The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22
PANIC IN MOVIE
HOUSE Is AVERTED
Quick Work by Theatre staff
and Police Hats Crowd
in Brownsville.
BLAZE WAS NEXT DOOR
Waterman Missing and Three
Firemen Hurt by Wall
Falling on Them.
BLAZE WAS NEXT DOOI

One thousand persons. mostly women
and children. were hustled out Of q NOV
inS picture theatre Of Marcus Loew In the
Brownsville section Of Brooklyn last night
while smoke poured into it, t,alconies and
names from Q burnine building nett door
wreAthed the roof. Not . man. woman or
child was 50 much as bruised In the affair.
One man. o Waterman named Green.
was reported missing. He VA supposed
to be on an upper floor Of tho burned
building. but the hremen could hnd no
trace Of him. Three nrsmsn. Lieut.
Edward Maionsy. Peter Behrman and
Edward Donneiiy. all Of Truck l2S. were
caught under . section Of failing wall
and suffered painful bruises. They were
attended by ambulance surgeons. but re-
fused to go on duty.
John II. Zero, the house manager. and
his assistants, Detectives Mas lsascson,
Joseph Mooney. Bernard Boylan and
Joseph Schaelfer. and Policeman Hhl Of
the Brownsville station caught the thea
tire patrons Just In time, held them BY
sharp words. marshalled them like sol.
diers through the exits and into the
street. where Thousands OF their friends
had rushed to meet them.
The moving picture theatre II the LIB.
erty. at Stone and Liberty avenues, and
II Is next door TO a six story loft build
ing once owned by the Union Bank OF
Brooklyn. Tho Are began on the upper
floors Of the loft building about $3.50
o'clock
The Liberty Theatre IL built in the
shape Of an 1. with entrance and exits
on the two thoroughfares. There are
two balconies. and last night 1t was
jammed.
Manager Zero heard the nre alarm and
about the time he had sent his house
stan to quarters the detectives came UP
with a rush. Just ahead OF hundreds OF
men and women pouring from every
where. following the report that the thea
tire was on IRE. The policemen were in
the house In an instant and stationed
themselves to stem any rush.
Inside, the audience. which ordinarily
Is most excitabie. and begun to weave
forward and back. with vaciilating mood.
whom II heard the FIRST fire engine come
changing and putting outside. Zero
jumped into an aisle.
There 10 . small fire down tho block"
he said loudly. ut can't touch us, but
in order that nobody will start anything
We are opening all the doors. and I want
you to pass out"
At the same time other employees re-
peated In several languages what the
manager oal0. Inc ucteCuNeS, WHO Were
at the head OF the aisles In the balcony
and In the gallery. began talking all at
once: "Now. get up quietly; take your
hats and coats: don't be in Q hurry. It's
all right--all right. Take your time!
Every one rose quietly. some protest.
ing against missing part OF the show.
walked slowly 10 the exits ana into the
street This was easy In the lower floor.
but up In the gallery II was little more
trying The flames burst through the
windows almost immediately next door
and the smoke curled into the vsntilators
OF the theatre.
The voices there were not 40 quiet. and
the men stood ready to brace themselves
against a rush any minute. Only one or
two persons. they said afterward. tried 70
10 faster than the professions that passed
down the stairs. and they were stopped.
Chief Laily. who came to the fire. said
afterwArd that he had not been able to
discover the cause Of II The theatre
building was not damaged