The New York herald., 1876-12-07

OF those Mr.. Murdoch and Mr.. Burroughs were lost
in the flames According to tho statements OF eye
witnesses OF Murdoch was tho 10 leave
the stage. and nothing further Is known OF him. he
may have gone to his dressing room 10 endeavor 70
part Of his praperty or to the green TO
SEQ If all were safe, and so was cut off by the flames
Mr. Burrougbs who In the green room when tho
broke out, went to his dressing room and that Is
the last that Of him. Most Of the members
OF the company had notice of the frc, although tho
alarm came some of them only through the warning
Of the burning ceiling OF their dressing rooms-in
other words, the stage hoor Few OF them got away
by the Stage entrance johnson street.
the flames stopping this way OF exit almost
In the beginning Of The ire. large party,
among whom Mr. John Mathews, Mr.. w. s.
Quiglcy, Mrs Allen and others holding subordinate
positions sought this mode of exit but wcro turned
back and then made frantic rush along an unghtcd
and unused passage running parallel with and directly
under the tootiight row the eastern wall Of the
building and thence alta right angle TO the extreme
front Of the house This passage had been constructed
by Mrs T. B. Conway enable her TO go from the
stage the box Office without being seen By the
encc and in tho end IL served nobo purpose IN
aaording these lew persons opportunity SUCCESS
fully to gropc along its dark ways TO light and
lilo, while so many others meeting with
danger and death tn the broader passages above.
In the meantime escape had been made the front OF
the house, from tho stage, by Mss Claxion, Mss
Maude Harrison iHenriotte) Mrs Farren NE J. b.
studlcy and Mr. Charles Thornc and his wile the last
named gentleman and lady beng, at the Ime OF the
breaking out Of the fire, In the stars dressing room
adjoining tho lower stage box. on the Washington
street side OF The auditorium But for tho sub.
tcrranean passage which Mrs. Conway had had bull.
for her own convenience and the means Of communi-
cation with the auditorium from below, the whole
company nearly the wnols company would nave
per ishcd In the flames.
FLIGHT IRON THE GALLERIES
When the alarm OF nre first rang through the house
there momentary pause OF horror, the people
crowded the galleries seemed eeI the hopeless.
ness Of their postion and the bravest hearts were
inomentarly sticd For moment stupor seized all
minds, but for q moment only aud succeeded bya
frantic impulse 10 escape. Men and women rose with
a common instinct to flee. Each thought only OF
himself, the strong deserted the weak and sudden as
for the doors. Ia hearts the better
and nobler nature asserted itsoli, and men who
had deserted friends under tho first selfish impulse
rushed back to save those they loved. IL was terri
bio moment tho danger which had only threatened
was now upon the unfortunate crowded into the
dress and family crcles-somc hundred and fifty
souls all told Tho spark OF nre from the flies which
had caused first had moved steadily and SER
penthke TIL It had reached the wings, moving with tho
stealth and rapidly Of beast OF prey Then suddenly
scizing the scenery, It cnveoped the stage In q
sheet OF flame. This the end OF hope
TRAP.
What zach one had feared had come, ard there rose