The New York herald., 1876-12-07

out oc The burning ,dihcr. Hiss Allen hdrred back
into her room, picked ap mecnanicas'y
lew articles OF lo.ct that we're sirewed
about, put them into trunk and locked 1t.
\ Immediately occurred to her that by remaining
shut up thus, sho was losing any chance OF escape
winch might remain OPEN The resolution TO MAKE
the stage entrance CLEANED across her mind
with the rapidly OF lightning She opened tho door
and was met by volumes OF dense smoke, showers OF
garing cnders, and tongues OF hungry names, which
latter licked and swept up everything within 10"
feet OF her. The courageous girl covered her lace
with her hands, ran into the unknown passase"ay
ana hurried of in the direction from whence came the
sound of
crRsISG STRUGGLING
with each other for precedence These she found
TO be Messrs. Matthews and Phelps. the
actors and crowd OF 'supers" AS the
company had been but two nights IN ihe
theatre, the members OF II we're but partially ac-
quainted with the or exit from the house; and
Miss Allen now knew not where she was going. Be-
hind were the pursuing flames. in front smoke and
darkness; around her, men who were excited 10 the
widest pitch OF frenzy by their mad efforts 10 escape
~ was no, afraid, said the heroic American girl; II
fully comprchended the fearful peril which surrounded
me, but resolved TO do hes, and leave the rest with
Goa" There a at her side who struggled
iranticay. II possible than the rest MISS Allen
made an effort TO let him pass IN front Of her, and
cowardly wretch did She thought that
in tho pitchy darkness OF the passage 10 the
vcslibulc, through which they now crowd
ing, familiar voice OF met her
ear She said :-"will you take my handg'
but the man either did not hear did not
wish to, he made response to this touching APP
peal After much struggling in the dark--icr the
passage without Sas-thc people who were penucd
up II shot out into the vcstibuc II projected from
a catapult The party saved. Miss Allen lost all
her wardrobe and jcwclry and she states that the cx
pensve costumes with much OF tho scenery belonging
to the play OF Julius Cesar lately on the boards at
the samc theatre, were completely destroyed
u. THogxE's STATEMENT
Mr. Charles L. Thorne, Jr, was the chcvalIer de vsu-
drey. his original part IN the "rwo Orphans"
HERALD reporter had an interview with HIM at the
Union Square Theatre yesterday. Mr. Thorhc Ind
yet recovered from the excitement occasioned by tho
escape OF himself and the burning building.
lie very nervous, but gave tho reporter his story
Of the scene in calm and disnihcd manner. III was
sittngn said he ''n my dressing room. which is on
the stage, It being tho star OF the theatre Ny
vile present and sitting beside mo at tho time.
We we're talking together quietly and had some
time spare before was TO rush on the stage and
encounter jacques. The door leading to the stage
from my dressing room was open. In the IN DIST OF
quiet conversation Of the chorus singers
to tho door and said to mc:-'Oh, Mr. Thorne, look
at this frei' ]. thinking that she bad called my at
tcntion to go tho back door and 1re in the
street, from my chair and went to tho
door, when, 10 my surprise and astouish-
ment ! saw that ono OF the SKY bordcrs'
of the stage lre At once saw the serious
position, and knowing tho innammable nature of
theatres, l returned TO my wife and said, Get your
things on at once = A Mrs. Seymour, who was stand
ing by, said there was no danger. ! again looked up
-
soon as possible. Then rushed into my dressing
and gathered up what few things could IN
hurry, and as was leaving the room distinctly
heard Mr. Murdoch, who then before tho audience
Pierre, in the fifth act. say, IN loud
voice Keep your seats; there Ia no dangerv
l cried TO him, Harry, there IS; get out Of the
theatre MS soon possible and at that moment a
sheet OF flame separated him from my view. ] then
my wife and rushed toward the back door Of the
theatre. Then the whole iorce Of the disaster fell
upon my mind. and knew that the theatre gone.
The flames followed me, and on opening the door and
sending my wife nrst, they almost envcloped
NV wig was singed and the feathers on my hat were
burned. Even my hair calling the reporters attention
to it, you see. is slightly singed Our carriage was
standing at the back door, and quickly put my wife
inside. OF course l was in full stage costume, but
knowing that my clothing was beyond recovery
got into the carriage. AS entered the carriage
large arch window johnson street fell the side
walk and very striking the driver, who was
In the act Of taking the blankets of the horses.
leaned out OF tho window and said to him Never
mind the blankets; get on tho box and drive away
He did so and drove two or three blocks, whom
stopped him. and leaving my wife in the carriage,
returned TO the theatre. Finding il impossible TO
render any assistance and feeling rather ridiculous In
my costume returned the carriage and then drove
TO New York."
A STRANGE coIScIDEScg.
'sThat is all know about it, continued Mr. Thorne,
''bu there is rather curious coincidence in this nre.
was playing the Varieties Theatre in New Orleans
in 1870 with Jack Studloy. He and were conversing
relative tho production of the Three Guardsmen'
the next day, and how we were to play our parts
together Soon after conversation fire broke out
and the theatre burned Only last evening
studlcy and met together at tho theatre and be-
tho again introduced the subject OF the
three Guardsmen.' which was to be produced the
week after next in the Brooklyn Theatre. On men.
tonine the subject Studlcy said to me, "Don't
tion the Three Guardsmen;' do you remember the
Varieties Theatre at Now orleans, which burned down
the night previous to its productionP" did remem
Der it. and very WELL too, but laughed at his remarks
ana then went the stage. This morning, and after
the Of last night, the conversation to my
mind, and think that It Is very peculiar coinc
dcnce"
Mr. Thorne could not describe the excitement in tho
audience he did not 60 TO the front OF tho stage
during the nth act "Poor Burroughs" said he
must have hurredly left the stage, thinking that he
would have time 20 to his dressing room and secure
his clothing, and returning must have been suio
by the dense smoke and then fell victim TO tho
flames" Tho death OF Mr. Harry Murdoch he also
attributed tho Mr.. Thornc regards the
escape OF himself and wife, and in fact OF all tho
others, as almost miraculous, but no fully believed
that all the actors and the audience had escaped The
terrible loss OF life has almost unnervcd him. His
friends called upon him during the day and congratu
lated him mis- escape.
how srrDLxY xscAPED