Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-29
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
union SQUARE ON FIRE.
The Theater Burned To The
Ground.
ROBSON AND CRANE LOSERS,
The Morton House Also
Much Damaged.
STAIN GOES on THE STAND.
Few Trains Run On The
Burlington.
FIRE IN UNION SQUARE.

The Theater Destroyed ana the Nor
ton House Much Damased-Seven
FIremeR Buried Under Falling Walls
Mach Excitement During the
Blaze.
New YORK, Feb. 29.-The Union Square
Theater on Fourteenth street near Broadway
was burned this afternoon and the Morton
House adjoining was considerably damaged
The total loss will be about 1926, 900. Seven
iremen were badly hurt by the falling of a
staircase during the fire, but all will proba-
bly, recover. The fire was first discovered in
the top floor of the hotel and the stampede
of flock of panic stricken chamberlnaids
was the first intimation people down stairs
had of the trouble. About the same time
company rehearsing new play in the thea
ter spied dense volume of smoke in the up
per gallery and quickly made their way to
the street. By this time three alarms had
been struck and the fire engines were
soon on hand The streams of water poured
on and into the theater seemed to have little
effect and soon the stage and all its belong
ings were blazing. EAssistant Foreman Eakin
of engine company No. IS and six COM
panions pushed their way into the theater and
up the stairs to the second gallery when there
was great crash and the men were over
to the rescue and all of the seven were taken
out, some with broken limbs and painful
burns, and all blackened by the smoke. Am
balances were summoned and the injured
men were carried to the hospital. They are:
Assistant Foreman Eakin, burned about the head
and face.
Thomas Teddy, engine Il, burned about the hands
and face, right arm broken.
Fireman ConnorS. engine 10, burned about the
hands and face, leg broken.
Frank McGranes: engine ID, burned and injured
nj IniI Jrn1
Fireman Frenzie, engine 49, badly burned, right
ankle broken.
Fireman Cavanagh engine IL burned and
bruised
bruised
On the way to the hospital one of the am
balances containing two of the men turned
a corner too quickly and was upset, throw
ing the men on the pavement but not injur-
ing them seriously. A great crowd gathered
in Union Square to watch the fire. Many
actors were present and Messrs. Robson and
Crane, the comedians, We'd with each other in
saving wardrobes. A part of the
scenery of the Henrietta" company
was destroyed, as was that of Sidney
Rosenfelds "Celebrated Case,'' which was
to have been put on the boards next week.
The costumes and other properties of the
Henrietta are destroyed. Mr.. J. NJ Hill, the
manager of tie theater. had spent much
money in remodeling it and places his loss
at $125, 900. Members of the Henrietta COM
pany lose about $1,000 on their costumes.
The damage to the hotel proper is
estimated at $4,000, fully insured.
The decorations and tapestry in
the Star Theater just back of
the hotel were injured by smoke which filed
the building, but fire proof walls saved the
structure.
The damage by fire to the hotel building is
confined principally to the two upper floors
and the furniture, etc, on the lower floors
was damaged by water. The servants lost all
their clothing. The fire was finally gotten
under control at O'Clock, though for
hours afterward the engines continued to
pump water into the ruins. The stage and
auditorium of the theater were covered with
rubbish and the interior of the house was
sea of water. The galleries and ceiling were
destroyed. That portion of the entrance occu-
pied as servants quarters was Quilted by fire.
The theater was built in 1871 on the site of
the old Union Palace Hotel. 1t was opened
on September II, 1871, by Robert w. Butler
as variety theater. A. M. Palmer succeeded
Butler, who gave way in turn to Shook &
Collier and then came J. NJ Hill