Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-12-12
A HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE +!
The Brooklyn, N, Y. Theatre Burned, with
Most Of its Occupants,
HEROIC CONDUCT OF THE ACTORS
325 BODIES RECOVERED (!

JkJ pUuf6O OLuuuEnku
Last Tuesday night as the last act Of
The Two Orphans" was being perform
ell in Brooklyn Theatre, an alarm of fire
was given. The house was crowded, and
as the warning cry was heard, this I'M
mense audience arose and rushed for The
doors. j. ID. Studley, Miss Claxton and
Mrs. Farren. actors upon the stage al
that time, endeavored TO quiet the audi
euee. They were successful in their
efforts for time. but soon sparks were
seen 10 fall upon the stage, and cloud
OF smoke filled tho audience room. Then
ensued scene of confusion too terrible
for the imagination TO picture. A frantic
struggle Tor the doors, the passages
blocked by human beings, the devouring
Flames pursuing this writhiug mass, the
fearful crash OF falling timbers, may BE-
seen and heard iudistinclly. but the hor-
rible work is done, aud nearly four hun
dred persons are crushed. smothered or
burned to death. The majority OF those
killed had occupied seats in the gallery
The following accounts are from persons
who, though present, succeeded in max
INK their escape:
AN USuER'S STORY.
Mr.. Thomas Rocheiort. head usher OF
the theatre, makes the following state
ment: | was standing 10 the lobby near
the center orchestra door at Ii -. when
heard an alarm of fire, apparently pro.
ceediug from some one in the audience.
1 then rushed Inside the house and saw
that the flies over the stage on the left
hand side were on fire. The last act OF
the Two Orphans was about halt fir
ished. Mrs. Farren. Miss Kate CiaNton F.,
Mr.. Studley and Murdoch were on the
stage st the time. 1t was Just before the
combat scene. Mr. S,udley and Mr..
Murdoch sung out TO the people TO keep
their seats. also stopped qlite a nun
Der going out who were making rush.
Finally q good many OF them cooled
down and took their seats. ] saw The fire
was gaining. and rushed 10 Floods alley
entrance and opened The door SO that the
audience might escape that way. All
who were in that part OF the house escap
ed in this way. then came into the
front again and saw the occupants OF the
dress circle pouring down the staircase.
Tsey came down 10y twentieS, fell down
as IL were. They trampled on each other.
There was not much outcry. | got on
one side 10 avoid the rush and looked into
the house again. b. this time all the
orchestra performers had csc ped, and
the parqleite and paIquelie circle were
cleaI. The stage was now all in fumes,
and The fire was rapidly extending over
The orchestra into the body OF the house O.
lac prosceuium boxes on either side were
entirely gone 4 policeman and then
closed the door leading from the lobby
into the parquelte, in order 10 keep the
ilamts in as long as possible. | think
that not more than i've minutes had
elapsed since the first alarm. In abou,
one minute from the time we closed the
doors a sudden gust OF lame, sweeping
across the whole parquette, smashed tho
glass and drove Us away. and instantly
the whole lobby was filled with flame and
smoke. A. this moment ,orce Of about
twenty policemen rushed forward and
removed dClsn or twenty ladies who
had te5n thrown down by the rush from
the dress circe. ,hink all were taken
out. II few minutes more The Il mes
would have consumed them. LETT with
the policemen when there was no louger
hope OF saving The building.
KATE cIA1roN's STORY.
Kate Ciaxlon testified that at the begin
Ming OF the last act, just as The curtain
went up. she heard a rumblinE noise .and
tao minutes after saw flames. She thinks
the fire caught in the flies and II imme-
diateiy enveioped the stage. Mr.. udieY
aud Mr.. Murdoch were on the sage
together with Mrs. Firren and herself.
Efforts were made 10 qQiet the audience.
She said il. BE quiet, We are between
ynu AMI the fire. The great doors are
open and the passages are clear" The
flames were then sweeping down upon
her and the other actors, and she ran out
and down Into the audience and escaped
No fire was used in the presentation Of
the play.
Saturdays papers announce that fully
four hundred persons must have persisted
in those few dreadful moments No such
calamity has before been recorded OF
this country. An investigation is now
10 progress. looking toward discovery
OF the cause oil the fire. |, is almost
impossible to attach blame 10 any che,
10 such cases. Bat il does seem that shch
a useless sacrifice of life might have been
avoided.