New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-03
FIRE IN A THEATRE,
THE AUDIENCE ESCAPES UNHuRr

i
ALARM IN THE UNION sQUARE CREATED BY sxo~r
| THE HOUSE EMPTIED IN TWO NIxUrgs-sy,o1
DAMAGE CAUSED.
The curtain was about to be runR nm m s.xn
o'clock last night on the second oct of the ma.
Felicia or. Woman's Love-" in tho Union sons,s
Theatre. before an audience Of fully TOO pcrsons
when there was q sudden movement smope tho.
occupying seats the main Aoor In the ports
west corner of tho theatre. IL was only :
slight start. but IL drew tho attent;o..
of the entire audience instantly toward the corner
The Office OF the Morton House opens into the Thea
tire at that spot; though the door = HIGHT cloud =
smoke IN little puff and ross toward the ssl.
cony. For second . deathlike stiffness p.rvsded
tue theatre. Persons in the balcony and gallery
craned their necks to see what was the matter
Presently puff of smoke Of larger volume arose. aud
some one near the Office door left his seat hastily
Instantly every person in the audience
rose and rush was made for the
doors. There no cutlery. The door.
keeper then called out that there was no
danger; that the fire in the other building. The
ushers threw open the doors aud the outside gate.
In two minutes the building was emptied not
person remaining in 1t save the 6remen. who bsfoD
the last had left the building had ALREADY
traIled their hose from behind the scenery on TIE
stage tue orchestra to the point OF the 6re
In the first rush woman tainted In the centre
aiSe anu Icu Oh tno moor. iuEoo iucu ocuiuu uet
rIed her out. No injury befell anyone. but
III the sudden hurry many opera-glasses and articles
OF wearing apparel were left on the seats Tho
actors. who we're Oh the stage OF In the dressing
rooms, escaped into Broadway without trouble
AT the first discovery . signal had been sent ont
from the aarIn-box IN the office BIZ waiter. Hall
dozen fireenglnes responded and had their hose In
the building before two minutes had elapsed. Tho
flooring IN the corner Of the theatre was broken
through and it was found that tho fire had
started beside nue IN the basement
directly under the, door Spf the hotel Office
IL had crrpt mp along thH wall. and burning
through the ceiling, had spread between the hpor
beams under the seats OF the audience IN the corner
and over the dressug-room of Mss sara Jewett.
No nime was visible at any time In the Theatre aud
the damage was triing.
The lire beng out. the audience gathered in tho
Square, reinforced by yast throDgs Of curiosity.
seekers, and watched the tiremen running out and
III. Inside. on the stag. troop OF policemen aud
INSURANCE patromen held possession. There are
nine doors leading out OF the theatre--tbree ON he
main floor, two in the balcony aud four IN the gal.
ery. Eight ushers are IN at enhance. Their chef.
Isaac Weinberg was in the theatre at the outbreak.
saw people rise over IN the corner" he sad,
and LITTLE smoke coming up. called ont That tho
fire was ~ the other binding, and that there was
no danger; but seeing thar they would not SIT still,
shouted to he ushers TO throw open the doors. and
10 the gate-k keeper 10 open the gate. They acted
prompt y, aud IN two minutes there was nobody
l, N the building except the iirenen. Inen II was
all over very soon"
Nh Chamberlain. the doorkecper. said that whs
thee we've rusl and pu,I 10 get out. there was
noise or outcfy. While The throng was pressing
toward the street one individual hammered nolsily
Oh the WINDOW of thc buX-oiice with hIs sick and
demanded return cheek lie would BOT he stlll
unti has demand wa, granted.
Anyone no has ms check aud desires 10 como
and the play next week can do 80" sad Mr..
ca uTan, he author of the play. We shall - IN
Lvxt Monday; IN fact We mi !It have gone "a with
the play right then had ~ been possible to get tae
audience blch."
IL Ms, Jcwetrs dressing ROOM directly over
which tue fire WAC burning, tJeIe was only her mad
~ the tIme The actress WAS on the stage. Ice
mai was frightened at the sudden noiss
where She made her way out with those who
were there. Inc guests in the hotel were startled
tc sudden ARRIVAL OF the ic-englnes. before they
knew III iuc trouble the theatre. / ne articles
found IA seat, aud aIses after the ha,ty ght VI
the audience Nc.c gathered up and taken IN charge
10 tie u.hcr>.