Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-01-05
THE FIRE FiEND.
The Ho1ocausts Of History.
Chicago Times.

| inc IaNOfltc IOOuO Oh Hfc ever since lne
time when they were frs: introdnc-
ed, the instance of their burning
while performance was going on
are extremely rare.
On the 18th of May, 1772, the
Flemish theatre at Amsterdam, Hol-
land, was burned while II play was
in progress, and numherot persons
were burned tc death; the accounts
VARYING, but the number was not less
than $50.
In August, 1896, a theatre at May
ence was destroyed by fire; and 10
bodies were taken from the ruins.
The Musuem in Boston was burn
ed Jan. l5, 1907. Five persons were
killed by falling walls, but 1t was be-
lieved that they were not in the audi
ence.
At Sadl RS Wells Theat: G, Lon
don, on the night of October 18th,
1907, an alarm of fire was started
and in the panic which followed Is
persons were trampled to death.
On the night Of Decem )er 10th,
1921, the theatre at Richmond. Va,
was burned during performance,
and until the recent horror in Brook
lyn. was the most fatal accident of
its kind in America. 1t was a small
theatre, seating only 500, and the
building in which it was located was
built in the solid manner in vogue at
that period. The auditorium, hovev-
err, was finished in pine, the boxes,
galleries, columns and stairways be-
of that material. AS usual at that
time, the roof was covered with
shingles. The ceiling of the house
was of painted canvass stretched on
the ratters. The stage was quite
contracted, and was furnished with
thirty-four drop scenes, all but one
being painted upon canvass, and that
one being made of paper. The
scenes were painted upon one side
only, and the side which was left un
painted was quite iniammable, owing
to the log fibre of the hemp Of
which the canvass was woven. The
mode of exit from the theatre was
quite insufficient, the whole house,
except the gallery, empting through
a single passage. 1t was during the
last week OF the season, and the ell
tertainment was given for the benefit
of Mr.. Placide. The bill consisted
of the comedy Of "The Father or
Family Fcud, and a patomime called
Raymond and Agnes, or the Bleed
ing Nun" The house was the fullest
of the season, at least 600 persons
being present The first part Of the
bill passed off, but when the curtain
rose Oh the second act of the panto
mime bunch light fell against the
back OF one of the scenes, setting it
on fire. A partial stampede follow
ed, but many believing that the dan
ger was slight, remained in their
seats and endeavored to quiet those
who had become frightened. But
they mlscalculated the danger, for
before fifty persons had passed into
the hall, dense body Of thick black
smoke from the lgni1ed pine poured
into the auditorium. The flames ran
like wild fire from the stage to the
klIn-dried wooden fittings, and in less
than five minutes from the first alarm
tne whole interior was in flames. In
the panic many were trampled under
foot, while others were pulled back
from the windows from which they
attempted to escape. The death roll
numbered 81 persons, among whom
were George w. Smith, the Cover
nor OF the State, and Miss Nancy
Green, the daughter of the manager.
Many persons were seriously injured
and manned tor life.
The National Theatre, Chicago,
was burned while an entertainment
was going on. The building formed
part of II wooden block, and the fire
originated outside the thea re. When
the fire started there was every rea-
son to believe that it would be quick
ly extinguished, but it spread so fast
that it was considered prudent to dis
miss the audience. Mr.. } Rice, the
manager, stepped upon the stage and
said: "There is fire near hear, and
while there is no danger, it might be
we'll to empty the room. If there
was any danger would be the first
to tell you Of it, AT that moment
somebody in the wings spoke to him
in loud whisper, "Mr. Rice, the
theatre Is on fire"
Mr.. Rice turned to the audience
and cried: "Get out of this as soon
as God will let you" OF course they
acted upon the advice. Mr.. McVick-
er was member of the company at
that time, and SO speedily did the
flames do their work that he did not
have time to save even portion Of
his wardrobe.
At the Victoria Theatre, London,
Dec. 27, 1858, an alarm of fire was
the cause Of the death of l6 persons.
The Grand Ducal Thea,er, at Carl
ohmc, Prussia, was burned to the
ground and 80 perished in the
flames.
The Royal Theatre, Edinburgh,
was destroyed by fire on the evening
of January 18th. 1865, and seven
people were burned to death.
The Opera House ut Lincoln, Neb.,
was burned Oh the night OF October
2, 1875. AS at the Brooklyn theatre,
the play was the "Two Orphans"
and the fire originated, as it did in
the last catastrophe, i'll the flies above
the stage. The curtain had just
gone up on the second act, the i'lu-
minated garden scene, when one Of
the ladies upon the stage happened
to look upward and discover the fire.
With IN utter want of presence Of
mind, she at once shrieked, "My
God the theatre is on fire." and ut
the same instant the other ladies
united in her cry. This brought the
audience at once to their feet and Il
panic was imminent, when Mr..
Frauk Aiken, who was member of
the company, stepped to the foot
lights AMI cried, "Don't be afraid"
and almost instantly the curtain was
run down. In the mean time MIR. j.
w. Wallack, who was the manager