Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-08-29
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE
At New York Burned-Cost S2.1OO.OOO to
BuiId-S2OO 900 Other Loss.

NEW YoEk, Aug. 2S.-Thc magnificent
Metropolitan Opera House, the pride of
New York, is irealmost total ruins.
Fire broke out there about go O'Clock
Saturday morning, which gathered heal
way with such rapidlty that within less than
an hour after the alarm was sounded the
entire 1th avenue half of the building was
demolished.
The roof had fallen in, the walls were
lettering and the entire space which had
been occupied by the enormous stage, the
largest of any opera house in the world.
was roaring furnace of fame.
The Immense auditorium with its hand
some decorations and Furnishings was also
completely wrecked, and it was only with
the most persistent and heroic efforts that
the firemen were able to prevent the flames
from extending to the apartment section of
the building on the Broadway side.
Beside the great loss to the stockholders
u vast amount of valuable scenery. proper
ties and costumes, wt;c, il had taken years
to accumulate, have been totally destroyed.
together with all the musical scores and
other valuable works which belonged to
the opera house,
\ very large part of the scenery. COS
tunes and designs for the new works to BE-
produced at the coming opera season be-
longcd to Mr.. Abbey.
The work of preparing this scenery has
been goiug on all srmmer under the dircc-
ION of Mr. IIo,t. the scenic artist. and Il
large par, of It had been completed.
It is est mated that Ills losses alone will
exceed 100000 and will probably reach
Sl7o,ooo.
Besides this all the scenery which was to
he used in the new ballet which is to be put
on the stage at the Cas;io was being stored
in the Opera house, where it had been
painted under Mr.. IIoyt's. direction and it
has now gone up in smoke and flame.
TT alone was worth Sij,ooo.
New scenery for The Tempest which
is to be produced by Augus,in DAILY at the
opcr NJ season. valued at $1,000 at least.
was also consumed.
No definite estimate of the total losses
eau vet be made, hut as far as can b.
Judged they will considerably exceed 5000
0C0. Including the damage to the building
itself.
The Metropolitan Opera House was built
at an expense of about 50. 100 900 by 20
stockholders. each of whom subscribed
SO 900, and each of whom became the
which was decided by lot.
Besides the investment of $50 900, box
holders have hal to pay an assessment cv-
cry season amounting to from $500 to
s2j0O. When Mr., Abbey got his lease of
the opera house at the end of the season. it
was made a condition that the assessments
should cease.
The opera house, which ia a huge white
building occupy ing the whole block be-
tween $9th and 10th streets and between
Broadway and 9TH avenue, bowers plot of
ground 2o0x26n feet or 1000 square feet,
The exterior is of pressed brick with ter
ra Gotta trimmings, the design being a sim
pie treatment of the ltalian renaissance.
There are Il entrances from the street and
on :;9th and 10th streets and on Broadway
there are large vestibules with hat and coat
rooms adjoining.
The auditorium. which is said to be the
largest in the world, contains three rows
and a half of boxes, 1872 in all. with each
of v ich is connected salon twice the SIZE
of the box itself. in which Refreshments
NAV he served. wraps left and visits re-
ceived between the acts.
In was opened for performances in ncte-
Der ISs3, under the management of Henry
Abbey.
Since the first season il has been devoted
chiefly to German opera many of the Wag
ner operas having been produced here re-
Gently with great splcndor and effective
ness. 1t is also the scene of the great balls
sarh season.