New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28
PANIC IN A THEATRE.
WOMEN FAINT IN GRAND
OPERA HOUSE CRUSH.
FAMILY CIRCLE CROWD RUSH FOR
THE FIRE ESCAPES WHEN THEY
HEAR ALARM OF FIRE
THE BLAZE SLIGHT

BY the narrowest margin disastrous panic
was averted last night at 800 O'Clock in the
Grand Opera House. while I'm Old Kentucky
being played. AS il was the audience in
the family circle rushed for the exits and fire
escapes. and some OF them crowded out on the
iron platforms and ladders and began to de-
scend- They were assured that their fright was
premature. and they returned to the theatre
Ten twelve women tainted They were
carried 10 the womens parlor OF the theatre.
and. after reviving. sent home in carriages
The fire was not in the theatre proper at all.
It in the cloakroom attached to a lodge
room on the fourth floor of the Grand Opera
House Building. and caused it is believed.
by defective electric light wires.
Those who sat in the family circle were first
alarmed because they were near the lodge
rooms and heard the shouts and uproar in that
part OF the building. Those in the parquet and
orchestra became panicky when they heard the
excitement and scuffiing above. They would
have rushed TO the doors had not Roundsman
Regan. OF the West Twentieth-st station. run
down the centre aisle shouting TO the people to
keep their seats. as there danger. While
q few left their seats, the great majority ac-
cepted the pocemans words of assurance, and
did not move.
SCARED BY THE CHATTER.
The alarm of the big audience in the theatre
one that filled il from dome TO pit-was en-
HANGED by the cIatter and clang Of the fire
gines they drew up to the Twenty-third-st-
side CT the building. The tramp Of the fremen
they climbed the stairs and dragged their
hose behind them was convinc:g proof to those
tr the theatre that fire was near enough to men
ace their safety
The FIRE was speedily put out The police esti-
mated the damage at SIG0 No one was in
5ured. There a dozen or more lodge and
meeting rooIls in tire building. and almost all
were flied with attending meetings.
Roundsran Fegar was standing ct q corner
Of Twenty -tt.ro-st. and Eighth-ave. when rs
saw ercoke issuing from the upper windows On
TIE Eighth-sve. side of the theatre building. He
turned in an alarm, and then hasteaed into the
theatre. Just before he entered some one, whom
the police afterward described q maniac
and whom they would have arrested if he could
have been found. rushed into the lobby and
shouted Fire" This caused the first unessi-
ness 10 the audience Many arose from their
seats. and several women collapsed.
TRIED TO CALM THE AUDIENCE
The management Of the theatre had been
quietly informed Of the fire and mad staticned
al all the doors and exits Of the auditorium.
While the audience was in a state CT hesi-
fancy, D. a. Considne, the business manager Of
the NIn Old Kentucky" company, and William
Collington who plays the part Of Ned, an old
family servant in the play. walked out the
stage and addressed the audience. Both of them
seid that there was no danger ard that every
one would be safe if they kept their eeats Just
then came the noise and clatter Of the fire en-
etnes outside and the audience rose IN body.
Mr Ccnsidine shouted 10 the audience that if
they insisted on going out TO go quietly and in
order
In the mean time Roundsman Regan had hur-
ried down the main aisle OF the body Of tie
house. telling every one right and left that they
we're in no danger. and that the fire was near
'-linth-ave. and Twenty -third-st
HOUSE SOON NEARLY CLEARED.
Despite all the efforts TO calm the audience.
the house was soon nearly cleared, though in
orderly manner in the lower part of The house.
The crowd in the family circle poured out
through the exits on the Twenty-fourth-s side.
Many Of them were so scared that they aban-
doned their hats, coats and cloaks. Several
women were assisted to the street by their
corts in q state of nervous collapse.
Just before the scare spread through the the
ntre troupe Of "pickaninnies" had been dane
ing. The curtain had been rung down when
the excitement started
For several moments the people who had
been in the theatre stood the sidewalk
rounding the building and debated as TO whether
they should return 10 their seats or not. In the
end most Of them did. Numerous timid women,
however. decided TO return to their homes.
While the excitement at its height Police
Sergeant Tins. with squad Of reserves.
rived from the West Twentieth-st station.
They bent their efforts 10 keeping the constantly
Increasing crowd away from the entrances 10
the theatre. and in doing ii they had their hands
full
WHERE THE FIRE BROKE OUT.
The fire was insignificant when compared with
the trouble il caused The blaze broke out on
the fourth floor in the cloakroom of what is
known as lodge room No 8. The room faces
on Eighth-ave. and is on the top floor of the
building The lodge room was occupied last
night by Lodge No. 64. Andrew Jackson Coun-
defective electric switchboard in the cloak
room blazed up and ignited curtains and wood
work.
The members Of the Andrew Jackson Council
we're greatly frightened by the fire. They
scurried for their coats and hats. despite the
danger and then fed 10 the street
d Singleton. superintendent of the lodge
rooms early learned Of the fire. and started for
the top floor alarming ne went the hVe lodges
that were meeting on lower floors OF the build
ing Then Singleton attacked the names with
hand FIRE extinguishers but they had gained
such headway that he powerless. The
lodge room burned out, and the rooms on
the lower floors suffered from water.
The Grand Opera House Building was orlg
trallv built as the NeW-YoTk headquarters OF
the Erie Railroad in the days OF Jay Gould
Later il was abandoned by the railroad and
turned into a theatre. The Eighth District Mu-
nioipsl Court is in the building
CASTRO'S ELECTION RATIFIED.