New-York tribune., 1885-03-26
IHE FIRE RECORD.
TIE BUFFALO MUSIC HALL BURNED.
ruE loss oF rHE THEATRE FOLLOWED YTHAr or
ST. LOUIS CHURCH.

rHE loss oF THE THEATRE FOtLpWED By THAT or
ST LOUIS CHURCH.
BUFFALO. March 2j-As a watchman in the
Music Hail was lighting the gas jets just above the
stage last evening a drop hy took fire from de.
fectiye burner. In an Instant the whole
stage In flames and six minutes later
ss. oBs,rs building destroyed The McCaun Opera
Company dressing for tb" production of Falka
and had barely time to escape some only partially
dressed The company lose their entire wsrdObes for
the operas of "FaIka" "Thc Little Duke aud " The
Queens Lace Handkerchief" The company had had
most OF their franks brought to the building and these
were consumed also Few persons had arrived to wit
ues. the performance and all escaped without injury
An hour later the st. Louis Roman Catholic Church.
AZ the rear Of Music Hall. took fire. The street be-
Husic Hall aud the church Is narrow renderinGt
br for the Fire ID pirtmcut do effective WORK
George smith and Joseph Green ascended ladders for
The purpose OF assisting The nitmsh. Inc building
burned rapidly and the rcmen aud smith hastily left
the roof which they had reached, hut for unac
CouuuUlc rcason recn remained behind and frantcay
rnsICd To tho cupola climbing II In fun view of the
Thousands of spectators lie cambrred 10 the lightning
rod returned and To I'll" body of the roof which
was burning hcrcey He rushed To the corner Of
the building and needless Of the cries of the remon,
who had tarpauin stretched for him Jump into made
for the tower and from II hung by his hands tully
Ten minutes. An attempt made to reach him with
ladder but unsuccessful, owing 70 tho network OF
telegraph wires surrounding the building Al TINS time
the entire front OF the churcn was onyeoped In hamcs
and, for a tme dense smoke hid the lmporied
man from view. When the smoke cleared away,
he was be still Cngng To the edge OF the roof
linen he ungcd forward let his hold the roof and
fell His struck the lower IOOf as ne ie ana TURN
ing over he struck his head and was instantly Killed
At $50 the tower OF Music Hall fell with crash and
in few minutes later tue front walls fell INTO the street
Ths north wall OF Music Hall alone remains, while all
above the first floor OF the church Is destroyed.
The Music HILL completed III 1888, having
been about a year in course OF construction. IL
was hardly completed IN time for the
soengerfrst which was held In 1883. The
cost OF the building II estimated at plIoOO0 There was
an insurance OF $4,000. a., ~, o,u
church i'm the city. Tie structure was begun III 1882
and about twenty years ago the main portion
OF the building was cOmpleted Tho cost or
Tho church was aboat $4,000 and the
building was insured for S2o,OOO. About
81 has been expended for extra decorations ctc
In the last year. ,-,.. -, ,.,,,
the festival OF 1888 the Democratic state Con-
yenton i'm the fall OF 1888, and the musical FESTIVAL
Mt which Theodore Thomas and Dr. Damrosch bp-
neared In June lssi WITHIN the walls OF the edlnce
was one OF the Oldest aud most complete German nDfa-
res I'm the country Books which cost over SSOOO Dut
whose value hardly be estima cd as many OF tue
can never be replaced, were destroyed ,,.,
81 Louis Church has history peculiarly Interesting
years ago the church property vested In trus
fees The Bishop the diocese directed that the usu
rules govern OF the affairs Ot tho chFc
This the trustees refused listen to, ana after seVefa
attempts to concilate them they were ek
not being allowed TO bury ther deau OF
baptze their children according To the rites ot the church
This edict remained Ia force for perlOd OF hNe years
when special Papal NunciO was sent from Rome 10 III
yesgat. matters his arrival the NunclO was driven
down Mainst. followed by IA MOB. Dlhck nag
1oated trom OF tho church Tor years Inc
lrouble was finally settled the property remaining
va sted I'm the trustees under the State aW'