The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-17

yaAuEs IN iaE st. NICHOLAS AND EsrRoPoL-
IRAN anDJgp WITHOUT PANIC.
Nav Xoxl Times

INA
TTAX SnDusp WITHOUT PANIC.
New York Timc~l
A Ere which nearly caused u panic In q
crowded theatre. occurred at few minutes
p.st 10 o'clock last night In the Mctrop0li-
tan Hotel. There had been for n quarter
of an hour peculiar odor In the office OF
The hotel, hut IT, character was not known
until an employs saw under the grand
staircase glimmer and spiral column Of
Smckc behind the annunciator-box nj the
south side Of the Office. lie then discov-
cxvss that the back OF the box, which is OF
thin boards. was on fire.
Mr.. Henry Clair knew OF the danger In
an Instant, and was equal 10 the emergency.
lie gave orders TO get out the hotel hose.
a. have an alarm sent from the street, and
the guests and the theatre 10 be looked
after. In half a minute a stream from the
hotel hose was on the burning annunciator-
box. and In ten seconds the FIRE was out.
In thirty seconds more the department en-
gines were taking their hydrents In Broad
way, aud the reserves Of the Fourteenth
precinct were preparing TO form fire lines.
There was really no need Of either the fire
men or the police, and the guests OF the
hotel had barely time 10 learn OF the fire
before they knew that IL was out.
Mr.. Clair's soiicitude for the vast audi
ence tha, packed Niblo's Garden 10 witness
the performance OF Excelsior" NAV have
prevented many casualties. Mr.. T.. g..
Gilmore, ON receiving the news that there
was fire VA the hotel, and that nothing
but promptoess and GOODNESS would pre-
vent panic In the theatre In case the dis
nster was serious one, acted very sensi-
bly,. Before the engines dashed up, The
doors through which entrance 10 the lobby
IL had from Broadway were closed, but not
fastened They swing outward. and In case
a. "a rush could have been thrown wide open
IN an instant. This prccaution prevented
the noise OF the fire apparatus reaching the
audience. Then the nine exits 10 Crosby
street were thrown open, and the ilshers
were ascertained To be at their posts and
told what to do In case the audience learn
cd OF the fire and became alarmed, and, as
q further precaution. Mr.. Frederick VIII
Hams, the stage manager, was taken into
Mr.. Gilmorc's confidence, and he was pre-
pared at the first sign OF uneasiness to 90
on the stage and deliver an address, calling
for order, and assuring the audience that
they had ample means OF escape. If they
chose TO leave the place. without danger.
The header OF the orchestra was also i'm
structed TO play vigorously IL tbele were
any signs OF panic.
A reporter OF the Times, when the au-
dience were leaving at the end OF the per-
formance, questioned n score OF persons
who were in all parts OF the house, and
failed 10 discover one who knew that there
had been fire. This corroboratcd Mr..
Gilmore's assertion that not soul in the
Theatre would know OF the fire until
reaching the street after the play was over
The fire was caused by the wires Of the
snnunciator getting crossed, and the dam
sge a about $50. When the Crosby-street
doors were opened objections were made
by several persons on the orchestra seats,
and there were whispers Of "shut the
door; it's cold"; but interest in the finale
Of the peace overcame their objections.
A signal was also sent out last night for
fire which broke out shortly after s
O'Clock In the basement OF the st. Nicholas
Hotel building, but it was held in check
from the start, and was extinguished at 9
O'Clock. About $4,000 damage was done.
There was only momentary apprehension
in the hotel. and no damage was done in II
and no guest left the house on account OF
the fire. The fire started in and was con-
fined to the basement or No. 523 Broad
way, occupied by Frederick Splits, Il dealer
In oiLcloths and leather embosser. 1t is
thought 10 have been caused by cigar
stump thrown away lighted by n passer-by.