Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06


Ninth street Opera-hOuSe, managed by Mr.. j. K
| Strasburger. Howard University Law school alsC
occupied nan on the second floor The building
performance here of the ''Slver King company was
gwen at the opera house Saturday night. The CON-
pany brought with 1t a large amount OF baggage
and scenery, and men were employed after the per.
formance until late at night moving out the be
longlngs OF the company: One theory OF the origin
OF the fire is that one OF the men at work dropped
match or spark in the vicinity OF the stage
where much infiammable material was stored.
| HOW THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED.
Mr.. spencer, whose sleeping apartment was on
| the second floor, was Weakened about quarter past
| two O'Clock, by what seemed to be sharp explo-
sion Upon opening his door he smelled smoke
and realized that the building was afre. He at
once aroused his family and gave the alarm. A
hre alarm was turned In from the box at the cor
ner OF 9TH and streets, and soon afterwards
when the extent OF the fire was known, a general
alarm was turned In. At the time Mr.. Spencer
was aroused 1t was difficult to locate the fire. The
fire seemed to be confined to the dressing room OF
the theater, over the 9th street entrance. When
the nre engines reached the building there was
little fre TO be seen, but the flames spread rapidly
through the stage portion OF the theater, filled
| with scenery and fnfammabe material, and soon
Threatened every portion OF the building with de-
structiOn.
mounted to the roof, and got beyond the reach of
the streams Of water which the firemen were pour
ing into the building. The flames and volumes of
smoke bursting through the upper windows made
y,
Pieces or burning timber and showers OF sparks
were carried by the wind long distance from the
building I and threatened the neighboring houses.
The firemen worked steadily until after daylight
before the fire was finally under control. Their
task was severe one, as the night was freezing
cold.
ESCAPING FROM THE BUILDING.
SO rapidly did the fire extend through the build
ing after Mr. Spencer made his first discovery that
Mr.. Spencer and his family barely had time to
escape from the building. His family consists Of
his wife, Mrs Sara A Spencer, his son, Leonard G..
eight years old. Mrs. Spencer, with colored boy
employed as servant first attempted to leave the
building by the ID street entrance, but found it
locked, and she was not strong enough to move
the bolts. Then she ran back again up stairs
through the smoke and heat, which almost
scorched her, trayerSed the whole length OF the
building and escaped by the main entrance on
Ninth street. Mr.. Spencer carried his younger son
out OF the building In his arms. Mrs. Leonard
was helped from the building by f1remen. In the
adjoining building on Ninth street, occupied by
MI. A. M. Tubman, the danger appeared for a
time as great as In the Lincoln hall building. The
members Of Mr.. Tubman's family were aroused
and made hasty exit from the house. Mrs. r.
e Locke, an aged lady, Mrs. Tubnan's mother,
While attempting to escape, fell down the stairs
and cut herself quite seriously. There were three
men belonging to the 'Sllver King" company
asleep in the opera house when the fire broke out,
and they escaped without injury. They were Thad.
StebbinS, the property man; C.. E. Beard, stage
carpenter, and Thomas Greer, his assistant.
THEORIES AS TO THE CAUSE.
One theory Of the origin Of the fire Is that 1t is
due to defect in the heating apparatus. The
man in charge Of the heating was discharged last
Friday for incompetency as it was alleged that
he had almost set the building aflre two or three
times. new man was then employed. Awatch-
man in the ne1ghbOrhOOd named jana said he
saw two men leave the 9th street entrance OF the
building about O'Clock, just before the fire was
discovered After going some distance he says
they started on run. The rear OF the adjoining
building on 9th street, occupied by MI. A. NJ. Tub
man, paper hanger, as store and residence was
considerably damaged by the fire. The rear Of the
adjoining building on ID street, occupied by Nor
risOn's paper warehouse, was also slightly dam
aged. These were the only damages OccaSiOned by
mated, the firemen having succeeded In combining
the flames to that structure After the fire was
out the half-frOZen f1remen and policemen were
RECALLED with hot coffee by Mr.. John L. VOgt.
