The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-15
The Fire OF friday Last I'm Bai,imore

streets. was burned between halEpast 2 and
) O'Clock yesterday morning. The old land
mark Is entirely 4 ruin, all the interior above
the second floor having been entirely COT
sumed. The cause Of the fire has not been
definitely learned. Various theories have
been put forward. among which are tho
statements that it originated from stove
left burning to the right of the orchestra on
the third story. or from q small stove in the
ladies' dressinS.room, or from cigar thrown
carelessly behind the scenery. AS the prac-
t'cc of smoking behind the scenes and all
over, the theatre WAS universal, the latter
theory is considered plausible by some. Fire
Inspector Holloway was absent in New
York when the fire occurred, but he will be
in Baltimore to-day and careful exlmina.
ton as 10 the cause will be made.
During the fire Mrs. Farrell, wife Of the
proprietor of the confectionery store on
Baltimore street, adjoining the Museum
building, WIS Injured by falling down stairs
in her hurry to leave the building, which
was the only accident that occurred.
The walls of the burned building being
considered dangerous have been ordered to
be pulled down.
The tirculen were supplied with coffee and
cdiblcS from Barnuu's Hotel during the
progress Of the fire. The telegnph-wire
supports on the building were melted with
the great heat. Great trepidation was occa-
stoned in Barnum's Hotel by the fire, and
very many ludicrous scenes were witnessed.
Among the Incidents was the rescue OF a
large cage of birds from the Museum,
which was no sooner safe on the pavement
than the door accidentally opened and the
birds, over fifty in number, disappeared III
an instant. Throughout yesterday great
crowds surrounded the vicinity, but persons
were prevented from approaching near the
ruined walls by policemen stationed there
for that purpose.
The loss on the Museum building, which
is owned by the Glenn estate. W. w. Glenn
agent, is estimated at about s., 800, and in
surcd for $4,000 in the following offices !:
American. Of Baltimore, $1,000; Peabody,
Of Baltimore, 81 500; Pennsylvania, OF Phil
adelphia. & 800; Manhattan, of New York,
81 900, aud Reliance, of Philadelphia, $1,000.
Tie two-story building No. north Calvert
street, adjoining the Museum, also belongs
TO the Glenn estate, and is insured for SS, 900,
the Peabody and National, OF Baltimore,
each having risks of $4,000.
Edward A. Maull, tobacconist, corner of
Baltimore and Calvert streets, estimates his
loss bv water, hastv removal, and theft ut
$4,000 He is insured in the Franklin, of
Baltimore. for $1,000.
Lewis krekel. proprietor of the restau-
raut on Calvert street, adjoining the store OF
Mr.. Maull, estimates his lvss at $4,000, prin.
cnally by the destruction of his bar-6xtures
and the demolition of large number Of
glass vessels containing liquor. He is in
Sured for $500 in the American, Of BaltI-
more.
The stock in Browns jewery >tors vas
badly damaged hy heat, water, aud break
age even quantity OF fine jeweIry in large
lire-proof safe was injured by water which
penetrated the doors. 4 number of valuable
articles are missing. The business was con-
Quoted by W. s. Ju>ties & Son, manufactur-
ing jewellers, and the stock was removed
yesterday morning to their store on Balt-
more street, near Charles. insured for S4,975
in the American. of Philadelphia. Probable
loss, $1,000.
Armstrong & Berry. old bookdeaers,
under the Museum building, were damaged
by water about 500. No insurance.
The Office of the Virginia and Tennessee
railroad was insured for $500 in the Fire.
mems. OF Baltimore, which will more than
cover their loss.
Johnson L Kings saloon. corner Bank lane
and Calvert street, estimate their loss by
water i'll 81 900. Insured in the Mary land,
OF Baltimore, for $500.
Thomas {. Mcguire, agent OF the 1rIvei-
lns' Insurance Company, on second moor,
No. ) Calvert street, estimates the loss in fur
uiture and books at 900 insured.
The Adams Express Company, through
whose building the hose Of three engines
were taken. rs also the printing establish
mcnt of luuis & Co., were slightly damaged
b water. Howe Il Clotworthy, the lessees
Of tue theatre portion of the building, lose
heavily, having no Insurance. They had eX.
pended 81 800 in fitting up the theatre and
wiue-room attached, and lost all their pro-
perie> scenery, Dar-fiNturcS, and valuable
billiard table, in all estimated loss of - 800.
Professor Winters orchestra lost their In
strulncnts, valued at $3.50. \ piano used in
the winc-room was saved, as also few
dresses belonging to actors. The stage car
pcntcr's tools, in a uncovered trunk, were
found after the tire to be unInjured.
The actors and actresses lost nearly every
thing. PeasIey aud Hughes lost 500 IN
dresses and music, the latter of which cannot
pc replaced; Billy Ray and son lost ward
robe aud music valued at 500 Mlllie Lea
aud mother lost suits valued at So; Hugh
Hag.crty dresses and music valued Ut S2Oo !;
Maggie Stanley $50 worth; ind Maggie
Mears $50. Misses Jessie Howard, Ada
Freeman, Belle Carlton, Mile Rosa, Irene
Carlton. Mollle Wills. Ella Williams, May
Field. and aleS>r>. Wadley and McCord,
lost goods ranging in vaAle from gu 10
500.
The total amount of estimated loss is
800 40. and the total amount OF insurance
S2S.4I5.
Nearly every citizen OF Baltimore who has
reached middle age has some special rem-
ui>ceures of the Museum. The corner, US
far back as 1928, was the site of lottery Of
tee, In 1880 the GROUND was purchased for
81, 900 by John Clark, II banker and broker,
web remembered in his time for shtn-
plastern currency which he issued. he
built the Museum In or about the year 1880.
Il, a cost OF 100000, aud had lottery office
at the corner.
Sir. Pcale, the first lessee of the Museum,
was q son of Rembrandt Peale, the celebra-
ted PAINTER, whose pictures formed one OF
the great attractions of the gallery of art.
These PAINTINGS resold when Jarrett gave
up the Museum for few hundred dollars,
and would to-day bring as many thousand.
When John f. Owens assumed control OF
the Museum be made many improvements.
Among the curosities remembered were the
skeleton of q mastadon strung with wire,
the bones Of which were finally converted
into phosphate; the skeleton Of giraffe;
the skeleton OF q woman who was hanged
on Galows Hill, and made to sit In a
chair, the jaws worked BY springs,
opening and then shutting suddenly with
the snap Ct steel clasp, to brighten the un-
su.Dccting. Then there was the sole of the
coloIcd wou;uu's foot, tanned and looking
ltn reonlar lrnther: L huge galYanlc LAT.