AMERICA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 516, 10 October 1867, Page 3

AMERICA.

GREAT FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA AND LOSS OP LIFE. The Philadelphia Inquirer gives the following account of the destruction of the American Theatre in that city ; or hay loft of a stable, which is directly connected with the theatre, and adjoins it on Sansora-street, a few doors above Eighth. Owing to the combustible nature of the material here, the flames spread with remarkable rapidity, and soon immense volumes of flro and black smoke issued from tuo uoors uuu wmaows lacing j ou Sansoni-sli'c-et. i>eiore the flames could be got under, they communicated to the rear of the theatre itself, and in a few minutes the dressing-rooms, property-rooms, &c., situated on the second floor of the rear or performance portion of the theatre, were in a light blaze. By this time, a period of only about 15 minutes from the beginning of the conflagration, it was evident that the entire editice was doomed bo destruction. The flames spread with fearful effect over the roof of the building, which extended the entire distance from Walnut street to S msora-streot, and when that portion of the theatre situated on Walnut-street was enveloped in the flames the scene was indescribably grand. The entire neighbourhood for squares around was illuminated, and rendered almost as light as day, and sparks and thick columns ■of smoko and flame shot upward to the distance of three hundred feet. In less than half-au-hour after the discovery of the fire the theatre was a total wreck. At the time of the breaking out of the fire the large ballet troupe connected with the establishment were engaged in dancing the Demon Dance,” from the Black Crook. There were 25 or 30 young girls on the stage, and for a time all know-ledge that the rear portion of the theatre was on fire was kept from them, as well as from the audience, although the different attaches of the establishment were aware of the real condition of tilings. It is claimed, it was thought, that the lire would be extinguished before any intimation of it would each the performers on the stage or the audience present, and a panic be prevented by adopting this course. While the dancing was in progress, however, smoke was seen by some of the audienc e issuing on the stage from one of the wings. This smoke continued, and some of the audience began to retire. The movement soon became general, and a moderate rush soon commenced fur the doors. The ballet girls then jumped from tlie stage into the parquet and mixed with the retiring audience. Some of them, however, made futile attempts to reach the dressing-rooms to save their wardrobes.' By the time the? fire had nearly reached the auditorium, the building was entirely | cleared, but was soon entered again by a ! number of intrepid firemen with hose.! They were speedily forced to retire, how-1 ever, owing to the rapid spread of the; flan ics. The most lamentable story can-’ nected with the catastrophe remains to be; told. Just la fore 11 o’clock about 50 fectj of the front wall, facing on Walnut-street,; fell in with a tremendous crash, killing' nine firemen and wounding fourteen others. | The firemen, just preceding the falling ofj the wall, had been running in and out ofj the main door of the theatre. Without a! moment’s warning the crash came, and some thirty became enveloped in the ma.-s of ruins.