The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-27
MtrlcKgE's THEATRE. BURNED.
Several Flremen lpJured...Pnnic 10 Neigh.
boring Hotels.

| ..... DOfluk hOtshs
CHICAGO, August oG.-Fire was discov.
cred In McVicker's theatre on Madison
street, between State and Dearborn, at
$3.50 this morning. AS far as can be
learned, 1t originated 1T the small sinok.
ing room under and 10 tho west Of the
stage. Tho dry and inllammable material
OF the room furnished material for the
blaze aud ia moment fierce flame
burst out through side window In the
alley. The flames apparently enveloped
the whole building, and ut few minutes
before 4 o'clock were leaping from nil
the windows on the west and east side
OF the theatre. The flames burst from
the rear Of the building with such fury
that II extended across the alley. anu
threatened the destruction oil the Wind.
sor European hotel. Many Of the guests
Of the hotel were awakened md q
panic resulted. Panic also seized the
guests Of tho Saratoga hotel aud
Bennett house, but the flames did not
reach either Of these places. Seven men
belonging TO the fire insurance patrol
No. l were in the auditorium a. work
when the roof fell In shortly after 1
o'clock. They all escaped by miracle.
Not 30 fortunate were the men who were
lighting the fire In the rear OF the build.
ing. When the rear wall fell al the
men OF No. were buried in the ruins.
The hremen wero more or less hurt and
fireman Jack Duffy had his skull frac.
tured and will probably die. The total
loss to the theatre building and lis occa-
pants is estimated at over 100000.
The FIRE burned fercely about three
hours. The walls remain standing, but
the interior is eutted. The tremen
were successful in keeping the flames
FROM the front OF the building aud the
offices there were not damaged at all
by fire. The damage to the theatre and
It's contents, which also consisted OF the |
scenery belonging to the Shenandoah
is estimated ut 100000. The
loss is covered by an insurance Of only
100000. Just how the fire started is
in mystery. There are sus.
picions OF incendiarism.
The theatre will be rebuilt at once
and as quickly as possible. Manager
al aaymRh, OF the Shehana0ah com.
pany, has duplicate set OF scenery,
costumes and properties in New York,
and he has telegraphed to have them
sent here as quickly as possible. Ita
[utpre engagements will not be inter.
Tered with.
The watchman says: cat . o'clock l
discovered fire in pile Of greasy rags
beneath the ss8ge. IL took me abou. ten
minutes to exlinguish the flames. II
:hen walked up to the sixth story oil the
front or office part OF the building. Re.
:urning, l discovered another fire in the
ront basement just beneath the audi.
orium. This fought for some time. l
vas about to turn in the alarm when |
heard the department arriving" |,
II am disposed to believe the watch
mans story" said Manager Sharpe. The ,
ire was evidently OF incendiary origin.
We had no gas or fire in the theatre"
DO you suspect any one of setting !
ire to the theatre?" Mr.. Sharpe was
sked.
"ies and no. I cannot state my con-
lusions now. l have wired Mr.. J. FL.
lcEicker, who is in Saratoga. Ua,il he &
eplies, | must hold my own counsel" !