The New York herald., 1873-09-11
THE ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL GONE
Valuable Buildings Gutted and Tum-
blea to the Ground.
ACTORS AND ACTRESSES BURNED OUT
Full List Of the Losses of Property Own.
ers and Insurance Companies.
BALTIMORE, Nd, Sept. 10, 1873


AT halfpast two O'Clock this morning on alarm
OF fire was sounded. and ia o few moments a vol
ume of flame burst forth from Holiday Street
Theatre enveOping the building In a mass OF fire.
The flames poured out simultaneously from the
roof and upper windows, and before the steamers
got to work it was evident the old Holiday was
doomed to destruction. In less than fifteen min
utes after the alarm was sounded the central pOr-
tion Of the city was lit up as by great light. Up
Lexington street to Charles, on Monument square,
on Baltimore street, from Frederick to Charles
street, and on Calvert street as far north az the
Northern Central depot, the reflection of lurid
flame was so intense as to create the I'M
preston that q general connagration had
begun. deuge OF flaming cinders rolled
up from the burning mass, and was borne by q
gentle breeze from the northeast into the very
heart OF the city to distance OF five or six blocks,
over the roofs Of the sun, American and Gazette
oflces, and the Western Union Telegraph of1ces
and the adjacent buildings. Great blazing cnders
rained down a sheet OF fire. Many awnings Of
stores on Baltimore and South streets were ignited
by the fiery shower of embers, and at three O'Clock
these streets were brilliantly illuminated by the
burning canvas, thus adding to
THE GENERL CONSERVATION
In the meantime the steamers began work with
an abundance OF water, and the fremen worked
with will and determination to quench the
flames. The fire had already communicated to the
roof of the st. Nicholas HOTEL adjoining the theatre
on the north, and to the large bank building
adjoining the south, and also to the factory OF
Frey, Walpert Co.. In the rear OF the theatre. The
entire fire department was vigorously at work, but
all their efforts to save the theatre were unavall-
ing. Shortly after three O'Clock the root fell
in and at four O'Clock the bare walls only were
left standing. The theatre and some OF the
adjoining property was purchased three years ago
by John T. Ford, manager, for 100000. The dam
age by fire will reach about $4,000, on which there
Is an insurance OF $4,000 principally In city COM
panies. The st. Nicholas Hotel, adjoining the
theatre on the north, large four story brick
building W. b. w. Earl proprietor, patrOnized al
most exclusively by actors and actresses perform
ing at the Holiday ana the Front Street Theatres
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 deluged
| with water. Many of the guests were forced to
| escape with
NOTHING ON BUT THEIR NIGHT CLOTHES.
Some OF the actresses lost their wardrobes,
watches, money, jewelry, &c; but majority of
them succeeded in saving their effects which. with
the furniture OF the hotel that was rescued from
the flames, was piled up in the streets. Mr.. Earl
estimates his loss at about $50 Co., and gives his In
surance as follOws:-
Pennsylvania, OF Phi phia. $500
Franklin OF Philade lpha.. ................. 1900
Westche ster, OF New York $500
German, OF Baltimore lQVW
The building was owned by William G. Albert.
The Baltimore City College. adjoining on the south,
had its roof and upper noor burned, and the whole
building was damaged by water. The first loor
was occupied by the Board Of school Commission
ers, and the second and third floors by the Balti.
more City College, The damage to the books BY
water Is estimated az 200. The furniture ana
carpets were ase damaged. The losses on the
books furniture &C., win amount to $4,000. The
building is owned by the city and Is not insured.
The mattress aud curled hair factory OF
FREY, wALPERT AND CO.,
No. 2s North Gay street, in the rear OF the the
atre, was owned by that firm, who estimate
their loss In stock and damage to the building at
between $4,000 and $4,000. Their insurance Is
not over $1,000, divided among the Queens, OF Lon
don, German, OF Baltimore. and Etna, OF Hart
ford. The roof of the budng No. South street,
adjoining the Western Union Telegraph ONCE, took
fire from falling clnders and slightly damaged the
upper portion, occupied by Flynn l. Charles
Homers, who estimate their loss at So o0O insured
for $1,000. The first foor occupied by Diggs, Goa,
agent, also received slight damage. number OF
other buildings saved by sweeping the burn.
ing cinders from the roofs
THE INSURANCE LOSSES.
The following Is the insurance on the holiday
Street Theatre, including the building, machinery
and wardrobe -