The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-19
FIVE MINUTES Oh TERROR
Almost a Panic Among the Park
Theatre Audience.
A FIRE IN THE LOBBY
Brave Officer Genore Stops a Pell
Nell Rush for the Doors.
A FIRE IN THE LOBBY
EMMET'S COOL-HEADED APPEAL
All Reach the Sidewalks IN Safety-The
Auditorium Uninjured

Itmay never be known to certainty how close
some eight hundred people-the audience of tie
Park Theatre at broadway and Twenty-second
street came at nine O'Clock last evening. to meet
ing the fate of those who persisted in the Brooklyn
Theatre just three years ago. AS it veritable
outbreak occurred at the entrance to the body
Of the theatre. the alarm given usual. heed
lessly by some one, smoke poured into the au-
ditorium, the audience in fright and the
play came to dead stop. The element
for panic and disaster plainly at hand. But
the presence Of mind of police officer and an actor;
the promptness of the Fire Department. and. it
must be added the GOODNESS of large portion Of the
audience, combined to avert calamity The house
was cleared without the slightest accident although
before half the people present could get out by the
general entrance the smoke and fire forced the re-
mainder back, and the supplementary exits were
sailed into use some leaving by the stage exit on
rwenty-second street and the regular exit on the
same street. at the easterly side Of the house,
while those still in the gallery and balcony were
let out by another exit on Broadway. The general
opinion last evening was.that the fire was caused by
the overheating of the wrapping of q steam heater
under the lobby steps. where some posters were
stored these caught fire smouderingly. and
thence, the fire communicated to tho
woodwork. gaping hole in the lobby,
about three feet by four. where the
hremen had cut away the flooring; some charred
portions of the stairs photographs of stage celeb
rites floating abont in pools Of water. fremen in
helmets. police duty. group of theatre employees
emptied, darkened house. silent STAGE attested
att quarter past nine what had happened-a grave
warning to theatrical managers Providentially,
nothing more fatal to record implied by this
unusual scene.
ALARM.
The audience. goodly numbers had assembled
ut the usual hour of eight o'clock to witness the
farcical play of Fritz in Ireland. in which MI. j.
K. Emmett the dialect actor Is the chief performer
The play proceeded on its way Of comic songs
strained situations and quaint remarks. The
hrst act ended the band played and the curtain
again upon the in the ruins Of old abbey
boy in a soda water store next the theatre few
minutes before nine clock caught the smell Of smoke
he entered the lobby and saw it pouring out from
under the stairs rushed to the box Office and warned
the treasurer, the treasurer rushed to Manager
Abbey. Two boy ushers sent to the peo
pie the stage. No symptom of danger had
reached the audience. Fritz. in all the glory Of
dialect English. was singing his song
And she tainted away in my arms
The orchestra piping away at the accompani-
ment. and just the boys came rushing in the au-
disnce bust out in applause. But as the boys threw
open the doors to enter the auditorium q
cloud of smoke poured in with them. Off,
Ger John II. Genore (No. 1.Ol5-the strap
ping. six-foot. blonde whiskered Officer Genore-
standing duty at the back of the parquet
He saw the scared look the boys faces. the
ominous puff of smoke that poured in with Them
and at took in the magnitude of the danger
At this critical juncture standing at the back
near the entrance who also the smoke. lost his
head and shouted ssFirel"
APPRECIATED.
The cry came like thunderclap on the audience
Nearly every rose in the seats. and many Mt
rushed into the aisles. Faint
heard. but yet there uproar. The smoke
had made itself felt to before this, but
now, as one or the other hurried through the
door, st poured in in heavier volume. The
sctor. seeing his audience thus suddenly disturbed.
paused. There was q horrid moment Of suspense
But Ocer Genore had taken his part with the COOL
ness OF brave Going quickly down by the
heard over the hoarse murmur that precedes panic
and this 10 what he said:--
Take time: go quietly. am here and shall see
everybody out. Let no man rush; go quietly"
The strong voice had its effect. The rush was
checked; some remained in their seats; others
thronged up the aisles. A man in the parquet rose
MP and shouted:-
"Tet the band playi'
This echoed by many. but Mr. Emmett.
the lighted throng,--
Ladies and gentemen-I do not think the band
should play. I do not advise you TO remain. Go
out as quietly you When the theatre is fill
ing with smoke I cannot advise you to remain"
These words delivered calmly had good effect.
but TO many they seemed only the indication that
the danger was very great and the rush began
again. Ofheer Genore more shouted:-
you that am here. II there any danger
should 20 myself. I shall every and
woman ont. but IN have rushing
re good his word. Planting his solid
form IN the passage he bodily forced the panic
stricken 20 quietly. At the same time urging all
forward with the expedition OF discipline. About
half the people had left The orchestra. they went
through the door the smoke and smoulderng fire in
ths lobby met them; the people pouring down from
ihe balcony me, them there too. and there
crushing.
SAFELY our.
Manager Abbey had meanwhile caused the supple
mentAry exits on broadway and Twenty-second
street 70 be- opened aud directed that ali who had
not yet eot out should be sent out by thom. This
order promptly enforced. The entrance
~ the stage from the house was thrown
open. a. well Che other entrances, and
AL safe In the cool. clear without under
TIE stars. 1hs engine from the Fourteenth district.
AZ Seventeenth street. broadway. now
nvst. stream quickly thrown upon tho
smuulder4nE WOODWORK. aud In a moment Two all
vas saie. Thp whole thing did not occupy
than tcn minaies from the alarm by the boy to the
sktineaishmeni 90 tho Gre. hut the calamity OF the
Brooklyn Theatre was consummated Ia ave minutes.
honor - ~ humble Ohcor Gonorei
There wsrs between eight hundred and thous-
and peorie IN ne theatre the time the nre broke
Out The orsbcaira vas crowded and there were
great many pcopis the balcony and gallery.
ihoae the baic0ny managed 90 make their way
ag~a the stars and directly that portion which
arr.
ImK AnufvAL 90 THK nrsrnvEe.
OfhfeI Alexander Cllnchcy ga post on broad
way TEAR the thtaife aud when be learned that the
'tulldIna 40 CA 1re ~ Immediately sounded the
niarlu, alter which he the Thir-
t.sih street station house for the reserves.