New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-15
THE s %7DARD IN A BLAZE.
ANOTHER YORK THEATRE BURNED.
FLAMES SPREADING WITH GREAT RAPIDiTY.-THE
LOSS 500 900.


The reason was that the theatre had burned up,
and the costumes of the players were consumed
with it. At Gas o'clock, Policeman John LINK
who wss passing in front of the theatre, was
startled by seeing a tall young man rushing out OF
the main entrance of the building No. 1,2oo Broad
way yelling Fire ~ at the top of his voice. Ihls
was Max Hirsch the assistant treasurer OF the
Standard. Several other young men came running
out after Mr.. HiTsch, and almost simultaneous WIN
their hasty exit thin cloud OF white smoke rose
above the roof directly over the stage. Policeman
Link rushed TO fire box at Thirty-fourth-st. and
sent out an ALARM The iremen ratified up in front
of the theatre with their usual promptness, but the
rapid pro ess of the flames rendered it necessary to
send out third alarm at once, which drew
together twelve steamers and four hook aud
ladder companies. This force got TO work without
any delay. Lines of hose were dragged upon the
roofs Of the adjoining buildings which fortunately
were low and flat The first iiremen to arrive pen
etratcd into the theatre through the entrance ON
Thrty-third-st. They found the auditorium filled
with smoke and the scenery flies and stage floor
ing ablaze.
DRAGGED OUT THROUGH BLINDING SMOKE.
man was dimly staggering around in the
thick smoke. The fremen seized him and dragged
him out into the street where he recognized by
friends in the crowd which had quickly gathered,
as William White, the assistant stage manager OF
the BIiou Opera House. By the aid of fresh water
dashed in his face, and the open air, he revived
There were anxious shouts for men who were known
TO be in the theatre when the fire broke out ana
fears were for some time entertained for the safety
of Edward Smith, the gas man. The men had all
escaped, however, and gathered together on the
sidewalk to watch the fire. SO rapid was the spread
of the flames that ten minutes after the fire broke
out the destruction of the building certain. At
- IL ,1,o1i ito off cd n
spectacle that drew together an immense crowd.
Clouds of sparks rose high in the arwere blown in an
easterly direction by the wind and descended in fiery
showers upon the assembled thousands OH the side
walks. Hundreds of umbrellas were raised to pro-
tect their owners silk hats and costly overcoats The
dOme-like mass of flame cast q deep red refec-
tion against the sky and lit up brilliantly the sta
tiOn OF the Elevated Railroad which stands over
the avenue in front of the theatre. Portions of the
burning scenery mingled with the sparks.
Shortly after seven O'Clock two heavy explosions
came from the burning building Various theories
circulated as 10 the cause OF the explosion
Some said it was boiler in the basement; Others
that it was the bursting OF gas pipes lheSe were
followed by peculiar smell like that OF chlorine
pas 1t was SO sitting that the crowd of spectators
perceptiby diminished before its influence.
THE FLAMES UNDER CONTROL.
At 7:3O the firelnen had the flames under control
and the red light in the heavens began TO die away
Preparations had been made by the tenants of ada
cent buildings IN 33d and 32d-sts. to move out in
case the fire spread beyond the theatre. There was
10 OCCASION however to be disturbed for success
fully had the fremcn worked that not even the
main entrance of the theatre burnt. AT
ten o'clock two streams OF water were left to play
upon the smouldering cinders where the auditorium
and stage had been. The building was nevertheless
a complete wreck
EXPERIENCE OF MEN IN THE THEATRE.
Il was standing in the auditorium" said Mr.
Hirseh, when Billy White discovered the fire creep
a., IL lo,,I IL, Mo- fro.
apparently came from under the stage at that point
There we're in the theatre at the time besides my
self and Mr.. White, jack BrittOn scene-shfter;
Edward Smith the gas man. John Field, who was
in the engine room under the stairs; John Taylor,
expressman; Nathan Harris the carpenter; Edward
Daley, the prompter, who had his fingers mashed
trying to send of private fire alarm, and Isaac
Smith, the foreman of the Sapes; l crIed 10
White to send out an alarm. lie tried to DO DO but
lost his way and nearly lost his life; The smoke
Of us ran to the main door and and
ESCAPED. Rices company, who have been
perforlning here will lose all their costumes, which
are new, and valued at $1,000 We managed to
save some of the music and the money which was
in the bOx-Oilice."
THE LOss-oRIGIN OF TIE FIRE.
Messrs Brooks and Dickson, the managers of the
theatre, were early the scene, and stood
on the street while the theatre went
up in flame and smoke. After the fire
they sought consolation in the private of
flee of Trainor's restaurant. They refused to
furnish any definite information when found on
any subject. Mr. Henderson, the former manager
and present lessee of the theatre, was $50 present
in the crowd. lie placed the loss on the building at
$50 900. The loss on the scenery and stage prop
tTties will not exceed $4,000. The loss is only
partly covered by insurance. The origin OF the lire
could not be definitely ascertained: There was "a
rumOr, probably caused by the incident at the
Casino, that the fire was the work OF ncendiarles.
Frank Oke, of the scene-shfters stated that he
was helping Mr.; Smith, the foreman OF the Supes,D
i'll preparing the scenes for the opening scene IN
"Esrella," when he saw the fire up among the nles
close by gas-et. This was high up above the
stage He believed the fire TO have been caused by
the let coming in contact with the iies THIS belief
was shared by many of the employees of the Stand
f, Mir. Dickson, being asked his opinion as to how
The fire started, said he felt it caused by
the electric light wires that run above the theatre
becoming crossed Mr. LOnsdale, the business man
ager however, said he was sure MI Dickson was
mistaken and that the fire started in the upper part
OF the flies among the border lights Il was just
leaving my house i'll ,Thirt ysecOndst, opposite the
theatre, when my servant called out, Why, the
theatres on fire 2 looked over and saw tongue
of flame running from the roof. Il over and the
interior was blazing when reached the sidewalk i'll
Some time after the flames had been subdued
the rear wall fell upon three stored frame
house in Thirty-thrd-st owned by John
II. Graves and occupied by three
families, crushing it, Luckily the occupants had
taken their departure when tie fire started and had
not returned. The damage TO their furniture
estimated at $1,000 tue loss upon the building was
$4,000.
When the police drove the crowds back there
great pressure those behind and the railing
IN front of the Dime Savings Bank gave way, precpi
tatng a woman and boy into the sub-cellar. The
woman Mary McArdle, OF No. 10 LerOy-st. !
She was found 10 have received severe scalp
wound and conclusion Of the brain. She was re-
moved to the New-York Hospital Her injuries
are thought TO be serious. The boy was Lewis
kosenbaqm age 10, of No. 276 Seventh-av.
He was injured IN the back and was sent to his
home.
HISTORY OF THE THEATRE.
The Standard Theatre was built by Joseph
Hart and the late Joseph Bowling on the property of the
Shepherd Estate Opened 1875 under the name OF the