Test of Time 1

“History is written by the victors.” as said by Winston Churchill however it is also written by those who survive when there are no winners only the ones remaining. Such as the case of the Brooklyn Theater Fire, however even with 700 survivors and everyone nearby the history of the Brooklyn Theater Fire has gotten lost in history. Few known of this tragic event and there is not even a sign at the location to this day. An event that took the lives of 300 in 1879 passes unnoticed today. History may be written by the victor however it is remembered or forgotten by others.

The melodrama, “The Two Orphans” was playing on the stage of the Brooklyn theatre on December 5, 1876 with a full house in attendance. Over a thousand people were packed inside with most of them in the upper gallery seats, comprised of families and large groups of people that came to see the show. At 11:15 PM, shortly after the opening of the last act, a fire broke out, however it’s danger was downplayed by the leading actor Murdock and few to none left their seats. A the flames grew more visible panic ensued and one thousand people rushed to the only two exits in the rear of the Theater. The top tier had no direct way down and major jam developed on the second tier staircase. This led to trampling and falls, while the upper tier died of asphyxiation and falling debris.

Years after the fire Kate Claxton recalled and told her story to the Philadelphia Times which later reach the home of the Brooklyn Theater Fire, New York and The Times.

Test of Time 2

Winston Churchill said “History is written by the victors.” however it is also true that it is written by those who survive and remembered by them . Such is the case of the Brooklyn Theater Fire: however, even with 700 survivors and bystanders the history of the Brooklyn Theater Fire has gotten lost in history. Few know of this tragic event, and to this day there is not even a sign at the location. An event that took the lives of 300 in 1876 passes unnoticed today.
The melodrama, “The Two Orphans” was playing on the stage of the Brooklyn theatre on December 5, 1876 with a full house in attendance. Over a thousand people were packed inside with most of them in the upper gallery seats, comprised of families and large groups of people that came to see the show. At 11:15 PM, shortly after the opening of the last act, a fire broke out, however its danger was downplayed by the leading actor Murdock, and few to none left their seats. A the flames grew more visible panic ensued and one thousand people rushed to the only two exits in the rear of the Theater. The top tier had no direct way down and a major jam developed on the second tier staircase. This led to trampling and falls, while the upper tier died of asphyxiation and falling debris. This is the official story that is validated by historical records found at the Brooklyn Historical Society and “This Day in History” on history.com.

9 Years after the fire Kate Claxton recalled and told her story to the Philadelphia Times which later reach the home of the Brooklyn Theater Fire, New York and The Times. She recalled how the stage was set up and her laying down in character on straw for the play. She went on to say that she “was startled by a rumbling noise, which sounded as if the ceiling of the the theatre was falling”. Then the curtain rose and she did not dwell on the noise and remained in character. Then as she said her lines and the play progressed she heard the voice of Lilian Cleaves who said “Save yourself for God’s sake: I am running now”. This news made Kate Claxton gaze up and spot the sparks and “little tongues of fire licking the edges of the drops and borders that hung in the flies”. Nevertheless she played her part and did not show fear, same as Harry Murdoch and Mrs. Farren followed by Mr. J. B. Studley. However ; Mrs. Farren whispered to her “The fire is steadily gaining”. At this time the fire could no longer be “concealed from the audience” as the sparks were falling on stage and yet they played on. Panic had taken full swing and only then did ‘we saw that it was useless to attempt to proceed”. In spite of this Mr. Studley said to the people “ The play will go on and the fire will be put out. be quiet, Get back to your seats.”. Kate Claxton then saw that “It was madness to delay longer as we were now almost surrounded by flames”. She went and took Mr. Murdoch by the arm to run but he pulled away in a daze and went to his dressing room where he and Claude Burroughs parished. At this time all of the exits were engulfed in flames and all seemed lost. However: it was at this time that Kate Claxton remembered of a subterranean passage built by Mrs. Conway to the box office from the star dressing room. This was Kate Claxton’s dressing room and she took her neubourg Maude Harrison with her through the tunnel and to the box office. After breaking through the door in the office they were safely outside.

This two accounts of December 5, 1876 during the Brooklyn Theater Fire have the same beginning and end, however; the details and view of events vire. First is a very basic overview of the causes and effects of the Brooklyn Theater Fire told after it had come to pass by historical archives. Kate Claxton was in the middle of all of these events when they transpired and so it is more personal. There are a great deal of details that give us a clear understanding of her position and feelings at that time. On of them being her guilt over the fact that she went along with what everyone else was doing, covering up the truth from the audience. “The curtain should have been kept down until the flames had been extinguished or if it had been found impossible… the audience should have been calmly informed that… some unfortunate occurrence behind the scenery compiled a suspension of the performance….Raising the curtain created a draft which fanned the flames into fury.” There is no such notion in the historical database, no looking back at the event in an other way and no only what happened. Only what happened and remained after being revised at least 3 times and going through countless censers.

The Brooklyn Theater Fire is written in various historical archives ranging from the Brooklyn Historical Society to the New York Times. Nevertheless what is written in one may be found wanting in the other. Kate Claxton first hand account throws into question the legitimes of the Brooklyn Historical Society and “This Day in History”.

Robert, S. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://brooklynhistory.org/library/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/arms_1977_049_theatre.pdf

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hundreds-die-in-brooklyn-theater-fire

Montrose, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2010/06/walkabout-the-b-2/

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F50D11FD355A1A738DDDA90B94D9415B8584F0D3

http://www.green-wood.com/2011/the-two-orphans-with-a-new-home/

Robert, S. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://brooklynhistory.org/library/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/arms_1977_049_theatre.pdf

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hundreds-die-in-brooklyn-theater-fire

Montrose, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2010/06/walkabout-the-b-2/

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F50D11FD355A1A738DDDA90B94D9415B8584F0D3