Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-09-18
THE GREAT FIRE IN BALTIMORE.


NICHOLAS Hotel, adjoining on the north
side, and large four story brick build
ing adjoining ON the south, owned by
the city and used asa high school, were
burned this morning, between $50 and
4 o'clock. All the inmates Of the St.
Nicholas Hotel at which large nam
Der Of actors and employees boarded,
escaped, saving most OF their wardro-
bes.
AT 2:3O o'clock the alarm OF fire was
soundrd and in few moments a vol
ume Of fame burst forth 'front.' the Holli-
day Street 1'hreatre, enveloping tie
building in mass Of fire. The flames
poured out simultaneously from the
roof and upper windows, and before
Che steamers could be GOT to work it
was evident the old Holiday was doom
ed to destruction. In less than ten
minutes after the alarm was sounded
The central portion of the city was lit
up as by great calcium light.
A deluge Of flaming einders rolled
up from The burning mass, and was
borne by gentle breeze from the north
into the vely heart OF the city, dis
lance OF live on six. blocks. Great
blazing cinders rained down as q sheet
Of fire, and many awnings OF stores Oh
Baltimore and south streets caught
from the fiery showers Of embers, and
at 8 o'clock these streets were brilli-
antly illuminated by the burning can
vas. adding to the general consterna-
ton. In the meantime the steamers
began to work with an abundance OF
water, and the fireman with Will and
determination te quench the flames.
The fire had already communicated to
the roof OF the St. Nicholas Hotel, adj
joining the theatre on the north, and to
the Ian sc brick building adjoining on
the south, and also to the factory Of
Frey, Walbech q Co., in The rear OF
theatre. The eptire fire department
was vigorously al work, but all their
efforts to save the theatre were unvail-
ing. Shortly after 3 o'clock the roof
fell in and only four bare walls were
left standing. !H'- 3a A
1Hhe theatre and some adjoining pro-
perty was purchased three years ago by
Johu y. Ford, the manager, Tor 500,
900. The damage by The fire will reach
about $4,000, Of which there is an
insurance OF 81 700, principally in CT
ty companies. The St. Nicholas Ho-
tel, adjoining the theatre Oh the noith,
was a large building-W. B. w. Ea'l,
propIieter-and was patronizcd almost
exclusively by actors and actresses
performing al the Holiday and Front
street Theaters and the Baltimore OPP
era House, about fifty Of whom were
in the building at the time Of the tire.
The rear portion Of the fourth story
was entirely burned ont, and all the
lower floors were deluged with water
Many OF the guests were forced to es
capped with nothing on but their night
clothes. Some The actresses lost thei,
wardrobes, watches, money, jew ely
Sc, out majority Of them succeeded
in saving their effects, which, With The
tll niture Of The hotel that was rescued
from Che flames, was piled up in the
streets. Mr.. Earl es,i,nates bis loss al
about $50, 700, aud gives his insurance
as follows: Pennsylvania, Of Philadel
phia, $500: ]tranklin, OF Philadelphia,
$500: Weschester, OF New. York.
1900; German, Of Baltimore, $780,
total ins'tauce, $4,000.
The building was owned by Will
lam J. Albert.
The Baltimore City College, adjoin-
ing Oh The south, had the root and
upper floor burned, and the whole
bedding damaged Wit, water. The
tjrst floor was occupied BY the Bali
! mole School commissioners, anG The
second and thitd floors by the BALI
more City College. The damage ,c
The books by water is estimated al
$4,000. 1'ihe fi,rni,n'e and carpets
Were also damaged. The loss on ,be
books, furniture. &c, amounts to ~,
900. lbe building was owned by the
city and was not insured. The ma.
,ress and curled hair factory Of Frey
Walbech d Co., IS North Gay street,
in ,ae rear of the theatre, was owned
W the firm, Who estimate their loss il
stock and damage 10 the building be
tween ST $1,000 aud $50, 700: INSTANCE
not over $4,000, divided among the
| Queen, Of London, German, Of Bahi
more. Klna, Hal ford. The 1ooi Of
building No. South street, adioin nc
The Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, look fire from falling cindefs,
and was slightly damaged. upper
portion was occupied by FLYNN & Cha,
les, batter, who estimate their loss by
wner a, $4,000. 9he first floor was
occupied BY Digs, coal agent
whose loss is trifling A lumber OF
otoei' buildings were saved by sweep.
ing he burning em5eis Fl ON me roofs
Ms. linton, who bad charge OF The
wa'd ohes, wnh her daus lier Nellie
aged IS, and little SOD. aged u years
occupied a Dom III the building, and
We're asleep when the fire was, discover
ec. had narrow escape, the Two chill
dsen being badly burned abont The face
Tue ,hes.ie was opened about fou'
weeks ago for the season, and every
night since has been densely crowded
Wiz the exception of The Walou'
Street Theatre. Philadelphia, the Hol
]ldav Sweet Theat,e was the oldest in
TIE Upi'ed States, dating back TO II
81, When frame bciltiing occupied
Tue present size. Manager Ford says
it will be Immediately re5I,ilu.
The loss Of Jobn y. Ford, OF the Hol
lidag Street Theatre. will reach at leas,
six thousand over The for.v 1bousann
Insurance. The des, uc,ion is com
DIe,e and entire; wi,a oil the accum
mutations of over sixlv wears 1ne