The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-28
AN OPERA HOUSE ABLAZE
TIE METROPOLITAN AT NEW
YORK BADLY DAMAGED.

cry Wiped Out Of Existencs-rhe
Production of Several Plays VIII Be
Delayed.
NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-1he Metropolitan
opera house, one Of the most magnificent
and expensive Of the modern play houses,
occupying an entire block, bounded by
Broadway, Seventh avenue, Thirty ninth
and Fortieth streets, In the short space OF
one hour this forenoon was ruined. The
Broadway front was saved by the firemen,
destroyed by the flames. just where tho
fire started is unknown, but
it must have been in the vicinity
of the stage, which backs on Seventh ave-
nue. How the flames managed to get such
Roadway without being discovered Is also
a problem puzElinR Chief Conner and his
men. When the buildings special fire sig
nal was rung about $50 o'clock the entire
interior was fiery mass, and ID was aD-
parent that the block would be consumed.
Additional help was called by the iromen
without delay.
WORKED TO SAVE THE FRONT.
Over dozen steamers responded TO this
summons, and as it was clear that there was
no saving the theater, their united efforts
were exerted to save the Broadway front,
in which is located the Bank OF New
restaurant. The former covers the Thirty
ninth street corner and the latter the For
tieth street corner. The main entrance to
the Metropolitan opera house was on the
'front.' between the bank and the restaurant.
This they succeeded in doing with the as
sistance of the wind, which was blowing
strongly from the east and swerved back
toward Seventh avenue. All the offices in
the six stories OF the front we're not touched
by the fire, but those of the opera house
company, which were on the Thirty ninth
street side near Seventh avenue, were
gutted. There was an expensive library
in this section, which is also moro or less
ruined.
A BOY INJURED.
One boy Is known to have been
injured. His name is Mans, and he was en-
ployed by Alfred Uperti a scenic artist,
who was using part of the opera house tenn
porarily as a studio. The boy was hemmed
in by the flames on the third floor. but he
made his way to one of the windows on
Thirty ninth street, and from there lsape1
down 10 the storm door shed on the ground
floor It is not believed that he is seriously
hurt. By 10 O'Clock the fire was under con-
troll
NEW SCENERY BURNED.
Artist Operti arrived at the theater just
as the fire was discovered and had the NOR
tidcation of seeing works OF art upon
which he had spent considerable time and
had Travelled over the world TO get sketches
Of burned up. The scenery for the new
plays to be introduced In few days at the
Casino aud Daly's thsater and Academy OF
Music are said TO be a complete loss and
may cause delays in the production Of the
plays.
During the summer the opera house has
been chiefly used for commenoements. and
WAS last used for ball. The pine hoorings
for this had not been removed, and this once
iRnited carried the fire to the main entrance
The interior of the theRter had been thor
oughly fitted for opening the season, which
would have taken place In short time.
Before 10 o'clock the roof had been burned
through and the flames shot high up into
the air. This rent in the roof assisted the
fireman materially in Gaving the Broadway
front. Half an hour later the flames having
ate up everything before them had literally
burned themselves out.
THE SCENE ON THE INSIDE.
When the flames had been sufficiently
subsidized to permit an entrance to the build
ing it was seen that the stage and every
thing from the proscenium arch to the rear
wall on the Seventh avenue side had been
entirely swept away excepting the bare
brick walls. The roof above the stage was
entirely burned away and the sky could be
seen. In the auditorium five tiers that rose
above the orchestra still remained, but all the
trappings of the boxes, upholsterings OF the
chairs, frescoes OF the walls and the dome
had vanished. In the boxes and on tho tiers
above the iron frames of the chairs alone
remained The flames burned fiercely here
but they made their way through the roof
and that still remained. Further than the
entrance doors TO the auditorium the flames
had not succeeded In making their way. NO
trace of the flames was seen in that part OF
the building fronting on Broadway and |
people in that part of the building calmly |
went about their duties during the IRE.
The official police report of the damage |
says: Scenery, etc, S250,0O0; opera house |
building, $3.50 900; Broadway and Thirty |
ninth street, occupied on the first tioor oy |
the New Amsterdam bank, no damage;
Broadway aud Fortieth street. occupied as
a restaurant, no damage; Broadway side |
OF the building, occupied as an apartment
house. no damage. The stockholders OF the
opera house include Mr.. Vanderbilt and
other milionaires.
WHAT THE BUILDING LOOKS LIKE.
The exterior OF the burned theatsr Is of
pressed buff brick with dressings of terra
Gotta. the design being more simple treat
ment Of Italian renaissance. There are
seventeen entrances from the street
and ON Broad way there were large
rooms adjoining, The foyer was
34xs2 feet, with a p0rlor connected In
such manner that they could be oasily
converted into a concert or lecture room
with the parlor for a stage. Ths auditorium,
said to be the largest in the world, con-
tAined three rows and half OF boxes 122
in all, with each Of which was connected a
salon twice the size of the box itself In
which refreshments we're served, wraps left
and visits received between the aots.
BIG STAGE.
The stage was SO ieet wide, 70 feet deep
100 feet high. It also extended 80 feet be-
low the floor. The building was said to be
as thoroughly lre-proof as possible, brick
and iron entering largely into lis compost
tion. The opera house was opened for per-
formanoss in October, 1883, under the man
agement Of Henry Abbey. since the first
season it has been devoted chiefly 20 Ger
man opera A number of Wagner operas
we're produced at the opera house with great
splendor and effectiveness. IL was also the
scene Of great balls each season, the last ono
OF national Importance being tho Centennial
ball.
TO BE REFITTKD At ONCE.
The yearly boKholders included many
millionAires Secretary McLaren said n
meeting OF the stockholders will be iinme-
diately called aud the work OF rehttlng the
opera house will begin as soon as the wster
oan bs goltau our of IL IL will DO nec0gAary