Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-10-31
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
An Unequal Match.
Mrs. Langtry's Debut Pre-
vented by Fire.
PARK THEATER BURNED DOWN.
A Portion of Her Wardrobe De-
stroyed.
STORMS IN the OLD WORLD,
Heavy Floods in England and
Elsewhere.
STORMS IN the OLD WORLD
FIRE RECORD.

Park TheRter Burned Dowm-aIrs Lang
try's Debut Spoiled by the Fire-sev-
eraI Persons Seriously Injured by the
Flames.
New YORK, Oct. 3O.-About half past four
O'Clock this afternoon while number of
workmen were engaged at Abbey's Park The.
alter preparing for the opening of Mrs. Lang
try in IAN Unequal Match" flames were dis
covered in the rear of ono of the private
boxes on the right hand side Of the stage
An alarm was sounded, but before the arrival
of the fire department the flames had COM
municated to the flies and in less than fifteen
minutes after the first alarm nearly the whole
structure was in flames. Second and third
alarms were sent out and in few minutes
the block between Twenty first and Twenty
second streets was surrounded by engines
The flames despite the exertions of the fire.
men continued to spread and extended to
several buildings on Broadway. Several per-
sons who were in the theater at the time of
the outbreak narrowly escaped with their
lives and three persons were badly injured.
In less than hour from the outbreak of the
fire the theater was entirely destroyed and
four three-story buildings in front of the
theater and numbered 932 to 939 Broadway,
were badly damaged Mr.. Henry E.
Abbey, the lessee of the theater, estimates
his loss at $4,000, which is fully
covered by insurance in local companies.
The building cost $4,000 and is also fully
insured. No. 932 Broadway, occupied by
Samuel Dunbar as drug store, was damaged
So, 900. No. 934 occupied by l.. D.
Goldsmith, dealer in fruits. His loss is
3 200. The two stores of 936 and 93S
i
paper hangings and decoration. They esti-
mate their loss at $4,000. Tho second floors
of the same buildings were occupied by Par
sons & Scarlet, merchant tailors. Their
loss on their stock is 200. All the losses
are fully covered by insurance. few min
distinct explosions were heard and the follow
ing AIMED persons were injured: Thomas
f. Weston of 476 West Twenty second street,
severely cut on the hand Henry Clark, 1884
East Third street, employed as a stage hand,
was severely burned about the head and
hospital in critical condition; William
Doran, painter at the thsater, in jumping
from a window on the third floor, received a
fracture of the leg and internal injuries.
During the progress of the fire the greatest
excitement prevailed on Broadway and the
crowd was SO great that it extended for
blocks. ALI sorts of rumors were afoat as to
the cause of tina fire, many persons stating
that in their opinion it was of incendiary
origin, but nothing definite is yet known as
to its origin. The fire marshal will begin an
investigation tomorrow.
Mrs. Langtry was at her hotel during the
entire evening and watched the progress of
the flames. She refused to any but her
most intimate friends. At a late hour it was
] learned that a portion of Mrs Langtrv's
wardrobe had been destroyed by fire and that
| the stage carpenter named John Leo, who
was in the building when the fire started, had
not been seen since. 1t is believed he has
persisted in the flames. Before the fire was
extinguished hundreds of persons drove up
/ to the theatre, not knowing what had taken
| place Mr.. Abbey said to night That he would
| open with ''An Unequal Match next Monday
| at the Grand Opera House.
| The most plausible theory as to the origin
| of the fire was that James Clark, q painter
| spilled the contents of a pail of paint which
| came in contact with gas jet and communi
| Gated the flames to the scenery. The fire
burned with terrible rapidity and swiftly
| E.ounted to the dome over the stage, being
| first seen from the outside as it burst through
the roof. Everything was in readiness, even
to the arrival of Mrs. Langtry's magnificent
| wardrobe suited to the part of Hester GRASP
brook in 'An Unequal Match, " when the fire
| broke out Mrs. Langtrys company consist
| ed of eleven members, eight of whom came
! over on the steamer Egypt. Her suppor'
| embraces Miss Kate Hudson, Mrs Grahame
Frank Coogen, j. G. Taylor, Morrington R
Fellon, Edwin Shepherd, John e. Graham'
and Henry Crisp. These people all suffer
heavy losses, not one of them saving his OF
| her wardrobe.