New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-04
NO PANIC IN me UNION SQUARE


no oNk FOUND. WHO SAW A PARIc-wHERE THE
GRE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE Ksf-
PLoYEs.
TRIBUNE reporter visited the Union Square
Theatre yesterday 10 examine the scene Of the fire
and of the panic which is alleged 10 have taken
place on Saturday night. The management Of the
house and some Of the employees clam that some Of
the reports published yesterday morning were
grossly exaggerated. The reporter had conversa-
tions with number Of perssns employed in the
theatre and in the Morton House. and all disclsimed
any knowledge Of panic. They united in saying
that the audience passed out in quiet, orderly
manner and that no one was hurt in the least. The
reporter shown the spot where the fire occurred.
The main entranceto the theatre is separated from
the Office Of the Morton HOuse by wall, and both
are on a level with the street. Storm doors have
been built outside each entrance. A pane Of glass
was broken in one OF these doors leading snto the
theatre and also in one leading Into the hOteA
The doorkeeper stands at an iron gate in the lobby
Behind him on his right are the main doors opening
into the theatre. while his left are the entrance
stairs to tho balcony Just In front of him on his
left is a small door communicating with the hotel
office, and very much used by persons who 20 out
between the acts borrow some cloves Of the hotel
barkeeper. Behind this door. in the end Of the
hotel Giice. anu bounded ne the back Dy the wall
separating tie auditorium OF the theatre from the
hotel. is small room. on the glass doors Of which
are the words Private Office" Part of this room
Is ussd by the nshcTs Of the theatre % hang
their Oyercoats IN while on duty. just
beside this Ia door at tue head
Of a flight Of stairs leading down to apart
ments which are inst underneath the private office.
One Of these small rooms u used by workman In
the hotel for storing hls brooms and cloths. The
One thus used Is IN tse corner formed by tho theatre
wall aud the hotel; and il was here that the fire
originated There arc some steam pipes in it. II Is
suspected that there were sOme matches upon a
shelf these pipes, and that they took FIRE from
the heat The man who uses the closet savSt that he
never kept any matches IN IL. The hO0rbeams
above this closet are charred and the walls are
blackened about two feet OH each side. These
the only marks of burning.
The flooring of the private Office was all orn up by
the hremen. about 1--WE feet OF the flooring Of
the orchestra in the theatre. Tho end seat OF the
next row 20 the last also torn mp. and the pas-
Ter of the wall ~ tho corner Of the auditorium was
broken on. The wall OF tho theatre was wet aud
also tho curtain of a small window in the corner
No other damage was pcrceptible. The gallery door
keeper said tothe reporter:
' was at my pos; in the broadway entrance 10
tho gallery. did not know that anything was
@ m,u,s sn o,1,' ,nom,reJ ,,bat vyos wrnno and ve
told thai there was a night IN the orchestra. Some
other person said le believed there was fire. /
ran around 10 the main entrance and found the au-
dicnce coming out there. looked into the audito-
mum and san a little smoke. then went back to
my post and found that nearly all tho occupants of
tho gallery were out. | told the few remaining ones
20 AXE their time. and they did 80. A great many
went out through the Broadway eKit.'
Was there any sign OF panicf"
Not the least. Every orc was cool and mex
cited. There was more curiosity to know what was
wrong than anything else
+. {. Chamborlain the doOrkeeper Tor The orches-
ira and balcony. said
Some of the stories OF this fire have been much
exaggerated. There was not tho least sign Of
panic. The ushers were all at their posts IN min
westerly sideuf the theatre, stood with his back
against the wall behind which was the fire. and
motoned 20 the audience 10 pass ont IN 'front.' Othim.
| stood by the door aud told them not To hurry; |
SAID there no fire IN the theatre, but that the
smoke was drifting m from Broadway building.
There seemed 10 De disposition among part of them
to stop. 50 told the officer TO keep them moving.
he told them Ia pass right ont and they
mi ght all cOme back rs soon as the bnilduo was
clear of smoke. Three or four men clambered
over the backs Of the chairs but when they
who was right where the smoke was coming
through they began 70 lake matters more easily.
wo men IN the lobby began 10 push and called 10
the officer to arrest them II they persisted and that
stopped them / cannot give the ushers too much
piaise. They were wonderfully cool and collected
and acted like Old hr3meE. he theatre was empty
beorr the hremen arrived and that was pretty sOon
/ dld not see any one faint one lady seemed IN be
very much frightened. and two gentlemen led her
through the iitto d0or iniO Tue hotel Hght by the
room that was on fire. She was not carried, but
walked she could not have done that II she had
been IN faint. II is ridiculous for any one to say
there was panic. The audience was wonderfully
M. Johnson. Manager Palmers business partner.
WAS found M the Office Of the theatre. lie received
the reporter smiHglY.
I'VE had on unfortunate accident he SAID but
we are thankful that II was no worse. That 10 re-
sulted so favOrahly was due TO the fact that the
audience did not become panlcstrlcken. One OF the
stories of this fire is very much exaggerated and Is
sure To give many persons q false impression. We
lave TO thank .IHE TRIBUNE for graphic and
strictly truthful account of H. Tho house empty
m less than three minutes ! stood u the easterly
exit which runs by tins Office, aud told the persons
who were going ont that the house could be cmptlcd
in less than three minutes One gentleman stopped
and began 10 argue the question with me; he offered
to bet me Sl0 tnat the theatre could not he emDtcd
m so short time Last nights atfar proved that it
could .. .-,,, ;.4.-. ..- ,..
" No. il ought not TO. for it showed how easily
persons can yet ont of the house, aud II showed that
our employees know what 10 do in OF fire. be-
iieye that 10 will be a good advertisement. The
damage IS very small and can be repaired for 1900.
Everything will be in working order By tomorrow
night aud we shall 60 on rs usual"
Inside of the theatre three carpenters we're al
work putting new boards down where the flooring
had been torn up. and u woman was sweeping out
ihe orchestra A. NJ. Palmer. manager OF the house,
went 10 the country Saturday and had not returned
yesterday.
LUMBER AND CARS BURNED.
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