Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-08

of the stage where they could be exhn-
guished, fell upon the canvass roof and
almost Immediately the whole ignited and the
flames and smoke hid the audience and drove ev-
cry one from the stage. The last persons to leave
were scene shifters Cumbersen, Reilly, and Pull
liss. Pulliss said that he cut the gas fixtures
above, but the quick gniting of the canvas below
bafiled all efforts to stop the fire. These three
men were the last to go out from the theatre
Pulliss was very sure that when he came out there
was then other person in the audience-room,
and stoutly contradicted those who affirmed tina,
some were seen burning in the room. Cumberson
was badly burned and bruised aud some fears
entertained of his dying. Reilly escaped unhurt
The story of the alarm and subsequent incidents
were repeated by persons in the audience. One
sitting in the orchestra stated that at the first
blaze the greater portion of the audience arose to
their feet The appeal Of Miss Claxton quoted
them, aLd most of them resumed their seats.
When the fire sprung up from the canvass,
man stood up on one Of the seats and in a loud
voice asked all TO remain in their places until the
way could be cleared, and then to go out quietly.
They seemed to heed what was said until another
shouted Its time we out of this" when
the panic began. The orchestra seats and dress
circle were not crowded, and those in them es.
capped with little difficulty. The galleries were
full. however, aud there were many children
among the occupants. One Of the persons in the
gallery sa id that be himself was carried along by
the crowd and could do nothing to hasten OF
check his course or render any assistance TO those
who fell. One little girl in some way became
entangled in the crowd and slipped under then
feet. Nothing could be done to prevent those be-
hind stepping upon her in passing. Fortunately
she was rescued alive.
In an incredibly short space of time, Washing
ton and Johnson Streets were crowded with an
excited multitude, which ii required all the efforts
of the police TO restrain within due bounds. The
flames leaping heavenward and rising high above
the roofs of the tall buildings, lighted up all the
adjacent streets and the hurrying throngs which
poured in from all directions. Safety ropes were
stretched across Washington street, in front OF
the Argus office, and also at the corner of Wash
ington and jackson streets. These were guarded
by a strong force of police, and such excellent or
der was maintained that, despite the great crowd,
the narrow streets and the intense excitement, no
serious accidents in the streets were reported
The flames seemed to act as a beacon for curious
seekers after the sensational from New York, and
shortly after the flames broke out the various fer
ries were crowded, and all the ways leading to the
fire seemed as busy at midday.
Soon after the first alarm was given the flames
burst through the roof and rose in perfectly
straight columns of pure flame. There was an
unusually small amount of smoke, and the night
being clear and still, the effect singulsry
beautiful. First huge pyramid of fire was out
lined against the sky, the apex continually chang
ing in FORM then two parallel columns appeared,
one on each side, and finally were merged into
one broad blaze of burning buildings, which, with
cent structure in its embrace and licked out hun
CRY tongues of flame far across the street. The
flames ran along the cornccs of the buildings in
Washington street, but the powerful streams from
several engines suffced to hold them in check AMI
prevent the destruction of the entire block, which
would certainly have followed had these buildings
become well on fire.
The rapidity with which the interior Of the the
atre burned was soon apparent to those near at
hand The outer walls began to sway, and the
crowd, which had surged up as near the scene as
the ropes would permit, gave way in momentary
expectation that the walls would fall outward
Instead of this the rear wall of the theatre fell
first, crashing inward with mighty noise and
bury ing itself in the burning debris. A shower
of sparks arose and this moment later was in
creased ten fold as the wall johnson street
tered and fell in also. A suppressed murmur of
admiration went up from the crowd at the brill
ancy and impressive character of the scene. The
fire now seemed to burn with added ferceness,
and those who were watching the flames from a
distance thought that new building had caught
fire. Those near at hand, however, saw with
gladness that the fury Of the flames was spent.
The dwelling structure adjoining the theatre was
now enveloped in flames, and soon nothing but
the unsightly walls were to be rising amid the
roaring sea of fire.