Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-07-13
Tremendous Confagratieh!

The Chinese Muscum-Notionol 7Heotre-
Thirty Stores and Ti0enty DaoeHtnqs-
Laid an Ruins Whole Square Bur,a-
Loss ouer one Miuion-Reported Loss of
Life-Seterot Firemen injured.
About half past ten o'clock last night fire
was discovered coming from the carpenters
shop attached to the National Theatre in
Chestnut street below Ninth, opposite the Gil
rard House. Mr.. Callahan, one of the May
or's special officers, as soon as he discovered
the fire, rushed to the front of the Theatre and
gave the alarm. He begged the audience if
they wanted to save their lives to leave the
Theatre at once. One of the actors Atepped
to the footlights and assured them that there
was no danger. Mr. Callahan in his noble
efforts in urging them to leave the house. soon
became panic stricken, and rushed TO the doors
in the widest confusion
In few moments the danger was too an
parent. The flames rushed on the stage and
darted from scene to scene, cnveloping the
whole interior of the building in flames. The
fire soon burst out in all directions, extending
to the Chinese Museum on the south to the
large Fancy Stores on Chestnut Street to the
east, and to the Girard Hotel on the north
The grandeur of the scene battles Geserip-
ton. In half an hour after the FIRE got un-
der way, over 20 buildings were enveIoped
in flames. At one o'clock this morniug, the
whole square from Eighth to Ninth and Chest
nut to George streets, with the exception of
three or four houses, was heap of smoking
ruins.
Everybody got out of the Theatre safe,
The fremen were Immediately on the spot
but before they could bring their efforts and
apparatus to bear upon the burning building.
the flames had spread with great rapidity to
the adjoining property, and bid defiance To
every exertion put forth by the firemen.
The walls fell in with tremendous crash.
and the flames shot up with awful grandeur.
scattering the sparks in every direction and
those falling on the roofs of the adjacent
buildings, soon set fire to them The splen-
did Girard House, occupied by Messrs.
Pressbury Billings also caught under the
cornice, and was soon, enveloped in flames.
The magnificent Chinese Museum also caught
on fire and was totally consumed with all its
contents. There were also a number of
buildings adjoining on George street, which
were soon wrapped in flames, and despite tho
utmost efforts of the fireman and citizens they
were also destroyed.
One fireman, while ascending n ladder. fell
from the third story of building and was
dreadfully injured about the head. He was
conveyed to the Hospital
The sparks were blown in every direction,
and the roofs of buildings, for two or three
squares, were set on fire in many places. but
were extinguished before the flames obtained
much headway., by pouring buckets of water
upon them The whole block between Eighth
and Ninth and Chestnut and George streets ia
almost a total mass of ruins
In the Chinese Museum, fireman was
playing a side stream, when an adjoining wal
fell and Knocked him down, considerably il
juring him. lie sprang to his feet, and Sci. -
ed the hose again, and commenced working
with all his energies. Such noble conduc. Is
worthy of all praise.
a horse belonging to the Circus Company
was so much frightened that he would not
leave the enclosure, and the men had to put
a rope round his neck to pull him out
Pigeons were flying about in all directions,
and fell in the fire and were consumed.
The Girard House. at one time was consid-
cred a victim to the deyouring element. and
the numer US inmates became groa=ly alarm
ed, and many of them removed their proper
ty The flames, however, were subdued, bv
the most extraordinary exertions of several
fire companies, and this noble structure was
saved. The premises, however, were flooded
with water. We noticed, present. Sheriff
Allen, Mayor Conrad, aud Marshall Murphey.
On Chester street there were some eipht
stores, fronting the Circus which with most of
their contents, We're entirely DESTROYED.
There is so much confusion prevailing that
it is almost impossible to make anything ike
a correct estimate of the loss, but it will GER
tainly exceed one million of dollars Many
fremen were more or less injured