The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-27
GREAT FIRE.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1.

Some special scenery that was being
prepared for the production of the
Tempest" by Augustine DAILY was
among the valuable works destroyed, at
loss of $4,000.
In fact the stage mt the Metropolitan has
been vast scenery workshop all sum-
mer, and the results of the untiring labor
OF the artists went up in flames.
In the building were Capt. Scattergood,
the engineer, Charles Brown, the stage
carpenter aud another carpenter. Besides
these there was boy named Cornelius
Main. who has been assisting the painters.
The three men were on the stage while
the boy had gone to the paint room. The
men OH the stage were startled by seeing
fire up in the flies near the front of the
stage.
Before they could give any alarm the
fire had spread to the inflammable cur
tains and scenery, and they had barely
time to escape with their lives. The fire.
proof curtain could not be utilized as it
had been pulled up out of the way, to
make room for the painters.
The scaffolding upon which the painters
had been at work occupied part of the
stage, and the flames quickly spread to
TO this, nothing prevented their progress
to the auditorium and soon after that
was also a seething mass of flames.
The total loss cannot be estimated at
this hour, but 1t will be something APP
palllnS, lDe Duliuluk was IlrsI Opeueu
In October. 1888, by Henry Abbey.
1t occupies square bounded by Thirty
ninth and Fortieth streets, Broadway
and Seveth avenue. The building was
200 by 260 feet long, and covered 1900
square feet.
The building was valued at e.lo0,O 900.
The insurance is very heavy. but the
exact amount is not known. There is no
theory as to how the fire started
The Metropolitan Opera House was the
most splendid ornament OF the new up
town amusement centre of New York,
which has grown up within a few years
along Broadway near the intersection of
Fiftieth street, and which included the
Casino, now to be given over to music
hall performances, the Broadway Thea
tire and the Carnegie Music Hall, on Fiji
ty-seventh street.
The Opera House was on the west side
of Broadway just below Fiftieth street
and occupied with its dependencies almost
an entire block, the auditorium being in
part surrounded by rows Of stores front
ing on three streets.
The house was rather plain in external
appearance. relieved, however. by mag
nificent colonnaded entrance. The facade
and interior were alike the work of j. G.
Casey the architect, and both were in ac-
cordance with Renaissance forms. The
interior was decorated In white and gold,
aud there was something of a monotonous
appearance about its rows of boxes, all OF
low keyed decoration. Rumor has it
that the decoration was purposely kept
rather subdued In order that IL
might form better background for the
beautiful toilets of the boxholders.
For preeminently the opera was the
home of fashion. of the newer million
aires. 1t was built to accommodate those
millionaires who could not crafty their
love of dignlnV n tho old AraHanau Of
Music on Fourteenth street because of its
limited number of boxes. The "new
millionaires" built the new "Opera
House" sustained IL for two seasons in a
series OF German opera performances of
unparalleled splender. and then tiring Of
sl,OOO assessments, dropped the toy. For
next season Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau
had contracted to run French opera at
the Metropolitan. Their loss will be
heavy, and not the first.
In the Metropolitan have sung the best
artists of all nationalities, Patti, Scalchi,
Campanani lin concert), Alvary, the aged
Niemann, Lilii Lehman ana lesser lights
by the score. IL was also much used for
great conventions. The w. Il. G.. u. met
there two years ago. The great Methodist
conference at which DIR. Newman was
elected bishop was held there and num-
erous other gatherings OF the sort.
Perhaps tue most splendid function"
ever given In the Metropolitan was the
great centennial ball (of ashington's
inauguraD in 1889, when Ward McAlister
marshaled the glittering society and
official hosts in scene OF unparalleled mag
nificence. suggested by, yet fair sur
passing, bail once given by the Duke of
Genoa. On ttelt occasion temporary re-
freshment rooms were built in the side
streets, and the great building was one
coruscating mass OF brilliance.