The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-08-30
BIG THEATER In ASHES.
Mcficker's Chicago Play House De
stroyed by Flames

Mcticker's Chicago Play House De-
stroyed by Flames.
CHICAGO, H., Aug. 26-Fire was dis
covered in McNicker's Theater, on
Madison Street, between State and
Dearborn, at $50 this morning. As far
as can be learned it originated in the
small smoking room under and to the
west of the stage. The dry and infam-
Ilable material of the room furnished
material for the base, and in moment
4 fierce flame burst ont through side
window in the alley. As soon as the
firemcn arrived on the scene thev di-
fccted the stream of water through the
window from which the flames wer,
coming. The smoke filed the entire
building, and ii is feared badly dam
aged the valuable scenery of the Shen-
andoah Company, now performing in
the building.
lhe Ire made unexpected headway
IN the interior of the building, and in
thirty minutes after it's discovery made
ITS way from the iasemc nt Ia the roof.
me flames apparently cIveloped the
whole hailding, and at a few minutes
before 1 O'Clock were leaping from
all the windows on the west and east
sldc Of the theater.
When II was seen what rapid head
way the flames were making addition
a. help was summoned. and every effort
was directed to saving the front portion
1i the building, where a number of
ethecs are located Nearly every occu
2anf Of the building is Il heavy loser
a. nough none of them carried heavy
stocks
The flames burst from the rear of the
building with such fury that they ex-
tended across the alley and threatened
the destruction Of the Windsor Furo-
pean Hotel. Many Of the e1lests nf the
fotei We're awakened amt a nsnic re-
suited. People hastily grabbed their
clothing and made their way to the
street. There was no occasion for the
Sl9nt, t'oWever, IS The firemen guarded
ne motel so well that the flames had no
i'sfce of communicating with that
.n'!aing. Panic also seized the guests
nt the Saratoga Hotel and Bennett
House, but the flames did not reach
el.her Of these places,
Y hen the fire burned through the
flooring the drapcries on the lower
BOXES Ignited, and from the parquet TO
- i'@Si tiIt iIdIltS StEt fdDltlE
Fied. From the lower boxes to the uD-
per ones the flames leaped. and from
there to the gallery. The oily scenery
ana doTttlratlons, that were made of in
finmahle material, burned so fierceIv
.hat nothing could check il.
even men belonging to the fire in
,nrance patrol No. were in the audi
iorlHm at work when the roof fell in
shortly after I O'clock They all es-
capped by a miracle. Not So fortunate
We're the men who were fighting the
Ire IN the rear of the building When
the rear wall fell all the men Of No.
were buried in the ruins. The firemen
We're more or less hurt and Fireman
JACK Duffy had his skull fractured and
Hll!nrobablv die.
Just how the fire started is shroudcd
IN mystery. There are suspicious of in
,endlarism. The theater will he rebuilt
At once, and as quickly as possible.
Manager Al. iiayman, of the she
nandoah' Company, has a duplicate set
oi scenery, costumes and properties in
New York and ne has tclegraphed To
have them sent here as quickly as pos
~lbie. In the meantime costumes and
pro- critics are being hurrledly got to-
-et Z, and the company will play the
plere tonight ut the Auditorium, and
"iil ilnlsh It's engage mcnt At that house
f's future engagements will not be in
tcrtered with
The total loss to the thcater building
aud its occupants is estimated at over
100000. Horace McNicker. the pro-
grletor, SAYS his own loss will reach over
.ino,ooo. Several stores on State Street
caught fire, but the flames were soon
cNtinguished, and the damage will be
nominal.
The walls remain standing, but the
interior is gutted. The firemen were
successful in keeping the flames from
the front of the building, and the Of
Tees there were not damaged at all bv
ire
The watchman says: "At2 o'clock
discovered fire III a pile of greasy rags
beneath the stage. 1t took me about
ten minutes to cXtingush the flames.
! then walked up 10 the sixth story of
the front or office part Of the building.
Returning | discovered another fire in
the front basement jtst beneath the
auditorium This | fought for some
;inie. As | was about IL turn in the
alarm | heard the department arriv
lng."
am disposed to believe the watch
mans story, said Manager Sharpe.
origin We had no gas or fire in the
thcater
% YOU suspect any one of mali
cIous!v setting ire to the theater >" Mr..
sharpe was asked
les and no. Icannot state nv con
.lHslons Just now. | have wired J. Ii.