New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-27
IT.. r: G. sands against o. EngIestronc G. W. Lee
| against c. Byrnes.
MVICKERS THEATRE BURNED.
SCENERY OF THE SHENANDOAH COMPANY
LOST.
THE FIRE THOUGHT TO BE THE WORK OF IN


| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AND INSURANCE
Chicago, Aug. 26.-McvicIer's Theatre is in ruins.
Everything in the auditorium that last night presented
Q Of brightness and color is to-day nothing but
| Of black debris. Flames burst from the base
ment beneath the theatre shortly after O'Clock this
| morning. They had evidently spread throughout the
| entire basement, for sooner had the frcmen at
tempted to extngush the fire the east side Of the
building than flames to issue from the rear
and the interior Of the theatre simultaneously burst into
blaze Almost before the nremen realized that the
fire had reached the top Of the structure. volume Of
fame issued from the roof with and immedi-
atey aftcrward the roof fell In with crash. num-
Der Of frcmen who were In the auditorium ran for
their lives. One Of them caught and probably
fatally hurt but rescued by his companions Three
| other men were less severely hurt.
The damage 10 the theatre and its contents which
also consisted Of the scenery belonging 70 the Shenan
doa' company Is estimated at 100000. The loss Is
covered with an Insurance Of only 100000. just
how the fire started is shrouded lii mystery. There
are suspicious Of inccndarism. The theatre will BE-
rebuilt at once and quickly possible.
Manager I!ayman, Of the " Shenandoah" Company.
has duplicate Of scenery costumes and properties
in New-York. and he has tclegraphcd to have them
sent here quickly possible. In the meantime
costumes and properties being hurredly got to-
gcthcr, and the company played the piece tonight at
the Auditorium Its future engagements will not be
The Waterman says AT . O'Clock discovered fire in
pile Of greasy rags beneath the stage. IL took inc
about ten minutes TO extingulsh the flames then
walked up to the sixth story Of the front Office part
of the building Returning discovered another fire in
the front basement Just beneath the auditorium This
fought for some time. As was abont to turn in
an alarm heard the department arriving
Il am disposed to believe the watchnans story"
said Manager Sharpe The fire evidently OF
ncendary origin. We had gas fire in the
theatre
DO you suspect any one Of mallclously setting fire
to the theatre ~ Mr. Sharpe was asked.
"Yes and | cannot state my conclusions Just
have telcgraphed 10 J. II. McVickcr, who Is In
saratoga. Until he replies 1 must hold my own coun-
seL'
The Insurance on the building and contents ag
crcga.cs ss7 600 Of which 10000 Is the front or
oihce portion of the building, where The damage Is
comparatively little. that part Of the structure Is
separated from the auditorium rear part by heavy
fire wall. The risks are placed with The following
companies Mercantile Cleveland q 900; Peoples
Il 900 security sl5oO: Boylston 81 800; state Of
Pennsylvania 81 500 Fremen's. 81 800 Merchants.
Y rrsnea @Gd PgslS %esi c&es
5000 SPRINGFIELD g 500 Phoenix - : 800 AmerS2n
500 city Of London. = 500 Nep d 800
oo 800 keiance TaT F'r Hss9
Commercial Union, $500: Trader, rlo00; Cl'i-
zcn, Pivsburs. $1,000 MECHANICS and trader trader
II 800 Frcmen's. Boston. ~ 800; Elliott, 81 300
Connecticut al 800: Hartford, 1880: =. Paul.
81 800 National. Hartford, e. 900 German Amcrcli
Ncw.Yorl 81 500 American Fire. Nowiork, S3'oOo'
North British. $500
The statement that shenandoah which was
burned out I'm the NcVlckers Theatre fire Tuesday
morning was PLAYED Tuesday night at the AuditoTuW
means moro than IS facs reveals u not ONLY asserts
Tie cntcrpri-c and zeal OF the Shenandoah manage
ucnt but shows what determination and effort can
accomplish. When Al Ii,yman. who !, In chicago
learned OF the destruction Of the theatre he ,inni"
diately teleCaphed TO Charles Frohman here. saying
that immediate steps would bc taken 10 obtain
theatre for that nights performancc-thc 1oOth IN
Chicago.
There was "a sale OF ~ 500 in tickets, and 1t was a
matter ~ pride with the management 10 give the
ioOh performance Mr.. II1yman could mud nothing
but ,hc Auditorium Theatre into which he could gain
er.ranc. That was in The hands Of painters and
plastcr-rs with the new decorations unfinished, The
staec drapercs down and packed away and the whole
place q perfect fore. Of rough scanohilnF. Not only
his but the who wcrr vested WIN ahtNo1t ~
,vc a.. nee ~ the theatre were away rom hlcHG0
Mr. Peck president Of the Auditorium A''",ihuon,
wa. ~ Hloci Island and Nllward Adams. manager oi
tho Auditorium wa, I'm New i0ik Mr.. Fetks con
semi WAS oi tanned BY p NJ. Mr. Adams Few MN.
utc. after D. NJ. An immense lortc ~ men wa GIN
plo,ed ~ clear the honSc. and al the usual hour The
performance was given.