Year: 1867

y
graphic science, and viii, If entirely successful,
throw the old lines comparatively into disuse.


The Late Theatrical Burnings.


Among all the oonaagrations with which the
city has been visited for the past few years
thera were none more serious than those which
occurred In the various theatrical establish
ments. Commencing with the disastrous fire
which destroyed the Museum and vast
amount Of property adjoining, we have had .
succession Of burning theatres to recount.
The destruction Of the American theatre ON
Broadway was followed by that of the old
Academy Of Music. The New Bowery theatre
went next. Then more recently the ire at VIM
ter Garden totally demolished that house and
came very near carrying the Southern Hotel
with It BY providential circumstances tho dre
at the new Academy On Monday evening re-
suited only in severely damaging few en-
ployes Of the buildings At Niblo's not long
ago . fire broke out amid the scenery, but
happily with no fatal result It L. horrible to
think how many thousand lives are thus placed
constantly in peril through the gross negligence
and carelessness Of the employees or the mana
gers. II is somewhat curious that these burn
ings have not been thoroughly investigated
with view to ascertain their origin. A most
vigorous examination should be made into
this matter. From all the Facts that have been
elected there can be little doubt that the cause
of these fires is attributable to carelessness.
and probably reckless parsimony on the
part Of the managers. Had, the fire which
destroyed the old Academy of Music occurred
twenty minutes sooner the lives Of more than
a thousand people who had just left the house
after the opera Of La Juive had concluded
would have been in imminent danger, and
hundreds Of that vast crowd would probably
have been sacrificed. With regard to the fire
at the Winter Garden 1t is known that one Of
the employees smelt something burning on the
night previous. There is no doubt, therefore,
that the flre was smouldering all night and
probably commenced when the house was filed
with people. Next morning the manager was
driven out Of his room in his dressing gown by
the smoke and fire, losing bis watch in his
hasty retreat. Now, II is evident that II there
were watchmen about the building, as there
should have been, the fire would have been
discovered hours before It broke out 80
Hercely and the building might have been
saved. ssse 81 4 gs sgan asa fasE sts


In the theatres Of Paris and London there 10
= regular Gre patrol day and night Why
sAonld ws mot hsvs The same IN New Yorkf
A yigiiant watch IN AL pnhiic sstablhhmsats
would provide against The danger Of frs. In
the HsRAID establishment We have regularly
.orgaaissd fire department, sleeples and slways
vigilant, and to their exertions the safety Of
the whole block between Broadway and Nassau
street was mainly indebted during the burning
Of the Museum. Why should not our theatres
be similarly protecteds II is only because the
managers, through . foolish economy and
indifference to human life, neglect to provide
the necessary means Of protection. II was
once remarked that . nre rarely occurred
among the old rookeries Of the Five Points;
but policeman accounted for the exception
by the fhct that some portion Of The occupants
Of these dwellings were always awake and
moving about therefore u . Ore showed itself
anywhere It was Immediately discovered and
put down. So Il would be with the theatres
II vigilant patrol was employed and kept
always around these dangerously in6ammable
buildings, both day and night This precau-
tion Is adopted in other countries, and we SEQ
no reason why tho lives Of people who frequent
theatres here should be exposed from negli-
gence In this respect.