The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-29
TWO THEATERS In FLAMES
THE UNION SQUARE DESTROYED
AND THE STAR DAMAGED.
The Fire originates in the Morton House
and the Henrietta Company Narrowly
Escapes Cremation severai Firemen
Injured. nA1

New York, Feb. 28.-Shortly after l
o'clock thus afternoon, fire was discovered
in the Morton house, corner Fourteenth
and Broadway streets. Three alarms have
been sent In and the reserve from three
police precincts have been called out.
The Union Square theater, with all its
contents, was destroyed. The Morton
house, adjoining ON two sides, was badly
damaged, and the Star theater was in i'm
minent danger for some time. About 2
o'clock q chambermaid in the rear OF
the top floor of the Morton house saw
smoke coming through the crevices in the
doors Of the main hallway. She was too
frantic with fear for fully five minutes to
give an alarm, and by that time smoke
was 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 a few OF
them were bruised by the trunks that
were thrown down by frightened guests.
The work OF the firemen was much him
dered by a scarcity OF water, and before a
good stream could be gotten on the fire all
possibility OF saving the theater was past.
The firemen then cleared the Morton
house OF guests and attaches and devoted
their efforts to saving the hotel. When
the burning OF the theater became known
throughout the city the excitement was
great, and IL 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 blazed like
| shavings, and II was not long before the
thin sheetiron partition between that por.
ton OF the hotel and the theater was
melted and the mass Of living Goals
dropped into the stage Of the theater. The
scenery and curtains flashed up, and
where the members Of the Henrietta
company few minutes before finished
their morning rehearsal was roaring FUR
mace.
In trice, apparently, the roof fell in
and the flames shot upward. The fire
became 40 hot that the frcmen were
forced so far from the building that their
efforts were almost useless. The start
heater was in constant danger but the
Il
Manager j. M. 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 little less thar
a third OF million dollars. Over
twenty ambulance calls had beer
sent out prior TO o'clock.
When the fire was raging most iercely
4 ila sInat.x lall Ia. xuhtla nnu,har nf fr..
men were doing service by fighting the fir,
from the interior OF the building. Tho
spectators were Mortified by hearing loud
screams OF agony and in moment or two
a number Of iiremen rushed from the
building, carrying a number OF their com
rades. They were Fireman French, As
sistant Foreman Eakins, Fireman Roam
Tony Lcdd, Frank M'Quade and Franl
O'Conner. They were all badly burned
and injured by falling timbers, though no
fatally, /, is thought aud were taken 10 thu
New York hospital.
The decorations in the Star thcater wer,
injured by smoke, which filed the build
ing, but the fire was kept out Of II. Thu
rooms below the two upper stories OF lin
Morton house wer tenable late In thu
day. The damage by fire 10 the ho,e
building Il confined principally TO tho up
per noon and the furniture, etc, ON thu
lower floors was damaged by water. Tn
servants lost all their clothing. The loss Of
the theater is heavy, as about six month
ago IL was remodcled and redecoralcd
Tho costumes and all properties Of IN,
Henrietta" were destroyed. Mr.. Hi
places his loss ut si25, 900. The member
Of the company lose about 5000 ON thei
costumes. The theatcr will probably b
rebuilt. The loss on the Morton hous
will probably amount 10 $4,000, and Of
the property $4,000 more. Both build
ings were old and free from fireproof.