The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-10-29
NEAR FIRE PANIC IN THEATRE
AUDIENCE or 1900 on THE EDGE
or BREAKING FOR DOORS.
Police Captain Boettier Tells Them .
story From the stage and Holds
Them in Check TIL Exits Are Opened
-Ria,e In Gallery once ~ Amphion.

Police Capt. william r. Boettler OF the
Clymer street station. Williamsburg, by
hurry,ng down the centre aisle OF the
Amphion Theatre yesterday afternoon
and leaping on the stage while the last
act Of "Charley's Aunt was going on.with
Louis Leon He'll and Minna Phillip in the
principal roles. prevented u panic among
the 800 persons in the theatre while
firemen were fighting blaze in the gallery
box office. between the second and third
floors.
Fifteen minutes earlier the audience
had detected the odor of smoke and
number went out. An usher called the
attention Of Meyer Solomon. the manager,
to the smoke. and while he was in tho lobby
investigating Capt. Boe,tler entered the
Sunday show to-day.
Solomon told the captain that he be-
lieved there was a fire somewhere in the
building and he was afarid there would
be trouble with the audience. Capt.
Boettler with Detective chris Cumm,s-
key. who accompanied him. stepped into
the auditorium aud both quickly observ ed
the smoke. The audience had become
restless withstanding that the show
went On. although Hall and Miss Phillip
were satisfied something was wrong.
Meanwhile the theatre watcnman. John
Broderick. had been to the lodge rooms
in the upper part of the theatre building
and had also detected smoke. He be-
lieved there was a fire and he turned in an
alarm from tireboN opposite the theatre.
Then he rushed into the lobby to notify
the manager but discovered that Solo
mon and Capt. Boettler were on the JOB
As the fire engines were heard the
audience began TO rise and look toward
the rear Of the orchestra. The smoke had
become more pronounced and both Hall
and Miss Philip halted the show and
tried TO assure the audience that there
was no danger. Nobody appeared to take
heed and then Capt. Boettler. rushing
down the aisle and shouting. sit down"
leaped upon the stage. Talking OF his
hut. he said
Il am the ce eptain OF this police precnc,
and | can assure you there is no fire in this
building. The fire is on Bedford avenue
down near Broadway. and the smok g
you see here is from the engines in the
street Now sit down and keep quiet,
SO that the show can go on"
lhen Napt. Boettler, pointing 10 the
rear Of the orchestra. shouted to the
ushers TO keep all the doors closed so that
no more smoke could penetrate into the
auditorium and ordered that all the fire
exits on both sides of the house be opened
Tne captains words had a reassuring
effect and nearly the entire audience sat
down
Meanwhile the firemen arrived and
with axes and lines Of hose entered the
h,,tllipy from, tho nd lispnyara1
that the blaze had probably started from
the careless throwing awav Of a cigarette
stub in the gallery box office. The audi
ence could hear the firemen ripping ur
the flooring while water poured into the
lobby. The show was cut short and the
audience was dismissed They left bv the
fire exits and not until thev reached the
street and found the engines working
did thew discover that Capt Boettler had
fooled them. but il had the effect Of pre-.
venting a stampede. The fire caused
about 500 damage.