The New York herald., 1876-12-19
THE THEATRE FIRE.
Continuation of the CorOner's
Examination.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY ELECTED.
Suggestions by the Grand Jury and
Aldermanic Committee.
THE RELIEF FUND.

4
Brooklyn Theatre hrc was resumed yesterday after
noon the Kings County Court House. There
but few persons in tho lobby other than those who had
| been subpGnacd as witnesses. The Coroner stated
before opening the proceedings that he would like to
adapt the examination OF Witnesses to the convenience
of such theatre employees could attend during tho
day, thore several who could attend the
evening, being then engaged tho stage. Assistant
District Attorney Smell in attendance and watched
| the proceedings in tho interest oil the people.
| rARRES's TESTIMONY.
/ Mrs. Mary Ann Farren, actress, was the nrst wit
ness called shc testified that her engagement at tho
Brooklyn Theatre commenced October 0. 1876; played
Frochard in the "rwo 0rphans; said to Miss Ciaxlon
in the last act 81 afraid the theatre is on lre;n
saw the OF The scenery rc and was trying
/ to put out the flames with stick; hose there
during Mrs. Conway's management; know nothing as
what appliances there TO extnguish fire unor
tho management OF Mcssrs. Shook & Palmer;
lett the theatre in company with Miss Ciaxton and
Miss Harrison; through the ground pas
sage way to the box Office; had been in tho habit OF
using tnat Of exit under Mrs. Conway's man.
agcmcnt; 1t was tho Of exit for actors
tho lire when / 1t first burning through the
roof OF "the hut;' saw the man trying to put out
standing the side OF sthe hut - the hut was what
is called ..cncoscd scene;' other person at
tempt 10 put out The fire; then FASTENED from tho
stage; was frightened, OF course; might have
named there two minutes longer
q. Did you see tho audience observe how they
actedg A. No, sir; | too frightened; heard
Miss Ciaxton say the audience, ..We are between
you and the 1sc" Mr. Murdoch and Mr.. Burroughs
also addressed the audience; Michael Sweeney, the
janitor, directed US 10 go out the underground pas
sage way when went on the stage at the opening of
the last &C, there no sign Of fire, nor there
ony who come out in INC last act Of
thar play couldn't tell whether the johnson street
doors open when We went out OF the theatre
not; on reaching the street went directr home and
did not the nre altcrward; there were about
hundred people in the lobby when emerged from the
box Office; wnen were passing through the cellar
saw some ire all through the floor; think the last
speech uttered IL the play was BY Miss cax,on who
say to the audience this fire IS in the play;' thore
excitement or noise on the stage behind tho
scenes when nrst noticed the lrc.
TESTIMONY A. NJ. PALMER.
Albert N. Palmer. theatrical manager, and one Of
the esecs OF tho Brooklyn theatre, testified that ho
was also manager OF the Union Square Theatre, New
York; is in partnership with Mr.. Shook; was at the
Brooklyn Theatre on the Monday before the ire am
acquainted with the facilities there; there was pipe
back Of the stage attached to the hydraut
the DOOR can't swear as TO the date wncn saw the
hose last; IL not within a month past; thcro was
water in the building. and every possible safeguard
lire axes, notices and regulations in event Of fire;
nobody allowed TO light a match IN the building;
border lights OF the most approved pattern AMI
tho gas had special instructions TO his dutics
there pals OF water III the ics the stage man.
