Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-28
FATAL FLAMES.
Two Hirsmsn Killed and One Injured oy
Falling Walls-A magnificent strue-
ture in Ashss-rotal Loss,
half nillion.
lBy telegraph 10 the Dispatch. !

broke out In the basement OF the Temple
Theatre, on Chestnut street between
seventh and Eighth, about III o'clock this
morning. and was not gotten under control
until the handsome structure was a COM
plete wreck, two firemen bad been killed,
one fireman severely injured, and great
damage done to adjoining property ~
smoke and water. The theatre was owned
ty William NJ. singerly, proprietor OF the
philadelphia Record. The building WIS
formerly known as the Masonic Temple,
having been built by the Grand Lodge OF
Freemasons OF Pennsylvania and occupied
by the Masons for lodge purposes from
1855 ia 1873. subsequently the building
vas used for various theatrical and mercan.
tile enterprises. Mr.. Singtrly transformed
the building into the Temple Theatre, and
IS such II has been known since the OPEN
ing night-September IA, 1885. The Theatre
was entirely remodelled, the Improvements
costing Mr.. Singerly about 100000. Mr..
Singerly said to-day. while the fire was IN
urogress, that he had endeavored TO make
the Theatre the handsomest in the country
aud he was OF the opinion that he had sur-
ceeded In dong so. A portion OF the build.
ing was used as museum under the title
OF the Egyptian Musee, and 1t was in the
basement section OF this department
that the fire was first discovered.
lis origin Is believed TO have been the acct
dental LIMITING Of some drapery from gas
Jet. The entire building was soon filled with
a dense smoke, which seriously impeded
the work OF the firemen. Two scrub
women and three male attaches OF the mu-
scum were on the upper floors and were
I'll rescued uninjured by the iiremen. who
lowered them on ladders from fourth
story window. The flames ran quickly
from the basement through an elevator
shaft 10 the upper stories, and the entire
building was soon enveloped. The lire
burned steadily, and the constant falling
OF burning timbers prevented the hremen
from reaching the centre OF the structure.
A general alarm was sent out ana almost
every tlre-applratu> and fireman IN Tue
city were put 10 work 10 prevent the nre
from spreading to surrounding valia-
bic property. The Washington Hotel adj
Joins the Theatre on the east. ana When IL
was found that the flames were gaining on
the iiremen the guests began The work Oh re-
moving their effects and the proprietor MS
fUrnluTe. After the fire had been burn
Irg about three hours the roof OF the
Theatre fell in and carried a portion OF
wall with II. Several tiremeD, who were
handling a line Of hose just Inside oil the
main entrance. were buried under the
heavy mass Of stone and timber, aud Two
a their number-John johnson and John
Gibson-weFe instantly killed. Their boz
dies were not recovered up To late hour
Hugh Colcan was dug out alive, but slis'
tanned severe injuries.
The fire at p. VI. /, still confined 10 the
theatre building, hut Is now thoughi to Dc
under control. The loss, including thH OF
various mercantile firms by smoke ana
water, will aggregate nea ly hlli mIlioIl
dolIoiS.
The ilrc was gotten under control al
about s o'clock tonight, the flames having
been kept within the walls Of the Theatre
building. The building and it, contents,
however. are completely destroyed. Por'
hons Of the front and back walls are stand
ing, but will have to I've torn down when
new building i erected. Mr.. Singcrly
laid for the ground oni building S22j,-
lr0 and expended $4,000 on remodel
i've tie structure and $4,000 Tor
lures. etc., in the mu>Ge. On these loS>e'
there are assurances amounting to Sl2'.'
COO. Mr.. Singerly claims. however, that
there has been decided increase IN the
value Of ground since he purchased lul
property, and that his net los. after de-
drciing the insurance, Will be les, than
1l00. 900. George c. Brotherton. lessee OF
the Theatre, will lose about $4,000 on
scenery, Suggesting, etc. on which There
/. an insurance of $500. The loss on the
Wa, hington Hotel, owned by John Tracy,
$500; fully insured. The saic,room o.
the Niles ToOl-W Works, Of Tiltin, o., WE
located on the first floor of tie theatre
building. Their los, is estimated at 800
coo; Insurance, $4,000. Fairbanks a
Co.. scales. IN the same building, lose $50,
600; partly insured. Wyckol, seamon, u
benedict, agents for Remington type
Writcrs. whose Office WIS in the room
occupied by Fairbanks, lose from
$1,000 10 5000: insured for $1,000.
n. II. Eaton. stationery, Chestnut street
.dioining the Theatre, loses from $1,000
to $1,000; nearly covered by Insurance
Hubbard Brother, publishers, place their
los at $4,000; Insurance, $4,000.
No effort will be made tonight TO reach
tie two unfortunate tircmeu, their bodies
being buried under twenty feet Of brick
and stone.