New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-13
FIRE FINISHED THE PLAY.
MRS. LANGTRYs Pc .~FoLMANcE CUT SHORT
PANIC IN THEATRE AT oSwEGo-THE
SCREAMS OF THE WOMEN oUIETED BY THE
oRCHEsTRA-PEoPLE ESCAPING QUIET
LY WITHOUT ACCIDENT
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Oswego n. Y, Dec, I2.-Mrs Langtrys
performance in AS in a Looking Glass ended
here tonight Jest before the curtain was TO
rise on the last act, with wild scene large
audience filled the thcatre and the first bell
had rung for the curtain to rise, when cry
Of fire was heard from the rear
Of the hall Instantly thick smoke pulled
up through large register in the
centre of the hall and the people
arose in the widest disorder and surged
toward the doors. Women screamed and men
shouted and frightful panic seemed imminent
Manager Frisbic rushed from behind the scenes and
instructed the orchestra to play, and the musicians
struck up a lively air. S-veral men sprang upon
the stage and shouted to the people that there
no danger. Others climbed upon the backs OF
seats in all parts OF the hail and urged the people
to keep cool and pass out quietly and quickly
These appeals had a surpr sing effect Although
the theatre was rapidly filing with sitting smoke,
women stopped screaming and some even turned
back for wraps and rubbers. In two m nutes the
hal was cleared without accident though several
persons badly crushed in the rush down The
narrow stairs from the galleries
just as the last of the crowd passing out,
flames burst up through the floor in the main
aisle directly in front Of the main entrance. The
first person to rush out of the building sent In an
alarm from box near by and a general alarm
brought the department to the spot
News that the theatre was on fire
quickly spread about town, and those who had
friends in the audience hurried to the scene, and
an excited crowd retarded the work Of the fire.
men.
Mrs Langtry was just leaving the dressing
room wren the alarm was given. She took
matters coolly, and gave hurried orders for the
removal Of her costly wardrobe and then escaped
through rear door and took refuge in neigh
boring store where she was speedily Joined by
other members of her company. AS she saw
the flames from the opposite side Of the
street, she gave orders to have the theatre
thoroughly searched for any people who might
he inside, and said she would re-
ward those who would venture in
The flames were extngushed. The
fire originated from overheated furnace,
almost directly under the main entrance, and but
for timely discovery the people would have
been cut of from this exit There two
smaller exits in the rcar. The fire burned large
hole in the floor, and the building was badly
damaged by smoke and water. The building is
mere fre-trap. i was built thirty years
ago, and the theatre is in the second
story The place is heated BY furnaces
in stOrc-rooms and vacant offices on the first door.
1t is owned by the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad Company There are no fire
escapes on the outside, but the street can be
reached by three stairways. In the excitement
several women cambcred down ladders from the
galleries 10 the main lOOr.