ager was J. W. Thorpe aud the business manager
Lorraine Rogers; in tho beginning Of the told
M
theatre and suggest such arrangements as would pro-
mote the comfort and convenience 0f the house; he
subsequently reported somc changes which he had
made, and l approved OF them; Mr.. Rogers has been
manager several Of the largest theatres IN the coun
the bro"kyn Theatre IN september. 1878, ana were
negotiating for renewal Of the lease years. Tho
witness here presented Tor the Inspection OF Jury
pnsteboard moucl Of the stage OF the theatre as it
appeared when the fire broke out in the last OF
s.Ihe Two Orphans The Jurors gathered about the
experienced manager, and were initiated into the
tr,catc arrangements OF play house behind tho
Border lights, flies, &c, were explained
TO the wondcrment OF The Jurymen Mr.. Palmer said
that the Brooklyn being 'star theatre" where the
plays had to be changed every week, It became in
cumbent upon tho managers to have larger quantity
of scenery the sago than ordinarily Kept
tres juror inquired ns to whether tnat would not
interfere with safety, compared with places
where there much property OF that nature
stored The witness replied that II might do
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Mr. Palmer was then examined to his theory
about the origin OF the lire lie said that II might have
bcen caused by the light coming in contact With tho
perforated border: there nrc two gas employed
theatre; the border lights are lowered and elevated
the Will OF the fly men do not think that more than
three minutes elapsed from the discovery OF tho re
till the entire stage WAS IN ames there fully
foot between the gas flame and the wire which pro-
iccied the scenery could not get through tho wre
guards as they MADE except by an extraordinary
circumstance; the 'fllcs' in the Brooklyn Theatre
were about twenty feet in height; the Union square
Theatre .'ics' about twenty-five ty-thrcd
feet high understand that the effort TO out the fire
on the stage made by the master carpenter; the
occupied the performance of the last would
be about twenty minucs at tho Union Square Theatre
which is owned by Mr. shock, the appliances Tor
safety superior 10 those which ut the Brook
yn ihcrc water tank the roof hose in the fics
fire plugs in the dressing rooms and steam pump
under the sidewalk, with an engineer constantly IN
attcndancc never made application to the owners
OF the Brooklyn Theatre tor flrc appliances;
continually guarded against nrc. Witness then
showed The jury by tho model, the po-
s.tion Of the nrc plug the STAGE
and contcndcd that from tho location OF the fire when
II broke out Il would not have been possible reach it
owing tho position Of certain scenery; there never
was particle o scenery on rc at that theatre since
Nn erSadtt 4 r. thp I'm O. IN hus
had thirty years experience in the theatrical line;
tins calamity has led to the enactment OF special pre-
cautions against FIRE in the Union Square. and, sup
posc in every other theatre the United States;
loss property DESTROYED at the Brooklyn was about
notuing ever occurred to lead me 10 sup
pose that any OF my employees had hurtfui
the the aspsi,ni aaapiabay Of the building ior public
safety the point o construction II IS not for tho
maaasors 70 pass Judgment; the public provides rs
The safety OF the Brooklyn Theatre TO be fully equal to
that OF theatre had ever seem stars who played
there their opinion that its accomm odatons
equal TO any FIRST class theatre IN tho land;
application to the owners OF the theatre
for alterations calculated to make II stronger or safer
MR. SHERIDAN SHOOK
Mr.. Sheridan shook testified that he was Of the
lcssccs the Brooklyn Theatre at the time OF Gre
never inside that theatre but once, and that
| during n rehearsal; l relied very much upon Mr.
palmer for tho of that theatre and
| add much to his testimony which have heard.
The jury, having no further questions TO ask the
witness, retired. and an adjournment was mado until
| halfpast seven O'Clock this morning.
A meeting Of the Finance Committee OF the Theatre
Relief Fund was held yesterday IN the Office Of Mayor
Schroeder HIS Honor stated that about forty cases
OF pressing want had been brought TO his attention and
he had given them relief Mrs. Haysc, mother OF
Of tue victims OF The fire. had di.d yesterday OF pneu
monia, and the family were destitute Relief wns
| authorized TO be gwen them
The total receipts at The Mayors ONCE amount to
,2o3 07 Tho receipts by Mr.. Daniel Chaunccy
amount TO $500 So
COLLECTIONS ~ NEW YORK.
Benjamin b. sherman, treasurer OF tho Now York
committee for the relief Of sufferers by the Brooklyn
Theatre fire, acknowledges the following subscrip-
tIons: clarke, Dodge Il Co., $50; Kayne, Spring,
Dale Co., $50; D. Appleton & Co., $50; Watson,
Towney 4 Co., $50; Ch. Bertcaux 4 Radon. $50;
Emily q. Nathan. $25; Fairbnnk Co., $25; John w.
stcnrns 4 Co, S25; Cheney Brothers, $685. Morrison,
Herman Il Co.. S25; Mcriden Britannia Company,
s25; s. Shcthart Il Co., S25; Brown, Wright Il Co.