Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-28
FIRE STALKS THE STAGE
PHlLADELTHIA'S TEMPLE THE.
ATRE IN RUINS.

Two Firemen Instantly Killed and q
Third Badly Injured by Falling Walls
--Considerabie Damage to Adjoining
PrOperty-The burned Building Ones
the Masonic remple-Tho Loss Fuliy
100000.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27.--Fire broka
out in the basement OF the Temple Thea
tire, on Chestnut street, between Seventh
and Eighth, about IL O'Clock this MORN
ing, ani was not gotten under control un-
til the handsome structure was a COM
plete wreck, two fremen had been killed.
one fireman severely injured and great
damage done adjoining property by
smoke and water. The theatre was owuet
by William N. sngerly, proprietor of
the Philadelphia Record. The building
was formerly known as Masonic Temple.
having been built by the Grand Lodge OF
Free Masons OF Pennsylvania and occu-
pied by the Masons for lodge purposes
from 1855 TO 1873. Subsequently the
building was used for various theatricsf
and mercantile enterprises. Mr.. SingeilT
transformed the building into the Tempiss
Theatre, and as sucn il has been knownI
since the opening night. September i4J
1886.
A HANDSOME INTERIOR,
The theatre was entirely remode.-
ed, the improvements costlnS
Mr.. sinperly about 1925, 600. Mr.
Sineerly said to-day, while the hre was I'M
progress, that he had endeavored TO make
tue theatre the handsomest in the country.
and he was OF the opinion that he bad
succeeded In doing go. A portion Of the
building was u. ed as a museum under the
la Af hA Mua , a IL =.
in the basement section OF this depari-
ment where the fire was first discovered.
Its origin IL believed to have been thes
accidental igniting OF shme drapery lrOnk
a gas jet, The entire building was sOoI
filed with dense smoke, which seriously
impeded the work OF the hremen. Twd
scrub women and three male attaches OF
tue museum were IN the upper floors and
Swere all rescued unlnjured by the fire.
men, who lowered them on ladders from
fourth story window. The flames ran
quickly from the basement through an
elevator shaft to the upper stories and sha
entire building was soon eny eloped.
STUBBORN FLAMES.
The fire burned stubbornly and tho
constant falling OF burning tlmbers pre-
vented the fremen from reaching the
centre OF the structure. A general alarm
was sent out and almost every fire app
were put at work to prevent the tir0
reaching surrounding valuable property.
TIE Washing ton Hotel adtoins the tbea-l
tre on the eaat, and when 1t was found
that the flames were gaining on the fire.
men the guests began tho work of nov
ing their effects and the proprietor his
furniture. After the lire had been burn
ing about three hours the roof OF the tnea-
tire fell in and carried portion of ths
wall with it.
TWO FIRRMEN KILLED.
Several firemen who were handling q
line or hose just inside the main entrancd
were buried under the heavy mass Of
stoue and timber, and two OF their num-
ber, John johnson and John Gibson. werel
instantly killed.
Hugh Colgan was dug out alive. butt
sustained sevefe injuries.
The fire was gottsa under control about
8 o'clock tonight, the flames having BEEN
kept within the walls OF the theatre build
Ing. The building and ontents ,ho weyer.
are completely destroyed. Portions OF the
front and back walls are standing, but
will have TO be torn down when a new
building is erected. Mr.. Singerly paid
for the ground ana building 1926, 600, and
expended $4,000 on remodeling the
structure snd $50, 900 for the figures, etc..
10 the musee. On these losses there ara
Singerly claims, however, that there has
been decided Increase in the value Of
the ground siuce he purchased the props
erty and that his net loss, alter deuuetlng
the insurance, will be less than 100000.
THE LEssEE's LOSS.
George G. Brotherton, the lessee of tho
theatre, will lose about $4,000 on scenery
stage settings, etc., on whicn there Is am
insurance Of $3.50.
The loss on the Washington Hotel.
which is owned by John Tracy, is $500.
Ii IL fully covered by insurance.
The saiesroom Of the Niles tool works.
of Tifiin, o., was located on the first floor
Of the theatre building. Their loss ID
estimated at $4,000, with insurance Of
1900.
Fairbanks q Co. had a scale saIesroom
In the same building. They lose $4,000.
and are partly insured.
Wyckon, Seamane h Benedict, agents
for the Remington typewriters, whose
office was in the room occupied by Fair
banks, lose from $4,000 to 50, 900, and are
insured for $4,000.
IA. Al. Eaton, a dealer in stationery, ON
Chestnut street. adjoining the theatre,
loses $4,000 TO $4,000, which 10 nearly
covered by insurance.
Hubbard Bros, publishers, place their
loss at 5000 and their insurance at ST.!
900.
No effort will be made to-nip ht to reach
the two unfortunate firemen, their b0diesl
being buried under twenty feet Of briclx
and stone.