Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-11
mo l,reas Fire in Baltimore

bv the city and used high school, were turn-
ed this morning, between 23O aud o'clock.
All the inmates of the St. Nicholas HOTEL at
which large number of actors and employees
boarded, escaped, saving most OF their ward
robes.
At 2:3O o'clock the alarm Of fire was sounded
and 10 few moments volume OF hame burst
forth from the Holiday Street Theatre, enveI-
opng the building IN mass OF 1lre.. Inc
flames poured cut simultaneously from the roof
and upper windows aud before the steamers
could be got to work it Was evident the old
Holiday was doomed to destruction. In less
than ten minutes after the alarm was sound
the central portion OF the city was lit up as by
great calcium light.
4 dc!uuc of flaming cinders rolled up from
the burning mass, and was borne by geuuc
breeze from the north into the very heart of
the city, a distance of FIVE or SIX blocks Great
blazing cindcrs ralned down as sheet OF ire,
and many awnings OF stores on Baltimore and
South streets caught from ule fiery showers of
embers. and at 3 clcck these streets were
brilliantly illuminated by the burning canvas,
addiug to the general CONSERVATION. ln the
meantime the steamers began to work with an
abundance of water, and the tremen with a
will and determination to qucnch the t1amcs
The fire had already communicated to the root
| of the St. Nicholas Hotel adjoining the thea
| tire on the north, aud to the large brick build
| ing adic ning on the south, and also to the
factory Of Frey, Walt cch d Co., in the rear of
! the theatre The entire fire department was
vigorously at work, but all their efforts to save
| the theatre were unavalIing. Shortly after )
o'clock the roof fell in, and only four bare walls
were left standing.
| The theater aud some adjoining property was
purchased three years ago by John L. Ford,
the manager, for 500 OOO The damage by
the fire will reach about $4,000, Of which
there is an Insurance of $4,000, principally 10
| city companies The St. Nicholas Hotel, ad
Joining the theatcr 90 the north, Was Il large
buldiug-W. B. w. Earl, proprictor-aud was
| paronized almost exclusively by actors and ac-
| tresscs performing at the Holiday and Front
street Theaters and the Baltimore Opera House,
about fifty of whom were in the building at the
! time OF the fire. The rear portion OF the fourth
story was entirely burned out, and all the lower
floors were dcluged with water Many Of the
| guests were forced to escape with nothing on
| but their night clothes. Some of the actresses
| lost their waldrobcs, watches, money, jewelry,
| &c., but majority Of them succeeded in say
! ing their effects, which, with the furniture Of
the hotel that was rescued from the hamcs
| was piled up in the streets. Mr.. Earl eStimat
| cs his loss at about $50, 900, and gives his in
surance as follows: Pennsylvania, Of Philadcl
phia, -. 800; franklin, of Philadclphia. 81. 5OO
Westminster, of New York, $500; German,
of Baltimore, 81, 800; total insurance, $40 900.
The building was owned by William }. Al
bert.
The Baltimore City College, adjoiuining on
the south, had the roof and upper floor burned,
aud the whole building damaged with water.
The first floor was occupied by the Baltimore
School Commissioners, and the second and
third floors by the Baltimore City College, The
damage to the books by water is estimated at
So, 600. The furniture aud carpets were also
damaged The loss on the books, furniture,
&c., amounts to $1,000. The building was
owned by the city and was not Insured. The
mattress aud cured-har factory OF Frey, Wal
bech & Co., IS North Gay street, in the rear
of the theatre was owned by the hrm, VINO cs-
innate their loss in stock and damage to the
building between $4,000 and $4,000; insur-
ance not over $4,000, divided among the
Queen, Of London, German, of Baltimore, aud
1EGua, of Hartford. The roof Of building No.
= South street, adjoining the Western Union
Telegraph Company, took fire from fall.
Ing cuders and was slightly damaged.-
The uppe: portion was occupied by Flynn &
Charles, matters, who estimate their loss by
water at SO, 900 The first floor was occupied by
- Diggs, coal agent, whose loss is trlflng.
\ number of other buildings were saved BY
sweeping the burning embers from the roofs.
The following is the insurance on the HOlli-
day Street Theatre, including the building,
machinery, and wardrobe: The American, of
Baltimore, s. $50; Baltimore, Of Baltimore,
s., GAO; Citizcos', Of New Jersey, $2,640;
Franklin, of Baltimore, $1,000; Great West
crn, of New Orleans, 5? GAO; German, of Bal
timore, SO $50; Hibernlau, Of Cleveland, ST.
800; Lynchburg OF Virginia, 50 G40; Lycom-
ing, of PENNSYLVANIA, s., GAO; Melville, of New
Jersey, - 500; National, of Baltimore, 81
$40; Peabody, f Baltimore, 81, GAO Potomac,
of Baltimore, $2,G40; Virginia Erie and Ma
rine Insurance Company, 1920, Maryland
Insurance Company, of Baltimore, $4,000; to-
tai, $40, 900 Mr.. Ge'z, the scenic artist of
the theatre, loses about $4,000, aud many of
the company and other emp oYecs lose trom
500 to 81 900.
Mrs. Linton, who had charge of the ward,
robes. with her laughter Nellie, aged Is, and
little son, aged ~ years occupied room in
the building, and were asleep when the fire
was discovered had a narrow escape, the two
children being badly burned about the face.
The theatre was opened about four weeks ago
tor the season, and every nlgat since mas peeD
densely crowded. With tho exception Of the
Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, the Ilol-
liday Street Theatre was the oldest in the Uni
ted States, dating back to 1874, when a frame
building occupied the present site. Manager
Ford says it will be Immediately rebuilt.
The loss Of John L. Ford, Of the Holiday
Street Theatre, will reach at least six thou
sand over the forty thousand Insurance. The
destruction is CONF lete and entire, with all the
accommodations of over sixty years. The com.
pany will open tomorrow evening at the GRAND
Opcra House. Until its destruction the old
Holiday had stood for seventy-scven years
without fire.
LoUDoUN COUNTY ITEMS. = From the Lou
doun Mirror 1.-The old marker house, 10 Lees
burg, which for thrce.quarters of a century had
4 IL. L c