THE BROOKLYN HOEEORNEARLY A HUNDRED LITES LOST.

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

THE BROOKLYN HOEEORNEARLY A HUNDRED LITES LOST.

New Yobk, Dec. 6th.—The fire in the Brooklyn Theatre last night was attended by an appalling loss of life. It is thought that not less than one hundred persons were killed in the rush to the door or burned to death. The fire broke out during the performance of the last scene, and in five minutes ijore the audience would have been dismissed. The house was about two thirds filled, those below sitting well forward toward the stage. # For those in the. family circle, dress circle and galleries there was no way of escape except by Washington street. The panic-stricken people rushed pell mell toward and down the stairways. The main exit became immediately choked up and a scene of terror, confusion and distress ensued which beggars description. Just above the landing place on the stairway, a woman in the crush had her foot knocked between the bannisters and fell. The crowd behind forced forward by terrified people still further behind, ffell over her and piled on top of each other four, and five deep. The police from the Station-house next ,door wereSJp'rlinptly at the scene, but "owing to the manner in which the people were piled on top of each other and massed together, th^j ..could extricate comparatively^few; -^ttcP^hese were all bruised, bleeding and maimed. The fire* -XtaeWgot to worron the ruins, and shortly J?^aftjeEdayUgtyfchj^morning they succeeded i»jis£fgKikS far it^be-wall of the dress tlielr) and immcdiatelJlS^tt tfrework mjgral. * T3^to^%r^^chwir^stil^ five busies had ads|^j^ appealed t© bv2^r9raaiie ,were~seeoisf the basement, into which ?Wey ha^&jpn precipitated by thjd'4fclUng of tho^rsrag floors. At the police station,' vs3jbining the burned 7 theatre, the names of JB6 persons missing from their homes have been registered. Kate Claxton, at a preliminary inquiry of the Fire Marshall, jaid: " At the be--ginning of the last act, just as the curtain . went up, I heard a rumbling noise on the stage, and two minutes after saw flames. The fire seemed to be all on the stage. Mrs "Warren, myself, Mr Studly and Mr Muidock were on the stage,a.t the time. We four remained there, ancl endeavored as best we could to quiet" the audience and prevent a panic. I said Jfco the people IBe quiet; we are between you and the fire. The front door is open and the passages are clear.' Not one of the audience jumped on the stage. The flames coming down on us. I ran out and jumped over several people. Mr Murdock, after ' endeavouring to calm the fears of the panic-stricken people, went to his dressingroom to get his clothing, and must have been suffocated." [Second Dispatch.] betentt-five bodies eecoveeed. BbooxliYN, Dec. 6th.—The number of bodies thus far recovered from the ruins is about 75. It is believed that as many more are still in the ruins. [Third Dispatch.] difficulty in identifting the dead. New Yobk, Dec. 6th.—The work of identifying the dead will be difficult, for most of them are buried beyond recognition. Bodies are being taken from the ruins to the morgue as fast as possible. [Fourth Dispatch.] ORIGIN OF THE FIBE—I2S LIVES LOST — EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY. *=• The origin of the fire was that the drop was ignited from the border light by some means inexplicable, as one was guarded from the other. The stage carpenter, Weaver, and two supers endeavored to extinguish the flames, but the difficulty was to reach the part on fire. The stage carpenter, with the supernumeraries, attempted to effect their object by lowering the drop, and, in doing so, added fuel tolhe flames. It is now believed that the number of dead will be 125. The courts adjourned this morning without transacting any business, and there is intense excitement in the city and business is partially suspended. The Park Theatre has been closed for a week. A meeting of the theatrical profession is called for Thursday to concert measures for relief. Hon. Henry C. Murphy, a distinfuished citizen of Brooklyn, and well nown throughout the country, is among the missing..