The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-28
FIREMEN LOSE THEIR LIVES.
Complete Destruction of Mr.. w. NJ. Sing
erlv's Beautiful Temple Theater.
Three Firemen Caught Under Falling Wall
and Burned to Death-A Money Loss Ex-
ceeding Four Hundred Thousand Dollars

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27-The Temple Thea
ter on Chestnut street. between Seventh and
Eighth streets, owned by VIM. NJ. Sineerly, pro-
prietor of the Philadelphia Record, was totally
destroyed by fire to-day. The fire broke out at
10:45 this morning, and originated in one of the
apartments of the Chamber of Horrors, an at
tachment of the Egyptian Musee in the base
ment A gas-jet ignited curtain, and the
flames rapidly communicated to q wax-fgure
glsaps-were various infamiable substances in
the apartment and they caused the flames to
spread with lightning-like rapidity. The fire.
men were promptly on the ground, but their eff
forts were entirely unavailing, and it was soon
found impossible to save the building The fire
ate its way rapidly up to the auditorium of the
theater and thence to the stage, where it found
ample material to feed In the scenery and
light wood work At the time the fire broke out
there rehearsal of The Little Tycoon" the
prevailing attraction at tho theater, which has
had such long and prosperous run, was in
progress, and the actors, actresses and chorus
girls were obliged to make speedy exit in order
to escape with their lives. The scenery was
totally destroyed, though most of the costumes,
which were very valuable. were saved.
Henry J. Elliott the sculptor employed at the
theaier, who was up stairs. and two women,
May Donnelly and Maggie Durham, who were
cleaning on the upper floors, found their escape
by the stairs leading TO the first story cut off by
smoke and flames, and were rescued by fremen
who carried them down ladders in front Of the
burning building
A party wall which divided the theater from
the adjoining building, occupied by the Fair
banks Scale Company and the Remington Type
writer Company, No. 715 CHI estnut street, fell
in sEa buried four iremen beneath the debris.
Thsy we're William c. Gibson, Robert johnson,
= William Hart and Hugh Colgan. Colgan man
aged to get out and was taken to a hospital
badly injured. The other three men perished,
as the falling wall brought with it mass of
fire which beat back the fremen, and resisted
all attempts at rescue The unfortunate men
were held fast by the brick and josts aud
burned to death.
The serious damage is confined to the theater
building, the rear wall of which fell in and com
pieted the work of total destruction. The
Washington Hotel on the east, the North Amer
lean newspaper building, and the building of
the Evening STAR on Seventh street, above
Chestnut, were all on fire at different
times, but the flames were extinguished with
but little damage. The guests in the hotel
removed their baggage and effects, and
hurriedly left the building, the rear portion Of
: which is pretty badly damaged. The loss on the
theater, costumes and scenery included, will
foot up about 1925 000 and is Offset by the com.
paratively small insurance of 1927 000'
The Temple Theater was formerly the Ma
sonic Temple. 1t was first opened as a per-
EDAnent place of amusement in 1884 as q dime
museum. This venture failed, and then Magician
Kelar, under George G. Brothertons manage
went, gave a series OF successful performances.
Mr. Singerly then purchased the building for
B225 900, and spent about $lb0,000 in altering it
into handsome theater. To this sum about
900 was added for the musee attachment
and embellishments. The theater was opened
on Sept IA. 1885, with Sealed Instructions" ("
which was followed BY other attractions. and
''she Tycoon" wound up the season, and was
revived after a short and unsuccessful run of
: be "Mystic Isle" this season. Mr.. Singerly
Ates that he does not know whether he will re-
mild the theater or not. He owns the ground.
AID his total loss is about 100000. Manager
Bfotherton also loses heavily, and his insurance
Rbost So. 600, viii only cover a small fraction Of
Aia ioRa.