The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-07

The Brooklyn Theatre was built in Sep
1smber. is7l, opened for public entertainment
Dot. D. 1871. and burned to the ground with the
sacrince OF 800 human lives on the night OF
Tuesday. Dec. 8. 1870. The origin Of the nre Is
not entirely clear, but It was due, doubtless. to
The Tapping of a line OF bordering against a
border light in the files or uppsrmost part Of
che stage loft. Whatever the cause, the effect
was immediate. From the cellar foor to the
highest peg the stage department Of this the
atre, like all others, was an Invitation to de-
struction, for, In spite OF all known pre-
Sentives and the grestest care, sparks
will hy and currents Of air will suck,
20 that once started no human ensinery
avails the least against Its rush. Like
sticks prepared for kindling the stage furniture,
permanent and temporary. stood ready for the
match. Every scene painted had Its quantum
of inaammable oil. and these conductors
reached from the ground hoor far up toward
che towering roof. In the cellar were stored
vast quantities OF valuable scenes, prop
prtiea, and mountinss. The rooms were
built hut slightly, and for purposes OF venti-
Iation communicated by windows one with the
other, anording sti further opportunity for
the speedy gait of nery fame. SO, too, In the
body OF the house. Curtains besutihed the
boxes; windows and doors made ingress for the
drafts, supports led the way from circle to cir
Gle, and staircases were a highway for nre and
ymoke. In other woris, everS preparation made
Tor the convenience and accommodation OF the
public was an ADDED element toward successful
annihilatlon when once the destructive work
was fairy begun.
On Tuesday evening the full moon TEN pted
nearly l.20 people from their homes In Brook
lyn and lighted them TO the brilliant entrance Of
the Brooklyn Theatre. The famous pl y OF the
1.-TWO Orphans" with an excellent cast, mainly
from the Union Square Theatre OF this city, was
the sttr elton, and mad renewed its fascinsuons
over public long since familiar with It's story.
The audience charac teristicsly a Brook
Iyn gathering. Many wel-known citizens
wero there; among them the family OF
MIR. William c. Kingsley the Hon. Henry c.
Murphy. Edgar Cullen and ladies', and Henry
Dean. The two orphans, Louise ana Henr<tte,
had passed through the heartrending exue-
riences which form the thread OF the story
LOutse was resting on her pallet, TIE cripple was
~ his wheel, Mime Fochdrd WAS scraping a car
rot, and Jacques was ABOUT 10 emphasize his
brutality with a threat, when tiny tongue OF
hame thrust Its red fork from the upper part oi
the proscenium, and Rlared upon the auditors.
every man and woman in the house
The actors were confused, the audience were
appalled,.
Two tragedies then began-one behind the
footliRhts, the other in front Stalwart IN
figure, melodrdmattc IN bearing with face Ike
Eapoeon's, and leonine voice, FIoChafd
Studey stepped to the front ana shouted 10 IN
frightened men, " BE quiet. There's no danger
But occulaT demonstration won the dav, and
red was tho dominant color. with Hash ana q
he Inn gna H. a
and saturated like a fuuer. pile, the mounting
and httngs embraced the eupinR himeS and
lighted up the SMOKE illed auditorium With the
heIoe cleaning ~ tnous c.lciums.
Waited n leaderl
But no leader appeared As Charles Thorne
the CherIltcT Of the dram, reports himself,
my God. There Is danger! Let every one save
himself - SO every one cudoayOred 20 do. The
door opening from the rear Of the right hand
prOsccuum box. rushed 10 open II ; and before
the frightened occupants Of the orchestra ser
tion in that vicinity had time 10 think what thc'
were doing, they found themselves thanking
God for life In Ford alley, In the rear Of Ia,
theatre. The audience was divided intotwu class
~ est the high priced and the low pr'ed. nf The
former none have yet been found dead OF th'
latter more than 30 sleep their last sleep, char
red like Goals and dishgured beyond recogni
circle, and first or dress circle were not very ma
merous. and they had the Side donl ~ well a
two doors AT the front from which 10 escape
Men and women fought like tigers They pack
cd the aisles, tripped, stumbled hurried anC
blocked their own desires. That none Of tn,
people In that part Of the house were los
seems incOmprehenslble, 30 much 30 tina
Il can occasion no surprise II further searcf
discovers our present error, AL reports sgrs'