The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12


There was fire in the Casino Theatre
ve.,erd1y noon. Part of the balcony was
burned The rnar part Of il, which Is gen
srally spoken of IA the gallery, was pretty
well swept by the flames. The stairway
landing NO from the balcony level and the
buffet or promenade floor at which it ends
were Euted.
The main floor and the stage were not
even ,corrhed though the upper stalrways
were full Of fire for thirty minutes or so.
No onr wa. hurt Sixty members Of the
LADY leazle' company who we're on the
stage rahearsing. got out without difficulty.
Chiei croker said after the fire was out:
I'VE always knew that was about the
most dangerous theatre in case Of fire
Bat Won put it out pretty quick. didn't
YOU. Chef" asked his interviewer
what was the use of letting 1t burn?'
asked the Chief grimly
.WeI~ suggested the reporter. then
YOU might lnve got 4 new theatre
'Humphl remarked Croker Il will be
new theatre before there's another show
given ia il. And it will be some time te-
iore that show j. given tool"
When croker resumed his duties as CHIEF
Of the New York Fire Department. about
year ago. he ordered Il special fire alarm
box ont 10 the Casino He made it part OF
his business 10 answer the first alarm which
came from that special box. The precau
non- which Mr. Croker took were justified
YESTERDAY when FIRE. which involved
more than ball or Tie building va- put out
within half an hour OF che Tine The first
alarm was turned i.
THE FIRE DISCOVERED
Harry Goldberg. the chief usher Of the
theatre, entered the building at noon. He
was told nv the Waterman that there was
queer smell Of smoke in the halls Gold
berg ran 20 the ushers' room. which IL on
the balcony floor There was smoke in tina.
room. but no morc than elsewhere in the
theatre He went on 20 what i called
the "mucl, room whore the charwomen
and the others who have to do with the
olcanirgupof the theatre keep their buckets
and mop4 and gowns The moment Gold
berg opened the door he found he real seat
Of the fire
A dense cloud ol smoke poured out. II
was heavy, SO Goldberg said, with the smell
ofburning rubberand shellac The flremen
latersaid that these smells were undoubted-
Is caused by the burning Of defective cleo
tric Insulation ana they put the blame
on this for the starting of the fire. Manager
King, Tor the Shuberts. who lease the thea
ire. said Yesterday that the insulation WAS
only dye year. old.
The ,moke at once began to drift out
through the gingerbread framework Of
the windows and emb rasures on the Broad
wnv side Of tho building Policeman
Brady az BroadwayRnd Thirty street
caught sight oc a floating wreath Of blue
bach -uakr hanging around the Lady
Teal.e szu on the top floor. He took two
sh0rt rlmp~es at the window from which
IL came and rang the fire alarm on the
corner
Battalion Chioc Dcvanny just "a soon
r. ne SAW that the Casino was on fire lost
no time Ia Useless investigation. He turned
in second alarm. Chief Croker got in
hefor" the second alarm engine and ladder
comtinic~. because he feels that any fire
IN thai urehnorhooi Is apt TO need his
personal attention He sent in IA third
sann at l2 . T. NJ.
1' fte was pretty well suppressed by
NW time hui Croker was taking no chances.
He u'i'l-c- tu ~lv whether he knew It or not,
but certainly stories had been brought to
him that tho inside framework of the Casino
vas NJ pitch pine. even 10 the supports Of
Tho marble staircase which led 10y a cork
screw route from Thirty-ninth street to
tie back ot tl,n orchestra floor
The Eight with the fire, though fast and
quickly over. was not without incident.
Eng.n" a. With Capt Lunny at the head
Of H. company, sent seven men up The
Broadvay fire escapes They were just
ph4ftt int I.u1.,r,,. ,rfpHpul
vhena back draught drove blast Of burning
ga into their faces and sent half the com
rouy wcng down the ladders to the street
urGE BROADWAY CROWD.
The biggest sight OF the day was tho
Broadway crowd which swarmed for blocks
norihand south after the first smoke wreaths
began 20 show themselves around the sec-
ouG story uf ;h" building Capt Cottrel
was 10 t- station when the first alarm
came in. he realized at once that, whether
the fire va- big or little there would be ire
mendur4 crowds for his men 10 handle
o. he af ones began preparations TO
t'raigh'cu things ont. His mcn had Broad
vay ear"d hy half past II o'clock and with
u another half hour the side streets were
"'r oien 20 fire engines and 10 persons
who Nli aisfy the police that they
W'f" lulud lo ono Of mo theatres within the
CO. -tucr
li' INTERRUPTED REHEARSAL
N'L" TIME NJ the starting Of the fire the
G IT the lady Tea2le- road company.
r'I.i l-tn take the opera ont into the coun-
Us t'l. c'ek. occupied the stage. Six
Tee n"0 Young women who are to go out
win ""i" r"hear~'ug with tho forty
i"Ir .Gur women and men who have