The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-29
THE FIRE RECORD.
Burning OF the Uuion-Squars Theatcr-A
Number OF Firemen Ipiured.

Burning OF the luton Square Theator-A
Number or Firemen Injured.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2a-The Union-square The
alter. with all its contents, was destroyed by fire
this afternoon The Morton House. adjoining
on two sides. was badly damaged and the Star
Theater was in imminent danger for some
time. About o'clock . chambermaid in the
rear top floor in the Morton House saw smoke
coming through the crevices in the doors of the
main hallway. She was too frantic with fear
for fully Ave minutes to give
pouring into the hotel Her cries
brought about twenty chambermaids from their
rooms on the top floor and the guests from
theirs on the others. All rushed pell nell down
the stairs, and not few of them were bruised
by the trunks that were flung down at the same
time. The confusion for a time was great, ana
much valuable time was lost. The work OF the
firemen much hndered by scarcity of
water, and before good stream could be got
on the fire all possibility of saving the thcater
was past The fremen then cleared the Nor
ton House of guests and attaches and devoted
their efforts to saving the hotel. When the
burning of the theater became known through
ont the city, excitement was great. and 1t was
intensified every moment by special ambulance
calls being sent out.
The flames started in the rear rooms of the
top floor of the theater. and were famed by
brisk southeast wind. The dry woodwork of
the building blszed like shavines, and it was
tween that portion OF the hotel and the theater
was melted, and q mass of living Goals dropped
into the stage of the theater. The scenery and
curtains flashed up, and where the members or
the Henrietta company. a few min utes before.
finished their morning rehearsal, was roaring
furnace. In trlce, apparently the ROOF Tell In
and the flames shot upward. The fire became
SO hot that the firemen were forced so far from
the building that their efforts were almost use
less The Star Theater was IL constant danger,
but the firemen finally saved it,
Manager j. Nj. Hill. of the Union-sQuare, was
in his office in the building, and with him was
Treasurer Hall, of the Casino. They ESCAPED
with difficulty. The damage will amount to lit
tie less than a third of million dollars. Over
twenty ambulance calls had been sent out prior
to o'clock.
When the fire was raging most iercely, the
roof of the theater fell in while number of
-dremen were doing service by fighting the fire
from the interior of the building. The specta-
tors were Mortified by hearing heartrending
screams of agony, and in a moment or two
number of firemen rushed from the building
carrying a number Of their comrades. They
fireman Frenezie assistant foreman
Eakins. fremen Roam, Toni Ledd, Frank Nc
Quade and Frank O'Connor They were all
badly burned and injured by falling timbers.
though not fatally 1t is thought, and were taken
to the New York Hospital.
The decorations and tapestry in the Star
Theater were injured by smoke. which filed tho
building, but the fire was kept out of it. The
rooms below the two upper stories of the
Morton House were tenable late in the day.
The damage by fire to the hotel building is
fined 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 loss on the theater is heavy, about six
months ago it remodeled and re-decorated.
The costumes and all properties of the Hen
rietta Company were destroyed Mr.. Hill
places his loss at $125. 000 The members of the
company lose about So 900 their costumes.
The theater will probably be rebuilt The loss
on the Morton House will probably amount to
$4,000 and on the property $40. 900 more. Both
buildings were old and far from fire proof
-
Other Fires
MoRRIsTowN, Ind, Feb PA dwelling
house, half a mile west of town, owned by Mrs.
William Beckner, and occupied by her son,
destroyed by fire this morning, together with
brary. The loss is not definitely known; insur
ance. $3.50 in the Indiana. The FIRE was caused
from defective fiue
LITTLE Rock, Feb. 28-Between 1890 and Ii
o'clock tonight fire discovered in the build
ing owned and occupied by Wills Bros, the
west. The loss will reach $50, 000 The build
ing insured for $l2, 900 and the stock
also amply insured, all in foreign agencies.
DOVER, N. H.. Feb. 28-Fire broke out in
Sanborn's Block, at Great Falls, this morning,
resulting in the complete destruction of the
Bates, Sanborn. Fitzpatrick and Marston build
ings The loss is about 500, 000 Two fremen
were seriously injured by falling walls.
NEW YORK, Feb 28.-A very serious fire oc-
cured this evening at the photographic establish
ment of Donaldson Bros. Loss. 100000 While
it was in progress another fire occurred in Full
ton street. Reynolds & Co. were the chief sui
ferers. Loss, $74, 600.
at COL Hennepin avenue. owned by W. H. Eustis
and used asi the Union League clubhouse,
burned at 230 this morning Loss $23, 300 in
susance. $12 400.