The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-13
A F%'rightful Fire.
TERRIBLE Loss OF LIFE.

Dcs% tructlon of the Brooklyn Theatre
Terrible Pan1c-Gallerlcs Fall In
-Smothcred, Crushed and Buried
Loss of Property and Life-.Near-
Iy Three Hundred Lives Lost.-Re-
lief Measures.
BROOKLYN, December GA fire
broke out last night on the stage of
the Brooklyn Theatre during The per-
furmance Of the 1.-TWO Orphans"
Mr.. Studley, who played the part Of
Jdcque. made an 'eftort to calm the ex-
cited audience. He stepped to the foot
lights and said:
''There is no trouble here ; there is no
danger. Ladies and gentlemen, keep
your seats" Many resumed their
seats but only for a few seconds. The
flames spread rapidly and the theatre
was soon enveloped in flames. Miss
Claxton and Mrs. Farren showed great
self-possession. They remained upon
the stage till the scenery ut the left was
completely licked up. They then
rushed out on the stage in costume,
saving only the dresses they wore.
lie PdlllC OcCtlil' SoliCioi oSioiC ehU
actors left the stage. The audience
rushed for the doors. Women tainted
and the aisles were blocked and many
thrown down and trampled on. The
ushers and police made every effort to
induce the people to retire in good Or
der, without effect. The heat was in.
tense. Many fell helpless to the floor.
Mrs. Farren and a number of the &C
tors Jumped in the auditorium and
took their chances for exit by the
Washington street door. One hun
dred lives are believed to have been
lost, including Mr.. H. s. Murdoch,
the actor, who has not been seen since
the fire. Most Of the killed were in
the dress circle, their means of escape
being cut off 10y the burning stairs.
| Dreter's Hotel was damaged To the
amount of 81, 900. Every member of
the company lost their clothes, jewel
nv and costumes. The Brooklyn
Building Association loses $4,000;
Shook & Pallner's scenery of tho" Two
Orphans and valuable property anu
costumes; Kate ClaXton her ward
robe; George Butler several thousand
dollars worth of furniture and perso-
nal property Ida Vernon her ward
robe and diamonds, worth from six to
eight thousand dollars. The total loss
estimated NJ Sou, UW.
New YORK, December Cup to
8:3U. p. NJ, 2Sj bodies were taken from
the ruins of the Brooklyn theatre.
Work will he continued all night.
The streets are still crowded and eX-
element il giving way to feeling al
intense giuom ami depression. il l.
now feared that The number OF ,lir
dead will reach three hundred. WHAT
enight have added To The immense loss
OF life and resulted in the killing OF
more ladies and gentlemen of the the
ntre company WAS the panclon stricken
movement of the ~janitor III the stage
door. AS soon as he got an idea OF
what was going on inside, he hurried
ly locked the stage door and Kept back
the astonished crowd by refusing ad-
mittance or egress. A party headed
by Mr.. Nicholson, however, broke
open the door and pushed him aside.
In the excitement of the moment no
body took any count of the number
who made their escape by this means,
and who would otherwise have been
SACRIFICED: This afternoon a gentle
man living in Renrsen stree came 10
the police station and inquired for two
friends, a Mr.. George A. Grange and
Il Mr.. d. s.. Morton, both IF Calves
ton, Texas. They e stopping ut
the st. Nicholas Hotel in New York,
with their families. The gentleman
cume over to Brooklyn to dine with
their friends in Remsen street, AID
after dinner they went to the theatre
and bought their tickets, and they
went in but he returned home. They
have not been heard of since then and
have not returned to their hotels.
Their families are wild with grief.
Mr.. Grange was q millionaire. and
leaves u wife and child six years old.
No trace Of them has been found.