The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-07-10

u
PHILADELPHIA, June 8.
A terrible fire broke out last night at l0I
O'Clock at the National Theatre, Chesnut ST.,
opposite the Girard Hotel. 1t burnt nearly
the whole block, bounded by Chestnut and
George streets and Eighth and Ninth streets.
The grea. museum building, containing two
of the largest and most elegant saloons in the
country, was totally destroyed. Several
large dwellings on George street, the
Waverly Hotel, Bell Tavern, George Fishers
tailor store, o. c. Ncholson's dry goods
store, s. II. Schol's eating house, OH Eighth
were burnt. On Chestnut street the fire ex-
tended east from the front OF the theatre
nearly to Eighth street, consuming the fol-
lowing first-class stores containing stock of
immense value: They were occupied BY ].
A. Place, No. 2lS, dry goods; J. s. Earl, 2l5,
picture dealer and frame maker, and the Sec
ond floor by Bodie & Co., hair dressers; Thos.
Evans g. Co., 2l4, dry goods; r. g. w. Fra
zier, 2l2, dry goods, on the first floor, and
Mrs. Burke's millinery establishment; 2lO
and 20S, occupied partly by the Art Union
Gallery and by c. F. Meeser, picture dealer
and frame maker, aud Rontelier Bros; Milf
ken's linen store, 206; Clinton, 2O4, fancy
goods; Everett's jewelry store, 900; VIM. s
Mason, engraver, 200; l.. Ladoneer's Jew.
elry store 1873; Herman Hoaker. BOOKSHELF
at the corner, were moe or less damaged
about the roofs and the interior injured by
water. The museum and theatre belonged
to Isaac b. Parker. of Burlington, who j.
said not to be insured. Their destruction is
total. The fire ragged till near day light
burning off the roofs Of seven dwellings or
SAMSON street. The museum walls have
partly fallen, and will have to be entirely de
molisbed. The damage TO the Girard Hotel
opposite the theatre, is not serious, and the
proprietors are already prepared to resume
operations. The furniture is somewhat dam
aged with water. The following stores were
in the basement Of the theatre: VIM. Young
Tobacco onist and drinking saloon, loss 50, 900
insured; s. A. B. Shaw, toy dealer, loss s +,
500, insured; ]. NJ. Wilson, bookstore, los,
$4,000; G. +. Ameler, mathe tical instru
meuts, loss not known; A. l.. Vanzant, con
fectioner, loss $1,000; Chas. Jeannerett, jew
eler, stock mostly saved. Adjoining thu
theatre on the east, the dry goods store o
Elizabeth Place. first floor, loss heavy, bu
little saved, no insurance; second floor, Mrs
Supplies, children's clothing, loss $4,000
partly insured; Evans extensive dry good
store, stock mostly destroyed, loss very heavy
J. S. Bull, picture store, loss 900, in
sured. The theatre was valued at $4,000
no insurance. The museum was a splendid
building, containing two saloons 20S by n
feet, and was generally regarded among tn,
largest and most elegant in the country; los
about $1,000 and no insurance This an
the theatre were owned by Isaac B. Parker
of Burlington. The damage to the Girart
House, building and furniture, is estimated
at $4,000; fully insured. The cellars o
the museum building were stored with larg,
quantities of liquors, ale, brown stout, whis
ky, groceries, hams, &C., belonging to Whit,
& Co., Roger Brown, and other parties
which were totally destroyed; loss very heavy
, The above contains all the particulars
losses, &c. yet known. 1t is impossible t,
estimate the loss. 1t will not be short o
100000.
This evening the body of r. A. Sheppard
one OF the actors in the theatre, was foun,
among the ruins burnt to crisp. 1t appears
after escaping, he went back to recover hi
/ watch from his dressing room. The audi
ence all escaped. 1t is supposed the thea,r,
was set on fire. The fire broke out in Tn,
carpenter shop belonging to the establish
lment.