The Evening critic., 1885-02-27

from tho floor Of the orchestra to the cell
ing was so feet
The exits were abundant, there being
large doors at the front, on each side of the
orchestra circle, another in tho dress circle,
beside the main entrance, aud two from tho
stage. Two circles ran above tho first floor,
botn Of which oujoyed exclusive exits of
their own, while there was u bridge, which,
in cases Of emergency, could be thrown from
the dress circle across to the Harris House,
and opened up another outlet in that d.
rection.
So complete had been tho arrangements
tor emptying the theatre that little appre.
heDson was ever felt of accident TO tho
audience in case of fire occurring while
performance was in progress.
The cost Of building the theatre was
about s0OO00 but additions made after.
ward, with improvements of more recent
date, have swelnd the sum in excess Of
100000.
The building on the front portion of the
lot was separate entirely from the theatre
and built subsequently. With the excep.
tion Of the billiard room, there has been so
many changes in the stores aud use of the
front of the house that 1t would be dificut
to approx imste what II has cost TO bring
them to the shape they were in whou the
fire occurred.
The Fuiare.
"Will you rebuild ?" asked the reporter of
Mr. Harry Rapley.
Certainly, we will," was the reply. We
will go to work just as soon as the insurance
companies will let u.s.
How long will II take to build another
theatTc?n
about three or four months after we
get started
"Will the now building he on the same
plan as the one just burned"
II cannot tell anything about the plans
now and they have not been considered,
but j will say this tho new theatre will
be perfect one in every respect
Notes.
The Nat Goodwin Company, which was
TO play Confusion at the theatre next
week, lost about 800 worth of printed
handbills and posters.
Last night was tho third time that the
National Theatre has been destroyed by
fire. 1t was burned first in 1915, the day
after the Inauguration of President Polk.
The inaugural ball bad taken place in it the
night before. 1t was also burned January
90, 1873.
Said Sam Kinsley: "This is awful, is IL
not did not know word about il un-
Til l came down town this morning.
When the flames shot up in the rear,
some of the female guests at the Ebbitt
House, thinking that hotel was on fire.
rushed from their apartments screaming,
and ran down stairs into the lobby. When
they were convinced of their mistake they
retired to their rooms. Many of them,
however, sat up and watched the fire.
The 'old citizen was out in force last
night. He was frequently the centre of the
crowd, to whom he related incidents of big
fires away back in Jackson's time. The
old citizen never gets lef5 on occasions of
this kind.
The work of the Fire Department is
praised on all sides.
Workmen have been engaged all tho
morning putting Willard Hall in condition
for tho performance tonight. The doors
will open at the usual time this evening.
Mr.. Rapleys loss will probably reach
$4,000, while he is only insured for Si2,-
600.
Chief Cronin states that the fro was q
very difficult enc to control, and had his
force been twice the size he could not have
done much better than he did.
The Commissioners stated this afternoon
that the Fire Department. did good work In
saving the adjoining property.