New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-31
r,p STORY OF THE FIRE.

4anf I'll
- vos almost completely unOccupi0u
beless the association of Mrs. LangtTy nan-s
- .,,o ,,aoe and the knowledge that her Els' aP
.a~orco in America would have to be postPonoN
cd thousand happy expectations u''sr
so,,ted In consequence. gave Tue NJ
,r;dosnread and thrilling interest re"
1res in this city have been "l'"0'S
-. many people as this, circumstance to"aru
which the proximity of Madison Square CON
largely The intersection of Fifth-ave, anu O10a
vrav afforded room for tens OF thousands Vi
tors and before the fire had burned three-qu"i V0-
of an bour all the available places free 1roh
ference by the traffic of the streets were
As1f 10 add to tue pognancy OF Mrs LangtIS
,ia-,,,o;r,nan she was made n witness OF the
calamity from the windows of her parior at INC
.lbauarle Hotel Her balcony commanue" "
norfact view of the scene beneath. anu
stretching across the vide streets VI
ofbumanitv surging and heaylng with eAclleHheT'
Growing denser and denser and more stable as 'ne
fre-llne was neared and finally ending IN h'si"
,balanx held in position by GORDON Oh policeii'H
within the line the painting engines
"o long lines Of hose and the
burrvng fremen surrounding the burning 'n1"'iS
50 nor and eager were the flames and so perlshaole
-. ,,roitnro of the playhouse and the building
itself that within fifteen minutes after the nre was
discovered and for half an hour afterward, the
spectacle wa, one of terrific grandeur. The IRE
had st,rted near the stage and close 10
amass of material as combustible rs pine shavlnsS
lace curtains, canvas scenery with well-seasoned
frames. drop-scenes and borders, and hght frame
work of various kinds filed the stage anu EXTENDED
nm in the rigging loft more than sew
entv feet above the floor of the theatre
Whence came the fatal flash no one seemed aole 10
tell with absolute certainty last night IL was
nearly half-past when the hre was dlscoV-
sred There were only a few men in the
theatre-seene-painters, stage-carpeniers and the
like Agents were busy in their Offices, women were
working in the property-room. and couple OF men
were hanging lace curtains in the proscenlum boxes
All the preparations for Mrs. Largtry's first per-
formance we're complete; and splendid preparations
,he, were. Scenes of great beauty had been con-
struced for the play in one of them. which was on
the stage when the fire began the ordinary counter
fait decorations of mimic walls had been replaced
with lovely satin panels, beautifed by rare en-
broideries. The reheaTsals were over. ana MIS-
Iapgtrv had spent some time about the noon hour
in inspecting the stage settings with Mr.. ABBEY
Gaspard Maeder a scene painter was coming down
the stairs from his painting-roOm IN the topmost
story Of the Broadway building when he saw the
flames IN the second proScenium box Oh the LETT OF
tie stage He gave the alarm TO the men employed
On and near the stage, and they made an inetectua
effort to extngulsh them. The theatre was admirably
equipped with ire extinguishing apparatus, but
The men 70 use il were wanting The flames had
begun their mad sport and no one was swift enough
tofoIow them The eye could hardly do that Up
the ngring lott the flames ran, widening INTO
great sheet of fire that unrolled it.
self like gigantic scroll into the
auditorium eagerly the fire climbed almost in an
instant to the ceiling of the wide loft, and then with
hardly moments hesitation burst through the roof.
II was at this time that the spectacle dis
closed Its grandeur TO the multitude.
The Deople at distance saw
vast column of Sre rise TO great height III the air
and rain down a shower of glowing sparks; those
nearer saw the base of the column through the open
windows and doors Of the building in Twenty-sec-
ond-st, and within the eagerly mounting mass
strange shapes dangling and swinging and then
falling downward with crash.
The theatre proper was incosed by the walls Of
brick building which stood back of the row of
buildings Nos 932 to 938 Broadway. Here were
the auditorium. stage and dressingrooms. The en-
trance was through opening in the
Broadway buildings, and IN them also
were the business offices, the property
FOOTE'S the scene-panters' room and the dwelling Of
the ianitor. Two men were at work in the upper
and cut off their retreat by the ordinary means Of
exit One was Henry Clark and the other William
Doran Clark ran through the property
anu appeared at the window Of the janitOrs roOm
above the theatre entrance. A crowd had collected
IN the street. where the fremen were gathering.
Smoke was beginning 10 pour OGt of the windows
Oh the side. and the building seemed doomed.
With breathess anxiety the crowd watched the
recnactInent of the scene which has become
50 distressingly familiar at great city fires The
nan swung himself down, painfully, laboriously,
uEdl he dropped safely upon the apex Of the pris
ratic sign which projects above the main entrance
was evident that he was in great pain and fear
Ing that he would fall. in the street
called 70 him TO remain where he was. Tw sDecta-
Tors then climbed up to him and SUPP ored him while
t'enen brought ladder and completed the rescue.
The man taken to the NewYork Hospital,
Where It was stated thas he severely, and DOS
sOly fatally, burned.
AeauT lille happier rescue was taking place on
he Tgcnty-secoud-st. side of the building where
Doran had found refuge from the flames on the
Slndow-sll ThIther he was pursued by the flames.
eac after he had stood upon the coping for five min
etes watched By the crowd and waiting vainly
i0f the ladders of the fremen, he jumped
Hell 70 the roof of the portico, covering the ell
uaAee % the stage OF the theatre. He suffered
fracture OF one leg. Eight women were at work in
.he pfCperty-room Of the theatre VIXEN the fire
| 0soke cut. They had timely warning of danger by
| eoads Of smoke which came pouring into
/ VIC windows of the room, but did
MOI leave it until urged. Christian Bhck, sales
nan Ia the tailor shop of Parsons 81 scarlett, d.
'eety beneath the property-room. warned by the
'OAe' heard the screams of the frightened women
..s hurled upstairs with another man and found
'1e frightened women Iuddled together
Tie centre of the room. The
-'h hurried them down the stairs to