The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-27
Eox's Theatre. in Philadelphia, and
Other Structures Destroy od---Loss of
Iife...Eircs Elsewhere.

PHILADELPHIA, February 25.-At 1890
o'clock this morning dense smoke was OBJ
served issuing from the windows Of the
property-room OF Fox's American Theatre,
ON Chestnut street above Tenth. Shortly
afterward the flames burst through the roof
and rear, and in ten minutes the fire had
spread to the front OF the theatre and the
roofs OF the houses adjoining, from which
the occupants were rescued with difficulty.
The flames spread rapidly, and the wind,
which blew strongly from the west, carried
myriads OF sparks and pieces OF flaming
wood a distance of half Il mile or more.
At 1915 O'Clock Il general alarm was
struck. At o'clock the fire had spread to
the Mercantile Library building, on Tenth
street above Chestnut, and also to several
stores and Rogers's wagon warehouse on
Chestnut street. Before the tremen were
aware OF any immediate danger to the lat
ter premises the flames shot out through the
roof, and u minute later, from some mex
plicablc cause, floor after floor tumbled IN,
and the entire structure was enyeloped in
fire. The next building to the wagon fac
tory is the tire-proof granite building OF
the New York Mutual Life Insurance
Company, and here the progress of the
fire was checked. When Eogers's factory
fell in, Fire-Aiarshal Thompson, G. III.
Bonnafon, and George F. Newman, OF the
insurance patrol, were In the building. The
Fire Marshal and Mr. Bonnafon extricated
themselves, although they both sustained
severe injuries. but Newman was buried in
the ruins. He was taken out this morning
alive, having been buried eight hours, but
il is feared that he viii die. Edward Bel-
ley was severely injured about the head
and body, and Jeremiah Lee is believed to
be fatally injured by falling from the roof
OF 1909 Chestnut street.
Rogers's wagon factory Is owned by G..
J. Rogers, OF Morristown, Nj. The build
ing is damaged to the extent OF $4,000.
No estimate OF loss can be placed upon the
stock, which, however. In insured to the
amount OF 5000
The loss OF Fox's Theatre is estimated at
$4,000, upon which there Is an insurance
Of $4,000, held by one of the saving funds
TO secure a mortgage on the property. 1t Is
stated that Mr.. Fox also holds policies to
the amount OF $4,000.
The valuable collection Of books (particu-
larly those on the south side Of the Mercan-
tile Library has been rendered worthless.
The loss is vafiously estimated from $50, 1000
to $4,000, upon which there is an insurance
OF S150,000. The policies arc in amounts OF
$4,000 each.
Wilson's saIoen was damaged to the ex-
tent OF $4,000; insured for $4,000 in the
Virginia Home, OF Richmond; Western
Assurance, and County Fire, OF Philadel-
phia. Loves tailoring establishment was
damaged by fire and water to the extent OF
$4,000; fully insured. A@
The following are some Of the companies
In which assurances are placed by the Mer-
camille Library Company: Reliance, Della
ware, Mutual, Fire Association, Franklin,
American, Contributionship, Hand-in-
Hand, and Germantown; all of Philadel-
phia. assurances are held by Mr.. Fox to the
amount OF $4,000, as follows Ben Frank
lin, OF Allegheny, $500; Manayunk, OF
Philadelphia, 81 800; Citizens, of Newark,
n. j., $4,000; Buffalo, OF Buffalo, n. Y,
$1,000; Connecticut, Of Hartford, $4,000;
Millyille Mutual, OF New Jersey, $4,000;
First National. Of Worcester, Mass, 81 800;
Manufacturers, Of Boston, $500; Lancas-
ter, Of Pennsylvania, $1,000; Boston IN
aerwriter, OF Boston, $4,000; Franklin. OF
Wheeling, West va, S1,50n; Iron City, of
Pittsburgh, 81 500. 4
0THEg FIRES.
NEW YORK, February "a. Early this
morning fire occurred on the top floor of
lhe threG-stofy building, No. 1877 Wooster.
street which was extingnished with but
iittie damage to the building or it's contents.
Inc apartments Were occupied by Mary
Brown, q e0iored woman, whose two
chiidren--Hattie, aged three years. and
Joseph, aged fifteen months--Were fatally