
tho time OF the great fire know that tho ..nrc door''
from the parquet to Floods alley open at the
time OF The nre, as saw number go out by IL.
LANDING.
George H. Price, the doorkecper OF tho theatre was
afnned as follows:-As soon ns heard the cry OF
lire threw open the main door, and also the first door
from the parquet 10 tho lobby; all the doors swung
outward the people all got out OF tho parquct went
the dress circle and found piles OF Dcopc tho
first landing calling Tor help; tried to pull some
women out, but they could not be moved; tho crowd
would not fall back the police came in, ana, finally,
oil we're rescued from that place.
y. +. Brldgman, Cornelius Clifford Otis J.. Braisted
and others who the gallery when the nro
broke out, corroborated the evidence Of the above
witnesses, and again detailed the narrowing events
which occurred on that night prolific OF awful
scenes
THE BUILDING INSPECTORS EVIDENCE
James RDdwcl, Inspector aud superintendent OF the
Erection of Buildings in Brooklyn was also sworn,
and replied 10 the lntcrrogntorics put BY Marshal
Ready, as foIlowslt rs the duty OF inspectors TO
spect and supofntcnd tho erection OF all buildings in
tho city OF Brookyn have been builder for iorty
two years. and have put up number OF large build
ngs several sugar houses colleges, churches, asyums
math0uscs and other buildings; have to-day
ned the plans OF tho BROOKLYN Theatre. and think