THEATRE BURNT DOWN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 429, 11 February 1909, Page 4

THEATRE BURNT DOWN.

AUDIENCE: SAVED BY GOOD ■ ;;V , . The Herald Square Theatre,-: in the .heart, of Now -York,' was on December; 23 the .scene' of an'exciting fire, which, but for. the presence of mind of Hho members of (the- orchW tfa,': would, have involved a/disastrous panid among;! the' audience. ;-;■'■ '■■/•"/' ,; , '<~■: As it was .there was a! panic, behind ,-, : the scones,- and.jtho'flames were..' so close'!upqif the/actors/and actresses; forming'the/,:company, running under/themanagement '(if, Mr, I Lew..Fields,_that:■ a/rush, for -the open. air.-without waiting to change their stage attire for street eostumes.':; The street;, therefore,' ,was : for., some "minutes alivo; tntli' performers in,fancy costumes.or'stageHights. Tho- fire : broko/out /before the/play-'had proceeded far,- and the orchestra soon became' aware of it: The .leader-of the. orchestra continued;:.directing .'his:- men, but 'sent' a messenger toHhe. manager, .-to expedite extinguishing operations* The musician's played with extraordinary calmness and presence' of mind.' 'The 'flames:,behind;the scenes; catching more inflammable material, rapidly got out of hand.;,Mr.Reginald Vandorbilt, who was';,in. the. passageway of the', theatre with his wife', : caught sight of the fire, but fearing to raise a panic' mado no sign. Finding the fire getting.beyond him,the manager had the curtain rung down, and under his.advice the audience,; numbering about itwelvo. hundred, left in an orderly : manner, : ./.;' '■'.■ Tho players', suffered..in some cases from colds, but were otherwise riono' the worse for their : adventure:- They .-lost-thair: personal belongings, and; the leading lady and others declare that valuable jewellery, was left in their^ dressing rooms, and swallowed up by the flames. Tho theatre was gutted,-but tho loss was covered by insurance.•'.■.•'.