New-York tribune., 1876-12-07

the same way, while Mr.. Studley, whose dressing
room was underneath the stage, 80 fortunate as
TO escape. Miss Claxton called for Miss Maud Har-
rison, who was in the green-roOm, and with Mrs.
Farren along the private passage to the stairway
leading to the bcx-ofice. The flames could be dis
tinctly under the stage at this time, anu the
smoke along the passage was almost sitting. For
tunately the heavy door at the head of the STAIR
way had been left unfastened and the ladies thus
made their exit into the main entrance passage,
where the eager crowd were struggling and jostling
one another in their efforts to escape. Miss Claxt0n
graphically described her passage through the
throng. She was several times thrown upon her
knees and bruised, but by skillful efforts
she succeeded in making her way out
in safety As she emerged from the door
she cast single glance back into the theater The
fire had bnrst through il in sheet of fame, and 1t
seemed like grand transformation scene. Miss
Claxton spoke in high terms Of the presence OF mind
displayed by the ladies in the audience. 1t was the
first time she said that she had witnessed such
a scene and Der GOODNESS surprised her. Atterward,
thinking of the danger, she felt herself acowaIu ana
tremblod.
Miss Clax t6n came TO Brooklyn on Monday morn
ing TO fiji three weeks engagement, after which
she was to 20 to Washington All her trunks except
one. were taken to the thoater, and her property
the amount of her loss but Der friends estimate it at
about $4,000
MISS MAUD HARRIsOS's STATEMENT
Miss Maud Harrison member of the company,
who resides at No. G6 Livingston-st., Brooklyn,
made the following statement to a TRIBUNE reporter
yesterday: "I was in the green-rocm with Ar.
Claude Burroughs and Mr. DAILY, when heard a
scufle ON the stage as though some persons were
disputing and struggling. 1t about a quarter
past l l. and asked Mr. Burroughs TO see what tho
matter was. He left the room for that purpose and
in moment I started to Po up the stairs to the
stage when / met Miss Claxton and Mrs. tarTeh.
ITO latter said There is FIRE, and the thcaer is
gone saw that we could not get out Of the back
entrance ON account of the fire, and so we went
through the private passage leading from the 1901 OF
the stage stairs 10 the boX-ofiee We got there a.
the first of the audience were making their exit. /
saw 10 disturbance whatever. Mr. Bmroughs dld
not come back to tell me the of the disturb
ance As we started through the passage saw
shower of sparks come down through the trap in the
stage floor. ! saw Mr.. Murdoch just before the
ringing mp of the curtain for the last act He com
planned of suffering from pain IN his side,
caused by plcurisy, think" Miss Harrison lost all
her stage dresses and clothing except shawl.
STATEMENT OF JOIN MATTHEWS.
was waiting In The grecn-foom under the stage
and several actors were there waiting with me, all
of us ready To take our parts in few minutes.
Some one-I think it was Maud Harrison-called
our attention to a singular noise overhead, which
sounded like pccuiar shutting of the feet We
continued chatting for few moments, when once
more tie noise stopped our conversation. said,
There mus; be a fight among the supcrnumsra-
ries. - and we continued listening. Then there was
o sudden and. as it now appears TO me, an oninous
silence Somebody went and opened the door OF the
ereen-roo1n to get particulars of the noise
and the cry OF fire" " at once reached
our ears / Immediately rushed out OF the
green-room saw a few sparks flying around, and
tried to get up tEe stairs, but could not, as the
smoke nearly sufIocated me. l then remembered
that there was a little sub;crTanean passage which
hal been built by Mrs. Conway at the time she re-
sided in the theater building Thither went, met
my colleagues, Phillips and DAILY, and finally
reached the street.
NARRATIVE OF II. F. DAILY.
Claude Burroughs Miss Harrison, Nr. Mathews,
and myself were seated in the green-ro0m when we
heard an unusual connection on the stage said,
"Wo must be near the end of the play" when Bur
roughs said No, that can't be, have long scene
before YOU 20 on7 Miss Harrison said, " There
must be a fight on the stage" During this conver-
sation Burroughs. who had rushed to the door, re-
turned and said, - There is q fire. ] thought he
was ioking-iH fact, did n't pay much heed to what
he said bat still for the moment the idea struck me
that something like canvas or paper might be burn
ing. and went TO my dressing-room Whenl opened
the door | saw terrible fire raging. l seized
nv clothes with all the haste imaginable, and then
looking up saw fire all around me. There was no
time for hesitation. threw my Overcoat over me,
then went up to the stage and ran out. saw moth
ing of poor Murdoch. Crossing the street the first
one met was my wife. You can well imagine bow
happy was at meeting her just them She hnd
occupied a seat in the orchestra stalls ana had been
told by an usher when the fire broke out to SIT
down. Like good schoolgirl she did So but finally
went around to the p1rquet circle, and saw that
the audience did not comprehend the danger
they were in. She pushed on TO the
lobbv. and there she saw that the panic had fun
SWAY and that the people understood il was time to
leave the theater In the rush that followed she
was driven right the street to the very spot
where | so fortunately met her. 1t was singular
that about IL o'clock while Charles Tborne, Mrs.
Farren and myself were cOnversing in the green
room. we talked Of the death of Frederick Conway,
Mr.. Tborne made the remark saying, "Well, we
must all 90 that road one day" and in less than 10
unntes ofterward the entire building was in flames.
Thorne's remark made singular impression upon
me at the time. and his words were constantly IN
INV mind while | was rushing for my life from the
burning building.
CHARLES r. THoRNBs EXPERIENCE.
About II:f5 OF lock on Tuesday night l was st-
ting in my dressing-room which fortunately hap
pencd 10 DC on the stage and known as thc star"
room. and was talking 70 my wife, when one OF the
chorus singers said, /" Ohi look at this fire." i,
thinking she meant there was fire ont the back
door or near by, rose to follow her, when 10 my
.,;.I,,,.ort l,ol ed mn in the " nyn gallery and