THE DAMAGE.
Mr.. j. K. Strasburger the proprietor OF the
opera house, estimated his loss at $4,000 and has
about One-third that amount of insurance Mr..
Spencer, who is insured for 1000, lost all his
effects, and estimates his loss at $4,000. On the
BY A. s. Pratt Son, insurance agents whose loss,
estimated at about 900, is fully covered by in
surance The adjoining store, No. 4O3 was occu-
Is heavy. Store No. 4O5 was occupied by H. Adler,
dealer In notions whose stock. valued at So, 900
$4,000 10 4O7 was occupied by Lewis eB Barr 1T.
sewing machine agent. The loss sustained by the
singer Sewing Machine company and the But
is estimated at 5000; covered it is said by inslr
ance. The last OF the stores In the building on
the 9th street side, was occupied by Mr.. Samuel
Shedd, dealer in plumbers supplies whose loss
was 49, 900; insurance $1,000. The building was
valued at $4,000, and the insurance on It was
$4,000.
THE LINCOLN HALL BUILDING
which was very imposing structure of red sand
stone, was erected originally as a Headquarters
and meeting place for the Young Mems Christian
Association, and was completed In 1860 at cost
or about $4,000. A stock company or association
was formed 10 construct the building. In the
upper story cOmmOdiOuS and handsome hall was
made, which for years was the private lecture and
platform all the great lecturers OF the day faced
washington audiences and the most famous sing
ers and musicians have appeared there. The 7.
N. c. A. had their reading rooms and parlors on
the second floor, but in 1881 the association being
at that time involved financially was compeIIpd
10 give up the building: The second floor was
then taken by Mr.. and Mrs. Spencer. In 1884 the
late Mr.. HerZog leased the hall in the upper part
OF the building and converted it into the theater
Upon The death OF Mr.. HerZOg few months ago
the theater passed into the hands OF Mr. j. K.
Strasburger.
LOST ONE FOUND.
Joseph West, colOred servant OF Mrs Spencer
who could not be found by the police or reporters
all day yesterday and this morning, and who. it
was reared, had persisted in the flames, appeared
at Mrs. Speneers temporary quarters at the
Waverly hotel, on 9th street. this morning at 9
O'Clock. His story is that when he left Mrs Spen
Ger in the hallway OF the business college he hur
RED 10 the street entrance but finding that exit
barred by the heavy doors which We're locked from
the outside, he hastily retraced his steps, When
he had regained his former position he could not
find Mrs. Spencer who, meanwhile fearing for her
life and not daring TO remain in the burning build
ing, was endeavOring to escape by the 9th street
door the point where the flames and smoke were the
greatest. Mrs. Spencer becoming confused by the
binding and sitting smoke had lost her bearings
and cried for help. West heard her. and hurryiner
TO her assistance led her by the arm down the
burning steps and out into the street Mrs
spencer says she was not conscious that II was
West who was with her
AS soon as West had removed Mrs Spencer to a
place OF safety he hurried to friends house on
Sd street and remained there until this morning
when he mad sufliciently recovered from the fright
and hardships TO do duty and this is why he had
been given up for lost.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
The fremen continued at work during the
greater part OF the day yesterday They suffered
greatly from the cold, and many OF them while ON
duty were chilled. Others had severe cramps in
thelr legs from standing so long In the ice sush
Nearly all the nreinen ON duty were soaking Wet
and presented pitiable appearance with their
faces, coats, hats boots etc. covered with water
nom the pipes and snow, which In many case,
had frozen upon them. They did not Complain,
however, but carried on their work with great ac-
tiyity. e~' W.
The photographers were early on hand yesterday
anu secured instantaneous photographs OF the ice
covered building and the ;fremen engaged i'm mt
ting out the snoulderfng fires
IL was ruInored yesterday morning that two
bodies had been discovered nv no dr.sIuan Trpnp