Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-15
THE BROOKLYN HORROR.

AND PERSONS BURNED TO
DEATH-FEARFUL s~CENES-THE CITY
IN GLOOM,
&C., &C., &c.
Last week we published the fearful news
that the theatre in Brooklyn, N. Y, a city
just across the river from New York city,
had been destroyed by fire IN Tuesday
night, and with it nearly three hundred
lives. We give this morning, collated
from our exchanges, a full account Of this,
the greatest disaster that has ever occurred
made is by Miss Kate ClaXton, one of the
actresses, whose great grandfather was an
actor in the Richmond theatre, when it
was burnt. The account is Of thrilling,
as well as of appalling, interest. The play
was 1.-THE Two Orphans" and this was the
last night for its presentation. The upper
portion of the house was packed full, all
though the attendance in the orchestra
stalls was only medium. The house, it
may be said, was almost two-thirds filled,
those below sitting well forward toward
the stage. For those in the family circle
and dress circle, the galleries in fact, there
was no way of escape except by one en-
trance.
The fire was discovered at about a quar-
past II O'Clock, at which hour the 1.-Two
Orphans" had reached it's final scene. Miss
Kate ClaXton, Mrs. Farren, Mr.. III. S. Muir
doch and Mr.. J. B. Studley were on the
stage at the time, and Mr.. Thorne, Mr..
Burroughs, Miss Maude Harrison and
M, ~ ~ NJ oropf v,nr,a oitho7 ar th,
stage or in the green room waiting to
make their entrance before the foctlights.
The set representing the boathouse inhab-
tied by La Frochard was an enclosed one
with wide doors in the centre, allow SlOping
ceiling, and one small door at the left Gen.
tire.
Miss Claxton, lying on the straw on
which Louise has to stretch herself, was
the first to perceive a forked fame darting
from the leftliand corner Of the scenery.
This soon spread SO that the fire was ap-
parent to the audience ; the action on the
stage came to a standstlll, a CRY of ''ire!!"
was raised, and the entire audience were
thrown into a state of the utmost terror.
Mr.. Studley and Miss Clax6on addressed.
them, but in vain the utmost confusion
prevailed, and the top Of the fly beng per
ceived to move and the form Of a man be-
ing disclosed enveloped in flames, a veri-
UaDlG panic elSuGu.
KATE CLAXToN's ACCOUNT.
AT the time of the discovery of fire in
the flies above Miss Claxton, who WAS play
ing Louise, the blind sister, was engaged
in a scene with Mr.. Murdoch, who it is
known has persisted. Miss Claxton gives
the following account of the scenes that
ensued:
"When the act went up-the fifth act at
the seventh tableau-I was lying on a pal
let Of straw, with Pierre (Mr. Murdoch)
leaning over me. AS the curtains rose l
heard it whispered from the wings behind
me, The theatre is on fire. [ listened
again, almost dazed, and then recognized
Miss Clevis's voice repeating, The theatre
is on fire, look behind, for Gods sake
Still | did not awake to the peril. The
information of the fire was whispered to
all ON the stage, but not one of US moved
to go off. The play continued. The old
woman, Pierre's mother, Mrs. Farren,)
rushed upon me, and, in the savage manner
necessary to the action, caught hold Of my
hair and pulled it. AS my head went back
[ glanced up to the canvas ceiling OF the
room in which we were playing, and then
| saw little tongues of flame licking through
the canopy. Mr.. Murdoch, Mr.. Studley
and Mrs. Farren saw them at the same
time. Then we heard a horrible roaring
noise behind the scenery. This alarmed
me more than the sight Of the fire. Still
none of us moved until the audience caught
sight of the flames. When the cry of fire"
rang through the body of the theatre, and
the audience rose en- masse, we acted alto
gether without the slightest knowledge of
one another7s intentions. We four clasped
hands ard stood almost at the footlights,
and cried out, I'VE are between you and
the fire; sit still; for Gods sake sit still.
The people i'll the front rows heard our APP
peal. I saw them seat themselves again,
and noticed one lady pull the gentleman
beside her dow INFO his chair. The body
Of the house was not very well filled, but
the gallery was crowded. I am convinced
that our action prevented a panic, and
enabled the people near the door to .et
out without beng pressed upon by those
from the front seats. III this way, too,
more people got olt without hurt than
would have escaped if the gallery people
had crowded against the others at the
door. AS soon as We saw t"e people get
ging out we turned to escape ourselves.
Then we found we were helnmed in by
fire. The flames ragged above and around
except on the side of the auditorium. We
could see the red rafters above threatening
to il. [ dashed down stairs and got un-
bt1 OIN olr-'. INV L INV nIEp V1ctN
Harrison. She had gone TO her room t.
get some valuables. l cried out to her:
Le6 those thiags 60, and come on, for
Gods sake. We must go out the 'front.'
way. Tie fire is gaining on us now. Look!'
AS l uttered this last exclamation I point
ed to the ~ceiling-the floor of the stage.
The flames were showing through, and we
could mark out their courses along the
cracks Of the flooring. Miss Harrison,
Mo E,ryO, u,I M ycolr ftp,, l,cb,J ,1nno
the crooked passage ways under the stage,
and after some tronble gained the audi
forum through a door. We had yet some
distance to go; the fire followed us fast,
and there Was still d crowd of excited peo-
pie to pass through. We got into the
crowd and dashed along needless tha. now
and again We trod upon d human being.
Once [ locked down and saw a human face,
h. rribly distorted and burned. Oh, my
God! 1t was a fearful sight. / shall never
forget it. Afterwards l saw the injured
and. | think. must be dead. AS O as
we got into the street we dashed into the
police station. There a gentleman loaned
me his overcoat, and after a short stay in
the station We walked around here"
THE STAMPEDE.
The excitement of the audience was
manifested in d stampede. The panic be-
came general before the actors left the
stage, and a wild rush was made for the
doors. Women slrieked, struggled and
tainted. Men plunged over the seats and
fought their way to the door. The aisles
were blocked. The ushers made every eff
fort to induce the terrified mob to retire in
good order. In this attempt they were
seconded by the police officers in atten-
dance, hut all to little purpose.
Til BLAZING STAGE.
In two minutes the stage was one mass
of fame TIE heat was intense. Many
who occupied seats nearest the stage felt
the sorching heat and sank helpless to the
floor. A moment sufflced to SINCE their
hair, scorch clothing and burn the flesh.