Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-07
Three Hundred and Fifteen
Bodies Recovered, and
the Work Not Yet
Completed.
The Fire Marshal Estimates the
NuTber Of Lives Lost at $50.
Further Particulars.

NEW YORK, December I. AT halfpast
ten o'clock last evening the bodies of
two men were digged from the ruins, and
both we're identified by the remnants Of
their dresses worn on the stage. There
we're twelve hundred persons in the Their.
ter, FIVE hundred Of whom we're in the
galleries. This evening, notwitbstand-
ing the popularity of Miss Mutton, the
latest play at the Union Square Tbeater,
the proprietors ordered that the theater
be closed and a placard draped in mourn
ing was placed at the entrance stating
that in consequence of the terrible disas-
ter in Brooklyn there would be no per
formance this evening.
AT a late hour last night two hundred
and eighty.fve bodies had been recovered
by the FIRE brigade. Miss Kate Claxton
loses ten thousand dollars; Miss Ida
Vernon, eight thousand dollars, and
Shook & Palmer, thirty thousand dollars.
The city authorities were in session
yesterday to make arrangements Tor the
interment in the Greenwood cemetery Of
the dead not identified.
TIE Times says: Fire. Marshal Ready,
who has made an exhaustive examina.
ton of the circumstances attending the
fire, is of opinion that at least three
hundred and fifty persons perisbed in
the flames.
The dimensions Of the awful calamity
which has b~efallen the city of Brooklyn
in the destruction Of its principal thea
ter by fire and consequent loss of life,
have not yet been realized. Enough is
known, however, to make it certain that
the catastrophe ranks among the most
fatal Of the kind ever recorded. Accord
ing to the statements Of all parties who
profess to know anything as to the origin
Of the FIRE, it began on the stage. The
business manager, Mr.. Rogers, says that
"a piece Of canvass, out Of which trees,
e'2., are made, wal broken from its fas.
Jennings, and hung from flies Immediately
over one OF the border lights, near the
center Of the stage. The canvas had
began to smolder and the paint on it to
crackle, and the carpenter was directed
TO ascend to n Of the grooves and re.
move the dangerous object. He could
barely reach it with bis hand, and he
drew it hastily up, Tie hasty mosion
through the air Of the halfiguited and
highly inAanmsble canvass caused it to
burst into a asue, which rapidly spread
to adjoining material, equally suscepti.
ble' All efforts to extinguish the fame
were abortive, and the carpenter had 10
retire to save bic own life.
The scene Ia the gallery after the
alarm was raised is described as some
thing horrible even to contemplate. Tn
till uoon to day 3l5 bodies had been re.
moved Of these 80 aye identified, some
~ reEnanta Of clothing remaining, and
others by watches, chains and such arti.
cles, but few by features. The actors,
Claude Burroughs aud Harry Murdoch,
are among the identified.
What are accepted as the bodies of
the two actors are simply two black Gin.
ders. Around the trunk Of one was
a scorehed buckskin uudershirt, and be
side the other vas a piece Of braid, appa
renlly a portion Of q stage dress.
This afternoon a number Of men will
be set to work to clear away all the
wreck in the auditory. Hitherto their
labors have been chiefly confined to the
spaco formerly occupied by the lobby
and stage. II is feared that when a care,
full search Is made in the auditorium
the bodies Of q good many men who
leaped in their frenzy from the galleries
will be discovered. The police allows no
person to eater within the wall Of the
theater, with the exception Of men en-.
gagged in search Of men. The small parts
~
Of the ceiling and floors Of tho thsater
yet remaining are In sn unsafe condi.
ton.
/ California Races.