Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-28
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
National Theater Burned.
H.AnAGE TO NE IMPERIAL HOTEL.
Previous Burnings Of the National
1heater.

by fire to-day, and the Imperial Hotel, adjoin-
ing, was damaged to some extent, mostly by
water. The origin of the fire cannot be ascer-
tanned to certainty. The first seen Of it was
a fame in the flies, about q quarter before IL
O'Clock, and it spread throughout the building
With frightful rapidity. Had the fire occurred
during the evening performance great loss Of
life must have resulted. Within q few minutes
after the fire was discovered it was apparent
that there was but little combustible matter In
and about the theater which would be saved.
So intense was the heat that many persons re-
siding on the same block, in houses fronting on
18th, 14th, and streets became frightened and
made hasty preparations to remove their furni-
ture.
AT THE TIME THE FIRE BROKE OUT,
Nessrs. Sheehan and Gross, the stage carpen-
tiers, were in their shop, in an elevated position
at one side OF the stage. The comic opera COM
pany of Mrs. James A. Oates were to have had
at II O'Clock a rehearsal of "Les Bavards,n
which was on the bills for performance tonight.
At the hour above mentioned (10:45 O'Clock J,
Messrs. Sheehan and Gross heard u rushing or
roaring noise, and surprising that some of the
company, impatient to proceed with the re-
heaIsal, were moving the flies, the two men
started down; but just as they reached the foot
Of the steps they saw that
THE FLAMES WERE In THE " FLIES"
and they at once gave the alarm. They then
ran back to their shop to save their personal
effects, but were unable to do so, 90 rapidly did
the flames extend. Police Officer Burr turned
in an alarm from box II, Willards' Hotel, and
Museum, formerly Ford's Theater,) both of
which were struck, and the general alarm was
sounded few minutes thereafter.
THE FIRE APPARATUS
was soon on the spot, and engines No. and
went in service at the corner Of 18th and K
streets, and the others, including No. 3, of
Georgetown, on 18th street, while the hook and
ho1 kh2s-l
the front and rear Of the building. Major
Richards, with Capt. Brock and Lieut.. SkippOn
and the police of the precinct, as also the
reserves, were soon on the ground. The sani-
the neighbOrhOod at the time, also rendered val
liable assistance, and with the police and some
of the 6remen Of former days, among them Mr..
Jonas b. Ellis, assisted in saving the property.
THE WARDROBE OF THE oATKs COMPANY,
most Of 1T being on the same floor with the stage,
was saved, as also some of Mrs. Oates scenery.
Mr. and Mrs. Saville's personal wardrObes found
their exit by the back door and entrance into a
house in the alley, where they were found by
Inspector Sprague, of the board of health, and
returned to the owners. The occupants of the
moved their effects, Mr.. Koppel (tailor) getting
his ont with but little loss. Mr.. A. Wambold's
restaurant fixtures suffered some, as also the
confectionery store of John Rocco, adjoining
the entrance on the west. and the sample room
Of Mr.. John Miller. The upper part of the
front building was occupied by Messrs Miller
& Jones as billiard saloon, whose tables and
effects were damaged to the extent of 80 900.
The stock Of the cafe OF the Imperial hotel was
some by water and removal, and Mr..
ROoses stock of cigars at the stand in the I'm
perial was also badly damaged.
1t was but a very few minutes after the fire
was noticed until the theater proper was a mass
Of ruins, and notwithstanding the efforts of the
firemen, the flames got under the rOof of the
Imperial Hotel adjoining, and for short time
that building was
IN IMMINENT DANGER;
but the flames were soon extinguished. The
guests at the hotel took things philosophcaily,
haste in removing their effects, yet through the
exertOns Of Mr.. Sykes and his associates any
scare approaching panic was prevented.
THE LOSS TO THE HOTEL BUILDING,
which belongs to Ex-Congressman o. B. Matti-
son, and is conducted by Mr.. Sykes, is mostly by
water, but it will not prevent the reception of
guests by the trains tomorrow morning.
LOSSES AT THE rHRATER.
superb piano from Mrs. Richenbach was
placed in the orchestra of the theater We sterday
afternoon and was entirely destroyed. Messrs.
Sheehan and Gross, carpenters, lose about $500.
Mr.. VIM. w. Rapley was the owner of the
theater building. He arrived i'm town from his
residence, in Montgomery county, but q few
minutes before the FIRE. The property has cost
him sl3s 600, and is insured in a mum Der Of
companies, mostly northern, for $40 600; the
largest amount in any one company being in
largest in any OF the Washington companies
being 81 900.
The fremen although they had the flames
under by l2k O'Clock worked up to y o'clock
to make sure OF having no chance for "a re-
kindling.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
has not been definitely ascertained, and it is
supposed by many that it caught from a stove
beneath the stage. and made it way up-Oue cor
ner OF the stage to the flies above before it
was discovered. Some assert than an explosion
took place before any alarm was given which
they believe was from a steam-pipe.
PREVIOUS FIRES.
This il the third time the theater on this site
has been n, destroyed It. The first fire was on the
the Inauguration of President Polk. Those who
saw this fire will never forget it. 1t took place
at night while the performance Of Beauty and
spread rapidly, but fortunately no one was in
jured. The building was much larger than the
one just burned, and the flames shot up into the
air TO great height, Eliminating the country
Tor miles around: There was a colonnade In
front OF the building with large columns, and
near the close of the fre each pillar had a
blazing pile on top, making them resemble
giant torches. The talented comedian, Charles
Burke, then IN the zenith OF his fame, was the
Beast OF the play, and made his exit i'm The
costume Of the part, in which he was soon after
wards seen on top Of the hotel. corner Of L and
18th streets, where he had rooms, pouring water
on the shingles to keep the m from catching fire.
The house was Afterwards rebuilt for the
advent Of Jenny Lind. This .'Jenny Lind''
building was burned on the afternoon of Feb
ruary 9th, 1857 andat that time Messrs. Kunkel
(GeOrge), Ford (John IT, and Monkey were the
lessees, and Miss Fanny MOrant manager.
The theafer was again rebuilt in the spring of
1852, and was opened by Mr.. Leonard Grover
ON the evening Of April ed OF that year with
the play of q The Serious Family" The theater
building proper was 100 feet by lJ0, and adjoin-
ing the stage was brick building Is feet by ~,
in which were the green room and other rooms
The seating capacity " about 2 500, there being
besides the orchestra seats, parquette row, with
dress circle above, and over that one gallery
In front we're the restaurants and places of
business noticed above, the entrance to the the
alter being in the center. 1t was q very neat
and tastefuily fitted little theater, and will be
generally missed by the play-g0ers OF the Capri
tai. The present lessee, Mr.. j. Il. Sayiile, has
for the past two or three years had the manage.
ment, and Tilted up the house in excellent style,
conducting it sfn such a manner as to deserve
tie thanks 0f all lovers of amusement. tfE
REMEMBER THE SUFFERERS. -
"A citizen suggests that Mrs. Oates AMI her
company should be given q complimentary ben
eht at Lincoln Hall. Right enough. 1t is
proper, too. that our citizens should Kindly re-
member the enterprising manager Of the thea
ter twhO has done so much to furnish play-goer
here with first-elass dramatic and musical en-
tainments) and his worthy wife. They deserve
some substantial testimonial, and should
have it.
EDITOR STAR:-Win You please grant me
space in your valuable columns for the following
suggestion:
IN 1888 Sir Charles wheatstone studied the
Cr&r 4uuAl H. I - IA