The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-21
I'm A BURNING THEATRE.
OTTO LABEs AND OTTO GANTzBERG.
LOSE THEIR LIYEG

I1e A0yters = hen ~ -
Founa Ia.enssbie and Burning to Death
Ia Hanway-Gssa work sy the Tirenes.
Two alarms, followed by q general alarm,
rung on tho big IRE bell in Hoboken at 4
O'Clock yesterday morning awoke. the volunteer
fire laddiss, and . bright glare In the sky near
the river guided them to dantzberg's Theatre
Comious, In Washington street, near First
street. The interior Of the old frame building,
which has q tuo-story front. numbering from
81 to 81 Washington street, was a roaring
furnace, with smoke pouring In black clouds
from every window before the flremen got
their first stream on It. Five minutes before
fifteen persons were sleeping in the fourteen
rooms on the second floor. which runs back
twenty-five feet from the front OF the house
to where the gallery Of the theatre begins.
Shouts In the street, and the cries Of
Caroline Trip. ono Of . party OF
seven Tyrolean singers. who occupied rooms
In the building aroused the rest. and snatching
whatever clothing was within reach, they rushed
for the stairs. Some succeeded In getting into
the street In that way. while others. driven
back BY the smoke sought windows. from which
they jumped or from which they were rescued
by the flremen, who arrived Just at the critical
moment and with the police did som good
work. The Tyrolean performers were taken to
Bodies Hotel near by. Mrs. Gantzberg. who
has pneumonia, reached the street aided by
her husband AID his brother Robert. but Otto
Labes, Mr.. GantzberR's brother-in-law the
leader OF the orchestra, lost his life In an effort
to save that Of his nephew. Gantzberg's little
son Otto. Labes. in trying to roach the boy.
who was missed by his father after the others
had left the burning building, was overcome by
smoke and he fell downs flight OF stairs into o
pile Of broken glass. His left cheek was cut
open. and the left side Of his nose was cut of;
but his principal injury was conclusion Of
the brain, which. with partial asphyxia-
ton. caused his death. He walked
more than q block. supported by two
policemen, to the police station In tho City
Hall. and there died In about twenty minutes.
notwtthstanding treatment administered BY
Otto GantEberg. overcome by the smoke, fell In
Q hallway. and the flames were burning his
. sna f fRs sSay' G Eaie pS foSsd hlm nfs and s sspaisd
him down to an ambulance. which took him to
st. Mary's Hospital These men also saved q
was taken away. and while suffering great
pain. Otto Gantzberg said to a person who was
Yes, Il everybody knew his future it would
, He was taken, 10 St. Mary's Hospital. whore
Chief Gus Willig. Foreman Jake Cooper, and
Assistant Foreman Al Almond ONO. 1 Truck d.
eonsidsrins the sri p It had before they reached
# and the poor apparatus. at their command,
the entire department having only,two engines,
carts. The department numbers about 100
mon, and it is safe to say nearly every man was
beayers to to save the ,sddjoinoiins: buildines' oc sae
Pee by antie ED q t pork,paGking house. 2
t tnrss,sasrf frame srnek b SaiIIdtailas'N an5 81 h IL whi h,su Mss
kept a lot Of gunpowdsr, cartridges. and fishing
The fire at one time. threatened to destroy
Cronheim's theatre, the rear Of which was sep
arated from the rear OF Gantzbsrg's theatre by
2 naTrP Sgd alley ! The tenants in 30 washington
chop by A. Peterson. the SECOND by Schuyler
third BY Mrs. CHASER and her daughter. Mr..
Pierce and his wife. and Philip HeinriGhs: Tho
ia' Ms se Gia asrsS rooms 81 h. .e sr s%Hssl her = a and as:
their nieht clothes lust as II. flames took pos
A girl named Mary. employed as domestic
b Mr. Gsntzbere. who brought her from
P pssiin ' hsr i trunk t'% Wits Rs the f%,si hoas a" Wss Su nainiy
tlea # tS up; s8 e o aSss1 TRsn It cl t0 TN n eat ssr win;
bly, Roundsman flaming and Fireman Peter
Schneider. and then, jumped to the sidewalk.
she opened hcr trunk. and distributed hers to
r., sh ttyneer companions; ,r q o,,,,,,, ,,,. :.
nni ase Su for ho ,1Tsi' w Gai ~ fho1 9ss!1ds' Of ap p.r +.
watched che ruins, in the pouring rain: |
Tho six TyroleRn musicians lost nearly all OF
their costumes and instruments. They came
from Stettln, Germany. whore they sang in the
Bellevue Theatre about three weeks ago.
Stage Manager Grandjean says that an Eng
Miss Alphonse, had u narrow es-
cape. He says they will ask the Odd Follows
for their hall. in which to give O concert to
raise funds for the sufiereys. Manager Cron-
helm has offered them half the gross receipts
Of a benefit performance to be given at his
Nj. Gantzbers's loss is estimated by him at
s25. 900, on which he has only 5000 insurance.
Some valuable diamonds and other jewslry.
with important papers, he fears are destroyed.
They are in q small safe. buried In the ruins.
Hutlers loss is estimated At $4,000, insured;
Mr.. Cronheim's at 5000. and the damage to
SO Is about 5000. not insured. Mr.. GRntz-
berg had Q .ten:year lease Of the theatre from
the estate Of John Shotwell. It was thirty-tlve
years old. 1t had been run at first as a variety
house by . man named Clark and later by
Wareing.
Mr.. Labss had q farm at Hawleyville, Pa,
whore his wife and three children live.
Friends Of Mr.. qantzberg told q reporter yes
tsrday that he has many enemies, many Of
them Socialists and Anarchists;
They would just as leave burn him up RS
not" said one, and / believe they set fire to
the place this morning. for there was not q
stove or a lamp alight In the house at 2 o'clock.
whsn Gantzberg went to bod"