DESTRUCTION OF THE PRINCE WALES THEATRE, SYDNEY

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 315, 26 October 1860, Page 2

DESTRUCTION OF THE PRINCE WALES THEATRE, SYDNEY

One of the most extensive and disastrous conflagrations that has ever been witnessed in Sydney broke out yesterday morning, near the corner of King and Castlereagh streets, causing the entire destruction of the Prince of Wales Theatre and 'several adjoining buildings, and resulting in the death of two persons and in the serious injury of others. At about half-past six o'clock yesterday morning an unusual quantity of smoke was seen issuing from under the roof of the bakeryr'at the'rear of Mr. Holmes's shop in King-street, and a few minutes afterwards flames made their appearance. The bakery adjoins the south-western earner of the Prince of Wales Theatre, and the flames quickly communicated to the windows and the roof of that building, their power being increased by the strong south-westerly wind that was blowing at the time. The alarm was given by the constables on beat, and the fire-bell having been rung, three of the Sydney Insurance Company's engines, and subsequently, two of the Volunteer Fire Company's engines were despatched to the scene. An abundance of water was readily obtainable and the engines were quickly set to work. By this time the fire had made rapid progress, and was spreading with fearful rapidity along the roof, which', being constructed of American pine, readily yielded to the destructive element. The bakery was very soon gutted, but the high wind from the southward prevented the flames from extending to the block of houses in King-street: otherwise they must inevitably have been destroyed.

