Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-24

70 Ghem- Bryant, Stratt0n & De, Han in
form us that their loss Is over $S,00e. The
Engraving rooms of Strobrdge& 8 Co. were
also complete loss.
~ THE ORIGIN OF THE FESifEs.
Officer Mckinley informs us that about
twenty minutes after IL O'clock he was
trying the doors Of Sargent, Wilson & Hin
kle's store, at the rear on Baker street, 100
feet from the rear of the Opera House.
Hearing an explosion like that of swivel,
Re turned Immediately and saw the flames
bursting upthrough the roof of the rear.
Michael Toohey, private watchman of
tire Opera House, does not believe that the
explosion was that of gas. He states-and
%6'Nnow him as a man of truth--that at
about ten minutes before the explosion he
turned of the gas, and did 1t securely. He
then went all through the stage and dress
ing-romns, to see that all was secure, II
the meter is not destroyed it will be found
to be turned off, as usual. ., .y
q tr . MAN INJURED. . tI
In the falling OF portion of the front
wall, citizen by the name OF John jack
son, who lives on George street, near Gem
trail avenue, had his foot badly crushed.
There were many rumors of persons being
injured, or killed, but this is the only case
of accident that really happened.'y or
THE WORK OF THE FIREMEN.
The entire Fire Department reached the
scene of the terrible destruction with great
promptness, and soon thirteen steam-fire
engines were laundering at their work,
while hundred and fifty firemen sprang
to their places, and, for four hours of tre-
mendous work, toiled in the midst of flames
and falling walls. They worked as we
have seldom seen firemen work. Ten times
their force could not have saved dollars
worth of the Opera House editice, and, Of
course they could not; but in preventing
the complete devastation of fire over a
whole square, they were successful.
. Mr.. Pixies LOSS
is over million of dollars, on which there
is insurance of not over $4,000. Nothing
is left to him, of all that magnificent prop
erty, save the smoking ruins and fire-cov-
cred grounds.
When Mr.. Pike heard the alarm he was in
his room in the Burnet House, fronting on
Vine street. Looking out, he saw the flames
rush in flood through the roof, in the
neighborhOod of the chimney-stack. While
he was upon the street, fOr few minutes,
some scoundrel picked his pocket, taking
his watch. This Mr.. Pike described as "ad-
ding insult to injury" He viewed the tre-
mendous scene, in which million of his
property was vanishing, from the roof OF
the Burnet House, with more calmness than
the majority OF the multitude ofspectators.
Whatever dauntless spirit and unwearied
energy on his part can do, to repair his
great loss, will certainly be done. He is
entirely unable to account for the begin.
ming OF the calamity, and if it were not that
he Is unconscious of having an enemy in
the world, he would think it must be the
work of an incendiary. The private watch
man constantly on duty in the building is
unable to account for it. He thinks the
first appearance of fire was in the up
per part of the house, near the roof.
Mr.. Morris Simmonds, acting manager of
the Opera House, passed over the stage af-
ter the audience had retired, and there were
no signs of fire. He had not left the build
ing, when hearing a noise like the rushing
of a mighty storm, he ran into the audito-
rum to find it whirlwind of flames.
GENERAL LOSSES.
We can not, of course, at this time. give
even an estimate OF the items of loss OF the
many firms and individuals, most of whom
we have mentioned, or of the insurance.
There are dozen or more whose loss will
reach $1,000 each, and at least half dozen
whose loss will reach $4,000 each. The
heaviest losers are Samuel N. Pike, Adams
Company. William Sumner 81 Co,
r. w. Carroll 81 Co., William G. Peters &
Co., Philip Phillips & Co.. and the Enquir-
er Company, Messrs. Faran & Mclean.
We omitted to mention the complete loss |
Of the Buckeye Billiard saloon, also in the |
second story of the Opera House building |
at least $4,000.
I Among the los RS of smaller amounts are
w. b. Niblett, saloon-keeper; W. B. Clapp, |
ewelry store; F. p. Haldy, military fur
lishing goods; d. II. Baldwin, piano dealer; |
Holmes & Son, wall paperins; A. J. Clark |
& Co., furnishing goods; Bryant, Stratton
& De Han, commercial college; Strobrdge |
& Co., photographers; Harpel, job printing |
,sta blishment; Strauss, artist; f. Pedretti,
'resco painter; Jones & Hart, engravers on |
wood, and others.
The total loss by this immense confa-
grafton will be found to be nearly $2,000000, |
Ind we doubtif the total insurance amounts
% $250,0O0.
R.w. CARROLL & CO. .a
INFORM us that their loss is 100000. at least,
IN which there is about $4,000 insurance.
from this may be CLEANED some idea, by |
of the loss of other stores in
he building wherein there were immense
tocks of goods.