The New York herald., 1876-12-07
HERALD THURSDAY DECEMBER se-TRlPLE SHEET

In the energetic required by the action caught
Louise by The hair and pulled l. Just then the alarm
communicated 10 the audience. Behind thero
was a noise Of shifting scenery A panic Was mmi-
nent cry OF .Fire'' was heard and the flames be-
gan to shoot out from the nies the sight Of the
audience.
CHECKED FOR MOMENT.
Joining hands, Miss Ciaxton, Mrs. Farren. Mr.. Mur-
coch and Mr. Studcy down 10 the front 10 reas-
sure the audience. There was preconcert In this
action but II had been rehearsed for weeks in ad
II could not have been more effective in hold
ing . terror-stricken audience in check. For mo-
ment the people, especially those in the front part OF
the housc, sank back into their 1--WE are be-
tween you and the nrc, sit still" said one OF the
actors, ''ior Gods sake, sit STILL" IL Is wonder
ful that such entreaty was listened 10 much less
obeyed. but momentarily there was complete silence
Ill the house. The flames rapidly extending
and tho scenery at the OF the stage all nre
Still there was no rush. but, while gentleman was
calmly advising tho audience quietly In their
places until their time TO pass another cred
~. is time be ofthis and then the stampede be-
gan. The people In the dress circle and the multitude
in the gallery began rush down the stairways; es-
cape for those above rendered impossible, and .
scene Of horror enacted which babies the power Of
pen 10 picture.
STAMPEDE or rHH AUDIENCE
Tho terror OF the moment grand beyond de-
scrption behind wasthe threatening. devourng name,
darting its fiery tongues and Missing . requiuin Of
despair over the struggling mass seeking 10
escape its anger. Before was either safety or
death. Soon oven above them the 6re ragged and
burned. The stage had become tremendous volume
Of smoke and flame. Was there hope o! safety or
only horrible death in store for them! No one
stopped to reason stopped to ask The mad
OF panic WAS upon them and forward they rushed,
each seeking only TO save himself An usher opened
door leading into alley connecting Myrtle avenue
and Johnson street. Through this streamed that part
OF the audience which had been seated in tho parquet
and orchestra and most OF them escaped without much
injury. Had they been compelled TO make their cx,s
at the ordinary entrance on Washington street most
OF them would have shared tho fate OF the multitude
which rushed panic stricken down the stairway, 10 be
crushed and burned before they reached the lobby and
buried beneath the debris Of the falling walls Tho
stampede had scarcely begun until the scene became
undcscribable In horror, and the suEerings Of the
multitude matched only by the terror OF tho
despairing crowd Almost Immediately the front
entrance became choked up. On the stairway just
above tho landing place woman's foot caught in
the railing Of the baiusrade She fell. and the crowd
behind her. pushed forward by those still further bc
nln0, Ieil over uer. CEusueu, Wouuueu, uyluG tney
lay four 1--WE deep the landing OF the stairway,
making escape Tor those who In their ter
ror had caused the accident impossible.
Every moment too, the fre was gaining
headway. II roared and hissed and rushed. 1t
licked up the paraphernaa OF tho stage with It's fiery
tongues. and these only whettcd its appetite for
Every thing insm mabe In the building might almost
said rush toward H. The roof ablaze The floors
Of fire, the dress circle and gallery
escape horrible death below were sufrocated where
they stood. Many dropped down in their tracks
Even OF those who might havc escaped uninjured,
tainted and were burned where they fell. The
police endeavored to part OF the struggling mass
but it with the utmost difficulty that any Of them
wcre extrcated. "Once locked down." said Mss
Claxion, In describing her escape, 'and saw human
face horribly distorted and burned oh, my God it
a fearful sight" There simulated horror OF death
which impress the actual horror of scenes
like this must have impressed those who witnessed
them. Tho slaughter OF the battlefield has nothing
to compare with disaster like this in intensity,
despair and distortion There Death keeps his
rors well in hand and mostly strikes to kin at single
blow. Here the grim monster appeared muny
shapes and his threatening terrible than the
doom he dnally dealt
ESCAPE THE COMPANY.
The play Of s'rhe Two Orphans" had becn produced
at the theatre Monday evening" and IL acted
on the night Of the fire It had tho following dstrbu
ton Of chaTactors:-
Chcvaier De Vaudrcy Mr. Q. Thornc