Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-04-11
Destructive COnflngratIon -MetropOlitnn
Theatre and Eight other Buildings

Destructive COnflngratIon -MetropOlttnn
Theatre and Eight other Buildings
Burned
About o'clock. Monday afternoon fire
broke out in the rear of the Metropolitan
Theatre, and notwithstanding the day was
remarkably still. the flames spread with
fearful rapidity, burning three buildings on
Bird street and three on Huntoon. Two
other buildings we're torn down for the pur
pose of arresting the progress of the flames.
As near as we have been able to ascertain
in the confusion which every where pre-
vailed, the buildings destroyed may be esti-
mated at about fifteen thousand dollars. To
this must be added the loss of the inmates,
which we have not had the means or time to
ascertain 1t will, doubtless reach as high
a figure as the buildings.
The widest excitement prevailed in every
part of the town, and goods were hastily
packed, preparatory to being removed to a
place of safety. The loss, at fair estimate,
may be set down at about thirty five thou
sand dollars.
The estimated loss by the buildings burned
and torn down, we put down as fellows
some of the estimates being our own:
Bird & Morris, Metropolitan Theatre $4,000
Two buildings adjoining. l,OOC
Hall. dwelling. ......... SOC
Apollo Saloon. owned by Caulkins,
Spellman s Hudson, of Marysvlle, 5000
Buildings owned by Spaniards, $50. SOC
Mr. Hall, saloon occupied by G.
Lamp. 800. .......... Z,oO.
Harlow. SOC
| Arnold y Curtis. oOl
! Various rumors are afoat with regard tC
to the origin of the fire, and the impression
very generally prevailed that it was the WORK
of an incendiary. The most probable report
which We have heard, says that boy en-
ployed to work taround the theatre, wa;
lighting lamp, when it burst, or the Chin
ney broke, and in endeaYoring TO blow il
out, the flames communicated with the lining
and instantly spread over the building. This
statement is supported by several schoo
children who were at play in and around the
theatre, and does away with the idea OF it:
being the work of an incendiary, as We il
common with others had a, first supposed
| Fortunately the fire was confined TO the
corners of the Plaza and Huntoon street
This done by the active and untiring exer,
tons Of Butte Engine Company, and the
hearty cooperation of the citizens generally
The preservation of the town is undoubtedly
due to the gallant Duties, whose organized
and well directed movements were effective
1 in arresting the progress OF the flames
/ They are entitled to all honor, and deserve
the hearty thanks and encouragement OF
every citizen of 0roville. Wo trust they
will soon be furnished with more effective
apparatus. The town has already sustain
ed losses sufficient to purchase half dozen
engines After the fire had beeE subdued.
the assembled and gratfied citizens sent up
cheer after cheer for the gallant firemen
and well did they deserve this spontaneous
tri butte to their noble exertions.
But few accidents happened during the
! fire, and none of serious nature. A young
man named Mullen, was busily engaged
tearing down building, and had no init
nation that the hooks had been attached tc
the building. until the roof was pulled down
and he was buried in the ruins. He was
not seriously injured however.
The little wind that was stirring at the
time, sent the heat in n southerly direction
across the Plaza, and so intense was il
( tha. the windows of the Court House were
in danger Of taking fire.
The San Francisco Ministries, who were
playing st the Metropolitan theatre, lost
their entire wardrobe ard musical instru-
ments, valued at about 50 900.