New-York tribune., 1905-12-01
FIRE EMPTIES THEATRES.
AUDIENCES TOLD TO 60.
BLa2ing Factory Fills Many Am"se-
nent Places acith Dense Smoke.

Patrons of the theatres in 14th-st were
alarmed greatly, just before the close Of the
Thanksgiving matinees late yesterday AFTER
noon when fire broke out in the three story rae
tory building at No. 1I5 to 121 East 13th-st-'
sending such volumes of dense smoke into the
theatres that the audiences were dismissed
Although considerable excitement preValled
and great alarm was felt no panic ensued, al
though for a time it feared that the pa
irons would be led to believe the theatres were
af7re and wild rush for the exits "ouId loi-
low Owing to the presence Of nina OF lhe
managers several Of whom announced 10 the
audiences from the stage that there was no
danger, panics were averted
The fire. which ragged fercely for more than an
bour started in the factory building occupied
nv Rubeck & Guerin. furniture manufacturers.
and Pettberg & LANCER, makers Of musical In
str11uents It was discovered by citizen VINO
saw tongues Of fame shooting from window on
the second floor. He promptly turned IN an
alarm from the corner of 13th-st and 4th-ave
When Chief Croker responded the fire was
snresding SO rapidly that g. second alarm was
Immediately turned in
For time it was feared the flames would
,eacb Huber's Museum and the Dewey Theatre.
which are in the rear IN 14th-st-. and the fire
men quickly informed the managers Of the thea
tres that It would be wise to dismiss the audi
ences
The usual large throngs that attend Thanks
giving natinees crowded the theatres TO their
utmost capacities and the delicate matter Of an
rouncing that hurried exit was deemed wise
caused the managers some concern
All the patrons had heard the changing OF the
bells and tie footing OF the whistles as the
engines rattled through 14th-st, on their way to
The hre This caused feeling Of uneasiness at
first which was Increased tenfold when the
managers appeared on the stage and calmly
vet deternlinedIy, told the audiences that owing
r. q fire on 13th-st it had been decided to
clear all the theatres on 14th-st-
There was an immense crowd in Huhers Mu-
scum. and Edward Krauss, the manager, feared
the worst when he walked cut on the stage and
made it known that he desired all the patrons TO
leave The women in the museum became
Adgety. especially those who had children with
them. but all left quietly,
The Dewey Theatre. which was almost directly
in the rear Of the burning building, also had
big matinee crowd. but when it was announced
that the performance would be cut short on &C.
count of the fire, everybody left quietly.
The Palace Music Hail. which is at No. log
East 13th-st., directly opposite the factory, was
crowded to IT'S utmost capacity. The real danger.
of a panic lay there. and Manager Harry James,
before the first engine arrived, got one of the
performers to announce to the audience that he
desired the theatre cleared. While some of the
patrons were scared, others were little indig-
rlant because the curtain was rung down before
the show had been finished. ..1 E.s#
The worst excitement prevailed in The Fair
q penny-in-the- vaudeville show on 14th-st
This place was choked with smoke soon after the
fire started, ard before anybody knew where the
fire was raging 8 wild scramble to get TO the
street ensued. The show place was cleared IN
rapid order
Uneasiness was felt by patrons of the Acad-
emy of Music, where big crowd was witnessing
a performance Of Babes in Toyland." Nobody
in the theatre knew where the fire was, and the
changing of the engines caused alarm. The
managers, however. who had been. communi-
Gated with by the frenIen, made no announce
1nent, and the show went without inter
Tupti0n.