New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-26
FIRE ON A ROOF GARDEN.
SPECTATORS DESCEND IN SAFETY,
ATTENDANTS KEEPING ORDER.
A BLAZE IN THE CHERRY BLOSSOM GROVE
OF THE NETWORK THEATRE PUTS A
SUDDEN END TO THE PER
FORMANCE
FORMANCE.

! smouldering and blackened heap of scenery at
! the righthand side of the stage while large
! and interested audience calmly watched the per-
| formers going with the entertainment upon
! that stage if nothing had happened wit
messed last night in the Cherry Blossom Grove
top of the New York Theatre in Broadway
between Forty-fourth and Forty-hfth SITS. Fire
! had broken out there about 9:25 o'clock. and
! the happenings which Immediately followed this
startling discovery were alike cTeditable to the
audience, to the employees of the theatre and to
| its designer and builder Oscar Hammerstein.
1t is estimated that there fully a thou
sand persons the roof. six stories above the
street level, when the fire was first noticed.
Four minutes afterward the house was empted,
no one had been hurt many had not even shown
a sign of fear, only half dozen nervous women
had tainted, and not one man of the theatres
trained fire fighting force had shiTked his duty.
La Belle Rita, professional cyclst, who does
dsrobing act upon a single Wheel adding
her iota to the warmth of the night when from
some cause as yet unaccounted for the fire
began. 1t attacked elaborate piece of scenery
in the shape of a Japanese bridge. which ex-
tends from one wing of the stage clear to the
Forty ffth-st side of the garden. and is built
up against the east wall Of the garden which
is Of solid brick and practically f1reproof
WOMAN FIRST TO NOTICE SMOKE
The smoke first discovered, it seems. by
a tall woman, young and quietly gowned, whose
name could not be ascertained. She sat nearest
to the smouldering scenery. and smeUed the
smoke before the flame was seen.
Turning her head, she perceived smoke issuing
from a crevice, and with jump came to her
feet. Her movement attracted many eyes. She
seemed for an instant If about to cry out. If
she had screamed Fire" the consequences
might have been tragic. Fortunately her es-
cort, of athletic figure and we'll bred
carriage, who afterward declined peremptorily to
give his name. laid his hand on her arm, whs-
pered a firm word two in her ear and thus
helped her to gain her seif-control Coolly and
lesureIy he then led her across the garden. not
heading for the elevators, but for the side of the
roof opposite the smoke.
The composure and self-restrant of the couple
who were the first TO rise gave, it is thought
confidence to a great many who would just as
readily have followed their example had the
woman lost her presence of mind and ran
screaming for the exit or had her escort failed to
rise to the occasion.
Hardly had this plucky couple left their chairs
when tongue of flame followed the smoke, and
all them could what the matter.
By the time one-half of the audience had got in
motion the other half. too, understood what
doing, and the employees of the theatre had
grasped the situation. These men, ushers and
walters mostly. had been drilled for just such
occasion, and they did not forget their in
structions.
IL. They began to call out in steady tones direc-
tions toareach the many exits with which the
roof is provided, and they urged the audience
to keep in line in the asles. There was some
scrambling at first, of course, and a few tables
were upset and chairs knocked over. and some
women tainted, but there was no screaming or
yelling OF Fire" The audience kept a re-
markedly firm grip upon itself especially after
it became apparent that there going to be
nc tanning at the exits. Two big and swift
elevators two stairways inside the building
and two fire escapes were used by those seeking
egress. Two additional fire escapes, with which
the roof is provided, not used at ALL sim
ply because they were not needed
IRON STAIRWAYS EASY TO DESCEND.
There is no ladder climbing to be done on
these fire escapes. They consist of iron stair
ways which descend at an easy slope all the
way to the sidewalk. The crowd poured down
them without even a stumble.
Only few Of the audience took advantage Of
the fire escape on the Forty-ffth-st. side owing
to the fire being that side. Central Office
Detectives Valley, Cain, Mahoney and Strip
and Detectives Dale and Hammer, of the West
Forty seventh-st. police station were in the
place the time. They assisted the women
.
They taken to drug stores and were re-
vived without any difficulty.
While this was going on two bucket lines had
been formed by Superintendent Miller One was
led by Lionel Lawrence, assistant stage man
ager, and the other by Victor A Watson
Thomas S. Rice rushed through the building
opening the doors leading from all floors to the
fire escapes. Richard LawlOr, the fireman de-
tailed to the theatre coupled a hose to the
standpipe on the roof and soon had stream
playing on the burning scenery He had the
blaze nearly out by the time Engine Companies
Nos. 70, d and ID arrived, though that was
only ten minutes after the alarm had been
turned in. Three lines of hose were carried
up to the roof and the flames vanished. In the
hunt for lingering sparks a large part of the
pretty structure designed by Melville Stoltz
torn down. and great deal of water was
poured on the ruins. Immediately under this
part Of the roof the fifth floor are the dress
ing rooms and storage room where costumes
worth many thousand dollars are kept For
fear these should be damaged by water the |
stage manager asked the fremen to remove |
them. In order TO get at them dozen fremen |
had to rush through the dressing rooms of the |
actresses and chorus girls. Those were by no |
means ready to receive company and the |
shrieks from that quarter far Outdid those |
heard on the roof. The performers were in no |
danger, but some of them out of the build |
ing. Others remained
Mamie Taylor, who pOrtrays the character of /
Mrs. Hayseed in the ballet. The Dolls Revel"
says that the rain ruined hat owned by her |
and costing SIS Several members of Nellie /
ONeills company, playing The Pride of News !
paper Row." tainted. but easily revived |
Members OF the orchestra fed preCipitately at |
the first alarm IT is reported.
AUDIENCE GOES BACK; SHOW GOES ON |
When the audience had time to draw its |
breath. and after feeling itself. to speak had
found that it not hurt. It decided not to be |
done out of an evenings amusement by little |