The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-08
The Bodic. of Murdoch and Burroush-.

The workmen laborng among the ruins
gave their energies principally to the place near
the lobby. from which most OF the bodies have
been recovered They had not taken out
mains that looked at all like those of the dead
actors Murdoch and burroughs, UP to nearly II
T. VI on Wednesday at which hour most ~ the
fremen ceased work. and went 90 their engine
houses tagged out by over a days unccasng
labor. The owners Of the theatre hired special
force Of work men, and set them to delving In
the debris under the missing actors dressing
rooms. Success soon rewarded their efforts. At
about midnight n mass OF charcoal that would
hardly have weighed ten pounds was discovered
I'm the fragments OF what had been Messrs.
Kingsley and Keeney's private box. The general
outline OF the charcoal was that Of human
body headcss and limbless. Excepting two or
three patches that had adhered and charrcd
with the flesh, not shred OF clothing was ON
the corpse. Deeper down among the fallen
bricks. and distant only few feet. the workmen
found another body in much better state of
preservation. The top Of the skull had been
burned away and the features were oblterated
but the shreds of dress that remained were the
silh ne~hingS of stage costume. On the shoulders
were two aguettes such n only Claude Bur
ruughs wore in his make up for Picard. Around
the neck were the fringe and A glass hutton or
two of a costume not worn 10y burroughs. This
body as that II claude Burruughs by Mir Edward
Gillette The two bodies were taken To the
Washington street police station instead ~ the
Morgue, and kept there until noon Yesterday.
whsn the remans f' were % found m % Nr iamSs e.
Peakes who played the Marquis in the 1.-TWO
Orphans" who WAS also In the police station. eN-
planned the mystery of the clothes wrapped
about Burrough-- body. The latter and Mr..
Peakes occupied the same dressing room No. Is.
ON the right nf the stage three stories up. when
Mr.. Peakes flushed III. pari at g =. NJ. he put on
his street attire and left his costume In the dress
ing room. Burroughs entering the room ~
search of hi- own street attire his hands fell
upon Peake-s costume. He probably wrapped
| II around his head to protect himself from the
| binding, strangling smoke.
There WAS nothing but its closene=s to bur
roughs TO indicate that the other charred trunk
| was that ~ II. = Murdoch. II Il now known.
| however, that those two were the only persons
| on the stage who pcrished. and no doubt is
entertained that /; Is all that ever will be found
Of poor Murdoch.
The finding throws much Hight upon the man
ncr of the death ~ the two actors. A hymHn.'
| known by the employees 81 the theatre a. " Fish
| Bill' says that lie saw the two actors rushing
toward their dressing rooms when most ot he
Others were doing their utmost to get out OF the
| theatre. lie entreated them to turn back and
| get into the street. hut they answered that they
had plenty OF time to go to their rooms and get
Mr. j. r Peakes says Mr. Murdoch dressed
one flight up ON the right Burroushs and
| dressed Immediately over him another hight up.
| 1t j. my opinion that they remained on the stage
| I" the last moment, of cour~" expecting the fire
would be- quenched At the last moment they
went to their rooms 10 get their street clothing.
| The first stairway was narrow hut easy to climb
| the second was very -teep. and even when cool
| we had to use great care I'm ascending and de-
| scending. once when rhorne visited my dress
| ing-ruom he remarked. "rhis IL terrible
| stairway to get down hurriedly II would be
| terribly awkward In case Of an accident.
Murdoch suffered intensely at times with scati
| ca especially when he was excited. lie may have
| tainted IN his room and have fallen among it,
| blazing ruins. His window WAS only thirteen
| feet above the alley and lac could have escaped
| through IL easily II he had retained con-ciuus-
| ness. burroughs. on the other hand, probably
| fell from smoke while descending the stairway
| IN order to reach the back door from the right
| ~ the stage.
| In this opinion those most converSant with
| tie arrangement Of the theatre concur.
| Among those who called At the police station
| to see the remains were Mrs. Frederick Williams
| and daughter 81 Philadelphia. with whom Muir
| dnch boarded formerly. and Mr.. T.. j. Parker,
| Mr Murdoch cousin. The ladies could scarcely
| he dissuaded from looking at the remains. They
| were shown some remnants of the clothing
| found, AT sight of which Mrs Williams narrowly
| missed faiuting She aud her daughter returned
| To Philadelphia yesterday The father of Bur
| roughs, who lives in IArchmont, Westche-ter
| county. called and Identified his sons body.
| Many members of the theatrical profession also
| viewed the remains.
| Mr. Edward Gillette a. representative OF Sher-
| idan Shook. took charge Of the remains. Cor
| oner SimmS empanell"d A special Jury and they
| having viewed the two corpses, adjourned until
| Dec. q. Coroner Simms gave permit of re-
| movl. and .undertaker Barnum tOOk.the bodies
| To- his place Al ss Myrtle avenue. Handsome
| rosewood collins have been provided. MIR. Muir
| duchs remains are to Ice taken, without any
| ceremony whatever. to Philadelphia to day.