Year: 1876

w OisC anu FOtct-oNtt
Lives LostI


All the later accounts for two days af.
ter the terrible calamity of the burning
of the Brooklyn Theatre, on Tuesday
night Of last week, have steadily increas-
ed the magnitude of the disaster, and
the number of dead bodies taken from
the ruins up 10 thursday afternoon was
315.


The cause of the fire does not clearly
appear, but it seems to have started in
the stage scenery overhead. A few of
the audience and some of the stage act
ors vainly tried TO calm those present
that the way might be clear for egress,
and for an instant only did the effort
avail, but the panic was inevitable. One
sitting in the orchestra stated that at the
first blaze the greater portion OF the au-
diepce arose to their feet. The appeal
of Miss Claxton, one of the actors, qui-
eted them, and most of them resumed
their seats. When the fire sprung up
from the canvas, man stood up on one
of the seats and in loud voice asked
all to remain in their places until the
way could be cleared, and then to 90 out
quietly. They seemed to heed what was
said until another shouted, It's time
We were out of this, when the panic be-
gan. The orchestra seats and dress cir
Gle were not crowded, and those in them
escaped with little difficulty. The gall
leries were full, however, and there were
many children among the occupants.
One of the persons in the gallery said
that he himself was carried along by the
crowd, and could do nothing to hasten
or check his course or render any assist
ance to those who fell. One little girl
in some way became entanglsd in the
crowd and slipped under their feet.
Nothing could be done to prevent those
behind stepping upon her in passing.
Fortunately she was rescued alive.


AT first the fire was in the top of the
building and soon after the first alarm
was given the flames burst through the
roof and rose in perfectly straight col
umns of pure fame. The building
burnt very rapidly and made most
brilliant scene, SO much so that there
was a suppressed murmur of admiration
by the great crowd outside, who at that
time had no thought that it included
such fearful loss of life. In a great
crash inside, followed by an unusual
brilliancy of fame, it was even little
thought that in that fall went down hun
dreds of victims roasted to death in the
galleries of the theatre. Yet such was
the horrible fact


THE FIRST FIRE SCENE.


Sparks we're seen by the audience to
drop from the howell to the stage. Men
rose in sudden fright. Somebody in the
lobby, possibly stage employe who had
come by the secret passage from the
stage, cried Fire fire " and raised
the alarm. The actors, who had kept
on in their dialogue till now, besought
the audience with earnest words of as
surance to be seated, to think the fire
was used in the play. Some took their
seats, while others fastened to the doors,
and the brave actors and actresses made
the semblance of continuing, when a
part of the roof fell, showing their i'm.
minent peril. Mr. Murdoch and Mr..
Strudley called to the audience TO be or.
derly and save themselves.


The people stood for an instant dazed
and spell bound, as the scenery fell, and
revealed ire.enveloped stage Anoth.
er instant and they were seized with
frantic terror and rushed for the doors
Miss Claxton, Miss Maude Harrison and
Mrs. Farren ran through the private
passage to the lobby, and reached the
main entrance before the audience was
fairly started. Other actors and the
stage attendants went the same way, and
through the small stage door and win.
dow looking into the alley Mr.. Muir
doch and Claude Burroughs, who had
left Maude Harrison in the green room
ran to their dressing rooms, it is sup
posed, hoping to save their stage ward
robes. A descending scene-shifter cried
to them, ." Go back, " and barely escaped
with his life. They had no time to fol.
low. Before the johnson ST., wall fell
the fremen thought they saw body il
the flames below the place where Mr.
Murdock's dressing-room had stood.


The indescribable panic among the
audience lasted possibly ten minutes
Confusion followed on confusion. Thorn
as Rockford, the head usher, thought o.