The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-27
THE FIRE AT MELODEON HALL
LAST NIGHT.
Dubufe's Great Painting, "The
PrOdigaI Son, -, Burned to Ashes.

Last evening, shortly before s O'Clock,
an alarm of fire was sounded from Box
81, corner of Fourth and Walnut streets,
followed quickly by second. The en-
gines were on the scene within few
minutes. The cry that Melodeon Hall
was on fire was carried from mouth TO
mouth, as it was known that the great
work of art, "Ihe Prodlgal Son." was
there on exhibition.
At the time Of the fire few spectators
were in the hall looking al the picture,
when some one noticed flames beneath
the frame. In second the picture was
ON fire. The flames spread SO rapidly
that the visitors had barely time TO make
| their escape. Some of the gentlemen
attempted 10 save the picture, but failed.
| The whole hall was soon in a blaze, aud
though deluge Of water was thrown in
| The fire could not be subdued until after
over two hours of hard labor.
| The Melodeon Hail Is owned by Peter
Gibson, sr., and was valued at $75 900.
| The damage will probably amount 10
$40, 900. The insurance reaches this
amount. The Hall WAS bailt In 1840 by
DR.. w Villains and sold 10 Taylor and
| Springer. Mr.. Reuben Springer alter
wards bought 1T and In turn sold IL and
the ground to Peter Gibson for $220, 900.
Garrett Dorland's jewelry store
suffered somewhat by wafer. His insur-
ance is as follows: National of Cincin-
nati, So 600; American Of Cincinnati.
81, 900; commercial of Cincinnati, $2, 800;
Miami Valley OF Cincinnati, So 600; Ken
ton OF Cincinnati, SO, 900; total, $l3. 800.
Dobmeyer e Newlall, music dealers
on Fourth street, are heavy losers. by
wafer. Their loss amounts to not less
| than $15, 900 in their stock of sheet music.
The firm is insured for $20,0o0 in foreign
companies. L4nge & Brother did not
suffer much loss. WlllerVs drug store
also escaped With slight loss. His stock
is insured for $4,000 in the Cincinnati
Mutual Company.
| Spear u Co., dealers i'll Oil and lamps,
occupying g room in the building on
| Walnut street, suffered but slightly
from damage. They have $4,000 insur
ance in the Union of this city and 81, ,0O(
in the Fidelity Company.
| The carpets in the fifth story of the
Gibson House were damaged by carrying
hose through to play upon the roof Of the
burning building.
1 Aubery a Co., jewelers., suffered some
little loss by IRE, which will not prOba.
bly, amount to So 900, all told. They are
insured as follows: Home, of New York,
50, ,0OO; Queen, OF Liverpool, 5000; Tn
lderwriters' Agency, Of New York, $2,.
900; Ntna, of Hartford, Sc. 600; Atlas, ol
Hartford, $1,000; total, $4,000. Their
stock is invoiced at 900.
| The Allemania Society, who occupied
the second and third floors, lose all taeiI
stage scenery, carpets, furniture, chairs
a piano, billiard table and wardrobes
They expended $4,000 to fit up theii
rooms seven years ago. They are in
sured for Sic, 900 in the Firemen's Fund
!Cempany, OF San Francisco, and thu
American Central, Of ST. Louis. The
Irestaurant and bar attached to the room.
and kept by Mr.. Young suffered $7Ol
damage.
The Harmonic Society lost all of theil
books. They hold an Insurance pelicy
lin the Miami Valley Company OF this
lefty for $4,000. A new Chlckering piano
which cost them 81 900, had just been re
imoyed to Exposition Hall.
! TIE greatest Toss Is that ofthe work OF
Edward Dubufe, '.fhe Prodigal Son." 9
lpicture twenty foet high and forty-tivt
leet long. Its value was estimated a.
from 100000 to $3.50, 900. 1t was insured
in this city for $25, ,000. We can not pass
in silence the gallant work OF our BRAY,
ltiremen. They scaled the ladders with
sublime recklessness, braved the body
OF fire that rushed from the windows
withstood the sitting smoke, and stand.
ing in the burning windows poured vol
tunes OF water into the building, until {
perfect torrent poured out from the en-
| trallna nd slOns hnnQnfh