TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE BY FIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 382, 2 July 1856, Page 7

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE BY FIRE.

Yesterday morning (March the sth) one of the most terrible: conflagrations that have occurred in the metropolis for a long period broke out at the Theatre Royal, Covent-gardeu, during the performance of Professor Anderson's bal masque. The fire commenced about five minutes before 5 o'clock. The greatest confusion and consternation prevailed. The masquers left the theatre in the greatest fear while the flames were ascending high into the air. It appeared that the first discovery of the tire was from a large b°am falling from the roof into the centre of the stage, striking a gentleman on the foot; some of the burning embers also fell on the constables in attendance. An immediate cry of " Fire! ''was raised, an d the masquers, in their gay attire, in the greatest trepidation precipitately left the house. The disaster occurred while the last stanza of «'God save the Queen ' was being performed. The origin of the five has not yet been discovered. It appears to have been first notied by Mr. Palmer,, the gas fitter, who was stauding on the stage with Mr. Anderson, and who pevcm'-T

ing a lui»;ht light through the hoards over his head, exclaimed," Good God ! Mr. Anderson the theaive is on fire!" Mr. Anderson, however, was incredulous ; but soon "becoming conscious of the truth, he gave the .alarm, calling out " The house is on fire 1" By the admirable coolness of the police the whole of the audience were got out in safety, but many of them, terougti alarm, were in a fainting slate. Remembering that there was a man left in a room formerly occupied by Madame Gvisi, Mr. Palmer rushed back, and burst open the door. The man was asleep. They roused him with difficulty, and extricated him. The cash box containing the receipts of the night, was saved. The receipts of the first are said to have amounted to £300, and those of l\e second to£soo. As the fire spread Mr. Anderson rushed wildly through the flames, trying to save some property, and he must have lost his life if he had not been dragged away. He then said, i( I pity Mr. Gye, but I am a ruined man. " Tt is a remarkable fact that this is the second time Mr. Anderson has closed a theatrical season with the total destruction of a theatre, that of Glasgow in 1545. The house was his own, ami he -was nearly ruined by that disaster. Another theatre, of which he was also lessee, at New York was destroyed by fire. The entire of the magnificent Ivric temple in Covent-gardeu is now a heap of ashes. The outer walls alone stand, and they are so cracked and rent as to be in a dangerous state. The only things saved are Mr. Gye's pictures. Everything else is destroyed—the whole of the scenery and properties, and the whole of the machinery and apparatus connected, with Mr. Anderson's tricks- The loss is enormous. The building ol the theatre alone cost £lof>,ooo. It is understood that Mr. Gye (the lessee) protested against the bal-masque, which :was proceeded with against his wishes, aud..tb_a*t on Tuesday morning he went so far as to apsLy to one of the Vice-Chancellors for an injunction to restrain the performance, but failed iv bis application. - r It was rumoured last evening that two persons were missing, and that fears were entertained for their safety. One of them is a boy employed by the gas men. He has not been seen since early on Tuesday evening, and the supposition is that he may have lain down in some corner exhausted, and slept too soundly. There was very little time for escape, and it is greatly feared this youth is lost. Anxious inquiries were also made last evening fora young girl who was known to have been employed in the theatre, and who has not been heard of since the outbreak. — Home News.