The New York herald., 1876-12-07
Affecting and Exciting Sto-
ries Of Survivors.
NO WATER ON HAND.
7" If Had a Hose Could Have
Put Out the Fire"
THE EIDENTIFIED--THE MISSING
How New York Theatres Are
Provided Against Fire.

The destruction OF the Brooklyn Theatre on Tuesday
kind that has occurred in this country What was
Arst deemed to be an ordinary nre naturally involving
serious financial to tho owners the lessecs and
the actors was really catastrophe of the heart
rending character causing did, the loss Of $50
Dives. No theatre IRE this continent had much
horror to It Even the Richmond Theatre disaster
was nothing comparison this iatcst evidence of
the wicked carelessness and ignorance displayed in
building places Of public amusement
Two hundred and eighty human beings OF both
and of all ages thrust into eternity through
an agoniz!ng and painful death They were thus
excitement over the mimic troubles OF the dramatic
pcrsonages In . play possessing features that
touched tho hearts OF those who followed the scenes
on the stage. At a moment when every eye was
fixed on the painted scene and every strained
on uttcranccs the several characters the dread
iu cry OF s'Fire 70 was raised, and in fow moments
after the entire building was filed with 1ame and
/. smoke and hundreds OF men, women apd children
suocated and burned DEATH and their charred
anu disdgured remains buried beneath the ruins.
such Is tho simpls and record of this most
dreadful occurrence, and these few sentences afford
such outline and visible form to the picture that il
scarcely needs the shocking details that necessarily
follow give it color and ghastlness That SO much
horror should attend the destruction OF theatre will
send thrill Of pain through every heart in the land
The full scope OF the calamity and the dreadful scenes
attending It depicted the accounts that follow
THE DISCOVERY OF rnx FIRE
No more awful moment can be imagined than that
when the fire discovered. The play had proceeded
TO the last scenc OF the last act Miss Kate Ciaxton
was on the stage lying on the pallet Of straw which
the situation demands, and Mr.. H. s. Murdoch, who
played Pierre, was leaning her. Mr. J. B. Stud
ley who played tho part OF Jacques was also on the
stage Tho set represented the boathouse inhabited
by La Frochard IL was box scene. with low,
Hoping ceiling and with wide In the centre and
small door at tho left centre As was natural from
her reclining position, which enabled her to look at
The fes the Grst namc caught the eye OF Miss Cax.
lon. It dartod out like fash OF lightning and began
TO traverse those mysterious upper regions OF
the stage into which the audience often peors
with 70 much curiosity II 1t was only
brilliant meteor In tho skies OF the theatrical hrma
nent This nitaiory glimpse Of disaster the most
terrible in tho history Of burned theatres was caught
" tho eye OF Miss Claxton ani almost Immediately
BY the others tho stage, whle the audience sat in
.heir stalls looking at the mime sceno Of sorrow on
The boards all unconscious of the terrible reality soon
10 be enacted both behind and before the iootlghta
In avo minutes more the play would have ended and
the happy multitude quietly wcnded way out OF the
theatre. II may well be imagined that the moment
an awful one 10 the young who lay there on
he pallet stimulating the blind girl Of tho play while
sitnessng the orkcd flames of flashing fire which
to doom TO fate worse than that Of Louise
he beggar house full Of sympaihzing witnesses Of
ieI sunerings Almost simultaneously with the sight
shch met Miss Ciaxtons gaze heard some one n the
sings whisper, "rhe theatre nrc - II was Mss
pealed. "Thc theatre fire; look behind for Gods
sake" All this was tho work OF instant and Ar. 4
Murdoch, who must havo heard tho whispering also.
was moved by sight OF the flames that he beg in
10 stammer in his part The suGdenness OF the danger
not only moved, IT stunned him. Go on, 20 opu
Miss Claxton whispered him, but IL almost i'm
possible for him TO proceed. SIN the audience was
uucon scous of what about to happen. Miss Clay
on as she says herself 'dazcd" by tie terror oil the
real situation ana trying TO carry the action
Of the mimic scene, awake TO the actual peril
Of thc moment She uttered the line which gave tho
..cue" for Airs Farren's entrance, and the old