New-York tribune., 1908-12-23
FIRE DURING PLAY AT
HERALD SO THEATRE
ORCHESTRA PLAYS FOR
AUDIENCE TO DEPART.
Crozcd marches CooIy Out While
Flames Burst From Balcony
of old Playhouse.


their heads. an audience OF nearly fourteen hun
dred persons walked coolly from the Herald
Square Theatre last night, when fire started
just before the close of the last act Of the per
formance OF The Three Twins" The GOODNESS
of De Witt c. Coowoith, the orchestra leader
who played the "Yama Yama" march till the
audience was safely out, and the work Of Dep
uty Police Commissioner Hansen and Inspector
McCluslzy. helped to avert what might have
been bad disaster
The flames destroyed the balcony and the
front part of the building. bur the stage was
saved by the asbestos curtain. No one in the
audience was injured, and the ffty-six mem
bers Of the company made their way
street in stage costume from the stage en-
trance
The fire probably started from defective in
sulation of wires in the electric sign on the cor
ner Of the building facing Herald Square Near
" all Of the members Of the company were on
the stage, and the orchestra had started the
closing number, when those on the stage saw
smoke and flames in the rear of the balcony
Clifton Crawford the star OF the company,
siEnaIled the orchestra leader, and after the
curtain went down Mr.. Coowoith kept his men
playing until the audience, which by that time
had seen the fire. left the building
PREVENTING PANIC.
Inspector McCIusky who was waiting near
the entrance for his two daughters, who occupied
q box gathered a handful of policemen and sue
ceeded in directing the people out Of the theatre
Much confusion was caused by number Of men
ard women Of the audience who rushed to the
cloak room TO get their coats and wraps, but
the inspector and his men cleared every one
from the lobby.
Members of the chorus some Of them clad
only in light tights were forced into the streets
by Charles Fitz. the stage manager, who ordered
every one from the dressing rooms and stage
The cashier in the box Office grabbed the night 5
receipts and those of the company who were
forced 10 fee in their costumes found refuge
in the Sturtevant Hotel in West 35th street and
in the shipping department Of Macy's store
across the street.
Miss Bessie Mccoy, in her Yama Yama cos
tune. was taken half fainting from the smoke
TO the Sturtevant Miss Violet De Fourne and
Miss cvEzs r8u members of the chorus went
back to their dressing rooms for their clothing
and reached the street in half-conscious con-
dition because of inhaIing smoke Charles
Hyams. the manager had paid of the players
during the evening, and many of them lost sums
varying from SO to $50
The police OF the traffic squad, in command
of Lieutenant Sackett. cleared Broadway and
the neighbortng streets Of the hundreds of wait
ing carriages to make way for the fire engines
which came in answer TO the three alarms sent
in Fire Chief Croker was on the spot few
minutes later.
ROOF FALLS WITH CRASH
The flames destroyed the Offices of the shu-
berts, in the southeast corner Of the building
and shortly after midnight the front part Of
and rer
damaged the Herald Square Cafe, adjoining the
theatre.
Lee Shubert who called TO the fire by
telephone said that he could make nc accurate
estimate Of the damage. but he placed it at S50,
coo to 100000
He said that temporary Office would be
opened in the building once for the advance
sale of future performances of The Three
Twins" and for the return Of the money to per
sons who had bought tickets for performances
which will have to be cancelled.
Inspector McCluskey said that when the last
Of the audience reached the door flames and
smoke burst into the auditorium which would
undoubtedly have started panic had it oc
Cured few seconds sooner. He complimented
the manager and the staff of the house for their
coolness.
Fireman Kirwan, Of Engine Company "a
was stationed in the theatre, and he tried to
ant WaIdon. Of the Fire Department was cut
by falling glass, but able TO continue at
work Traffic on the Broadway surface line
was stopped for nearly hour. and it required
the reserves from several precincts TO hold
back the huge theatre crowds attracted by
the glare of the flames. which for time lighted
the entire district.
Among those in boxes at the performance
were Mrs Reginald Vanderbilt Miss Carol D
WinsIow. Mr. and Mrs Murray " Stewart of
Atlanta and others prominent in society.
one of the representatives. OF the Shuberts
said last night that they were contemplating
sending the show the road, but definite
date had been set.
THEATRE BUILT IN 1876.
The corporate title of the playhouse is Lew
Ffeldss Herald Square Theatre. 1t is one Of a
group under the direction of Sam s. and Lee
Shubert Lew Fields has an interest in it, and
usually plays there several months OF each sea
son. A musical comedy called Three Twins
has occupied that stage since the latter part OF
last season. The structure itself has been used
for theatrical purposes since it was built. in
October. 1876.
It was first known as the Aquarium and was
conducted after the fashion Of museums Of those
days Later a permanent circus was established
there under the management Of John StetsOn
His wife was celebrated rider. and the enter
prise was profitable when she was part of the
entertainment.
In 1852 it was altered. and called the New
Park Theatre For time It was the home of
vaudeville. After the fire at the Theatre
Couique Edward Harrigan took possession of
IL and remained there until 1890 II was dur
ing this period that the public was treated 10
some of the best of the Harrigan farces, such as