From a very short period after the conflagration was discovered, all hope was abandoned of saving the playhouse. The efforts of the firemen, and. of a number of other persons ..were therefore directed to, preventing the destruction of the valuable buildings at the corner of King and Castlereagh streets. Accordingly a party consisting of Mr. Winning, of the Volunteer Brigade, and Messrs. Overmeyer, Kelby, J. Simmons, jun., and J. G. Raphael, forced open the door of Tolano's Hotel, and afterwards the entrance to the pit of the theatre, whence, at great personal risk, I and assisted by some members of the Volunteer Company, they proceeded to knock down the supports of the boxes and gallery, and having introduced a hose, played upon the burning embers, and also upon the Bouthern wall. These services were performed with singular coolness and intrepidity, the men encountering great peril, and only desisting from their brave labors when forced back by the flames or the smoke. At eight o'clock the fire was at its highest. The scene was at that time terribly grand. The immense roof was one mass of fire. The angry flames were every moment gaining greater impetuosity and strength, and their lurid glare, together with the dense volume of smoke, were visible, though the misty atmosphere and heavy rain, for a distance of many miles. So intense was the heat at that time that a scorching sensation was experienced by poopleon the opposite footpaths in King and Castlereagh streets. The roof fell in with an awful crash soon after eight o'clock, bringing with it a considerable portion of the walls. By dint of playing steadily oh the embers and on the remnants of the walls, aided materially by the timely rain, before half-past nine o'clock the fire was so far overcome as to remove all apprehensions tor the safety of the adjoining premises. Throughout the day the firemen continued their services, and before evening the smouldering had almost disappeared. At the time the roof was in flames, the entire block of houses between the theatre and two streets, as well as many of the small houses in the neighborhood, were threatened with speedy demolition. Accordingly the inmates of these premises speedily moved their furniture and other articles across the street, incountering in the transit a deluge of rain, and destroying valuable property by the reckless hurry with which they precipitated their goods into the street. When the character of the population usually infesting the purlieus of playhouses is remembered, the scene which was presented yesterday morning, amidst the wild fury of" the two great elements, may be conceived to have been an impressive one, but not one that it is agreeable, or perhaps desirable, to dwell upon. It is often the case during dangerous conflagrations that less damage is caused by the flames themselves than by the fright and the foolhardiness that are displayed. This was notoriously the case yesterday in the gloomy anticipation of their furniture and other valuables being destroyed, women were rushing about wildly bewailing their condition and impeding the efforts that were being made to assist, them ; while; others busied themselves beneath the leaning walls of the theatre, in carrying away articles of trifling value. It is our painful duty to record the loss of two lives from this cause. Mr. Clarke, the proprietor of the Prince of Wales Restaurant, assisted by his brother Mr. Henry Clark, and two or three other persons, set to work removing the furniture from that establishment. The southern wall of the theatre which overhung the restaurant was then threatening every moment to come down. Several articles had been removed across the street, and others were being taken when the perilousness of the position was proved by the falling of a piece of the wall which threw down and severely bruised and burnt Mr. Clarke's servant, Patrick Conlan, and his sister, both of whom were, however, safely extiicated, and were taken to the infirmary, where hopes are entertained of their recovery. It is supposed that Henry Clarke went in for the purpose of rescuing the female, but shortly after he entered the premises another large piece of the wall fell { down. For some time hopes were entertained that he had escaped and was watching the fire from another spot, but on removing the bricks at the rear of the restaurant the body of the unfortunate young man waß discovered in a frightfully mutilated state. Another body was found embedded in the ruins, and was recognised as that of John Harbinson, stated to have been a soap boiler, who had been assisting in removing Mr. Clarke's furniture. Several rumours were current throughout the day of other deaths having occurred by the falling of the walls, but up to a late hour last evening no such reports had been verified. In addition to the Prince of Wales Theatre, a number of offices adjoining are totally destroyed; of the latter scarcely a vestage is to be seen. One of these buildings was constructed of iron, which was quickly melted by the intense heat. So sudden was the devastation that no time was afforded for saving the theatrical properties, which were very extensive and valuable. Mr. Burford saved a few things, but Mr. Stephens, Mr. Kayner, and other members of the theatre have lost nearly the whole of their wardrobes the value of which collectively is estimated at over £5000. A number of violins and other musical instruments, and a quantity of music was also destroyed, together with the documents of the box office. Nothing, we believe, is known, as to the origin of the fire beyond the fact of it having originated at Mr. Holme's bakery, and, in the absence of any suspicion of arson, it is supposed that the conflagration was cause by the ovens being overheated. The Prince of Wales Theatre was built nearly six years ago, by the late Mr. Joseph Wyatt, who, on the expiration of his lease of the Victoria Theatre, being unable to renew it on favorable terms, projected a bold experiment, that of building a rival house, which should be the largest and most commodious theatre in the Australian colonies. That spirited project was soon carried into effect at an. outlay of upwards of £30,000; a handsome and well-contrived theatre was built, capable of seating three thousand persons, exclusive of the stage, which was nearly a hundred feet deep. The thousands in Sydney who have been frequently delighted with thetheatrical and musical performances, or who have joined in public or patriotic movements in that noble edifice, cannot contemplate without some concern the spot which has witnessed the triumphs of Catherine Hayes, of Anna Bishop, of Brooke, of the Bianchis, and of other artists of European celebrity, now become a heap of ruins. The theatre, together with the entire block of houses from the gateway in Castlereagh-street, as far as Haigh and Brown's labor office, in King-strest, were purchased a few months ago from Mr. Neal by Mr. Laycock, M.L.A., for £30,000.— Sydney Herald.

The late Fire at the Prince of Wales Theatre. —The inquest on the bodies of Henry Clarke and John Harbinson, the two men who were killed by some bricka of the noatli wall of the theatre falling on them during the fire on last Wednesday morning, was commenced at the coroner's office, on Thursday last, and concluded next day. The coroner commenced by addressing a jury of twelve, pointing out that it would be their duty not only to satisfy themselves as to the immediate cause of death of the two men, but to determine from the evidence that would be laid before them, the origin of the fire. The inquiry extended over two days, during which a large amount of evidence was given, and the jury found that the deceased Henry Clarke, aged 27 years, and John Harbinson, aged 58 years, died from injuries received by the falling of the south wall of the Prince of Wales Theatre during its destruction by fire, and that the fire originated in the premises adjoining, belonging to Mr. Holmes; but as to the immediate cause of the fire, there is, unfortu&tely, no direct evidencQ before us to, show.