Burning of the Brooklyn Theatre.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2494, 3 January 1877, Page 3

Burning of the Brooklyn Theatre.

New Yobk, Dec. sth.—The Brooklyn Theatre burned to-night. The fire originated on the stage at 11.30 p.m., when the company was about half through with the last act of the " Two Orphans." The fire spread with lightning rapidity, and the confusion among the audience was terrible. The fire was caused by the gas setting fire to the woodwork in the flies, which, blazing, fell on top of the scenery. One of the actresses came to the front of the stage and said : " A small accident has occurred, but don't be alarmed ; only a piece of the flies is on fire." ' On this mention of fire the audience arose to their feet and made a wild rush for the doors. The smoke became suffocating, and women fell fainting in the aisles and were trampled over. Numbers jumped out of the windows and were severely injured. A young man who jumped out of the window says another man was with him and got to the window, and while holding on with his hands became overpowered with the smoke and fell back and must have been consumed in the flames. Dresses were torn from the ladies while lying in the aisles, and on the sidewalk outside. A large pile of dresses, so torn from their backs and picked up by the police, were in the Police Station next door to the theatre. All the company got out excepting a fly-man, named Cumberson, who was badly burned and threw himself out of the window. He will die An actor named Murdoch has not been seea in Brooklyn since the fire. It is feared that he was burned to death. Total loss, about £300,000.