Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-24


ize that the terrible spectacle before then
wss not a dream, the whole inside of thu
building was in one mass of flames. TIT
fire, in its demon fury, next communicated
to the rear portion OF the roof of the
ENQUIRER OFFICE.
From there to a small frame building on
the upper side of Baker street, occupied
by II. P. Hopkins sign painter; from
there to the gambling house of Leur &
Mead, Immediately in the rear of ths
Opera House; then Immediately east to
the stable of the Adams Express Com
pany; thence across the street to the roof
of Whaley's gambling house, all on Baker
street, on the Fourth street square. 1t
spread from the Opera House to the two
three story buildings between the Opera
House and Spragues building. On the
east it communicated to the four story
brick building occupied by S. Holmes &
Co. as wall paper and window shade es-
tablishment
In the Opera House building were the
offices of the Adams Express Company,
the National Union printing Office, and ten
other business establishments, which were
all destroyed. Mr. Pixies loss is one mil
lion, on which was insurance of $38, 900
only. Other parties lost to the extent of
nearly million more.
The dramatic company of the Opera
House lost all their wardrobes. The rapi-
dity with which the flames spread pre-
vented the saving or rescuing of any of
the wardrobes, either personal or belong
ing to the house. The flames were first
discovered about half an hour subsequent
to the letting out of the audience which
was most fortunate. Had the alarm oc-
CURED when the theater was filled with
the audience, the loss of life would have
been awful and terrible. AS it was, the
actors lost every stitch of wardrobe,
which, no doubt, could be parted with
more satisfactorily than with life. Madam
Zavistowski is among the sufferers. The
elegant dresses and robes which comprised
her own and the childrens wardrobes
were completely and entirely lost.
CASUALTIES.
Two men were reported killed by the
falling of the cornice in front of the Opera
House, soon after the fire began. In the
confusion attending the great confagra-
ton, it was impossible to ascertain their
names. There was a rumor that one man
was smothered under the ruins of the
Opera House.
John Norwood, a fireman of No IA,
and Jerry Bray, of the same engine, were
badly hurt, by falling through one story
in some of the rooms of the Opera House
Peter Brogan had leg fractured. Charles
Bright, citizen, had his skull fractured
Thereare doubtless other injuries received,
but at this writing it is impossible to get
the facts. 1t is, however, almost certain
that in all this terrible, sudden and de-
structive fire, no one was burned to death
in any of the buildings destroyed.
[From the Cincinnati Commercial of the 3d.
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 a food through the roof |
in the neighborhood of the chimney stack. |
While he was upon the street. for a few |
some seoundrel picked his pock-
ct, taking his watch. This Mr.. Pike de-
scribed as adding insult to injury" He |
viewed the tremendous scene, in which a
million of his property was vanishing, |
from the roof of the Burnet House, with |
more calmness than the majority of the
multitude of spectators.
Mr.. Morris Simmonds, acting manager
Of the Opera House, passed over the stage |
after the audience had retired, and there |
we're no signs of fire. He had not left the |
when hearing noise like the
rushing of mighty storm, he ran into
the auditorium to find it whirlwind |
Of flames.
THE TOTAL LOSS ON THE ENQUIRER OFFICE |
is S47, 900. The loss in the job rooms is
very heavy, the largest power press in
the West being one of the valuable pieces |
of machinery destroyed.
The Opera House could not be replaced |
for less than a million dollars. 1t cost |
three hundred and sixty thousand dollars,
on specie basis, with brick laid in the |
wall at eight dollars per thousand, and |
they now cost twenty-five dollars. The |
Opera House has been universally recOg-
nized as the chief ornament of the city, |
and its builder, s. N. Pike, as the foremost |
Of our wealthy citizens in enterprise
8Ths fall ofthe rear walls of the building
partially crushed the Enquirer newspaper
Office, and it was afterward almost entirely
destroyed by the flames.