Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-26
MsViokeris Theater at Chicago To-
tally Destroyed.
THE Loss EXCEEDS s5O0,OOO.
Virginia Colored Men to Hold a
Convention.
THEY WAY MAKE A NOMINATION.
McvfCKERS THEATER BURNED.
A $500, O0O Fire ia Chicaso--One Fire.
nuH Killed and Several Hurt

CHfcr1o; August 26:-Fire was discovered In
McVicRer's rneater on Madison street between
State and Dearborn streets at $50 this morn
ing. As Sas - cen be learned 10 originated in
the small smoking room under and to the west
OF fhe stage. The dry and fnfammable ma
terial Of the room furnished food for the blaze
and in o moment the fierce flame burst out
through u side window in the alley. As soon
as the dremen arrived on the scene they dr.
receeT the stream Of water through the win
dow IRONS which the flames were coming. The
smoke ibed the entire building and it is
feared badly damaged the valuable scenery of
the "SheAandoab company now performing
in Tie Building. The fire made unexpected
headway ID the inferior OF the building and in
Thirty minutes after its discovery made its way
from the Easement TO the roof The ffsnies
apparently enyeioped the whole building and
at . few Ininuyes before & O'Clock were leaping
from al ne windows on the west and east
sides OF Tie theater When IL was seen
what rapid hsadway the flames were making
addirons1 help was summoned and every
effort was directed 10 saving the front portion
of the buirdlng, where a number Of Offices are
located Nearly every occupant Of the build
ing ~ heavy loser, although none OF them
carried heavy stocks. The flames burst from
the rear of the buikiing with such fury that
they extended across the alley and threatened
destruction OF the Windsor European Hotel
Many Of the guests Of the hotel were awakened
aud panic resulted. People hastily grabbed
theK clothing and made their way to the
streeG. There was no occasion for the fright
however. as the frennen Guarded the hetet SO
well that the flames had no chance of comlnu-
nioatlng with the building. Panic also seized
the guests Of the Saratoga Hotel and Bennett
House. but the flames did not reach either of
these pnces.
kt5am the Chicago Tribune building was
on fire nod the flames spread from the rear of
The McVickef building aeross the alley east
OAa1<l nah Ia d. nd IA
Nonroe street Ghaptn Cores liquor house
and Benness Hotei eaaght FIRE. The loss will
probably approximate $500 900.
seven men belonging to the FIRE Insurance
patrol No. ! were in the auditorium at work
wbsaF the roof FELL Pm shortly after o'clock.
They all escaped by miracle. Not so for
tunate were the men whe were fighting the fire
IN the rear OF the building. When the rear
wall fell all the men of No. were buried in
the ruins. The fremen were more or less hurt
and fireman Jack Duffy had his skull fractured
and viii probably die
The total lose to the theater building and it's
occupants ls estimated at over 500, OO0. Horace
Mc'icker, the proprietor, says his own less will
reach over 100000. SeveraI stores on State
street caught fire, but the flames were soop ex-
tnguished and the damage viii be nominal.
ANOTHER AND MORE GRAPHIC ACCOUNT
CHTcAso, August 26-Meyickers Theater
wss almost destroyed by fire at O'Clock This
morning. The west wall Of the building, reach
ing eight stories in height. went down with n
terrific crash into the narrow alley. John
Duty. a pipeman Of engine company No. l.
came down with the debris and landed fairly
on his head with the debris on q Jagged pile of
mortar and brick. He was fearfuliy mangled
and probably fatally injured Dufy's COM
rades on the roof barely escaped with their
lives They heard the wall cracking and ran to
the center of the roof just as the great mass
wen. down. They subsequently escaped 10 the
street by means Of a FIRE escape
tho ire seated in the basement Of Iitbsow's
saloon wksch occupies the west half of the
building, and smoidsred among piles Of straw
ana liquors nearly an hour before il was dis
covered by that time flames had burst through
the basement windows. When tie fire depart
mea arrived everything uader the big thester
inetadrng dressing rooms. stage par aphernalis
and Baggage, was aeisze. The IRE was burning
80 nerceIy that a second battalion OF engines
vas called OUT and it required all they could
do 70 keep the flames from eating path into
the upper stories OF the building. As il Was
the foyer and the chairs in the parquette civcle
ea1Sht nfe st one time and blazed brightly
until four or FIVE streams of water were turned
on the Hauaes. The firemen chopped gaping
hoses IN the floor and tore down the costly
hsasangs that orRsme ated the main entrance
and even broke through the stage in their anx-
lety to save the building Before they got
through the heater proper was nearly ruined
IT WAS FIRE TRAP.
1Arc iO5s 70 tnc sdcdtcr ana DuliulnR VIII not
be less than sI25, 600 The entire interior OF
the theatef is practically DESTROYED. What
with water, smoke, and the use of axes. which
latter was rendered necessary to reach the
basement the theater viii have to be entirely
rebuilt and renovated. That II Was q fire trap
WAS shown from the way the flames ran through
the whole structure. Everything in il burned
like finder Dor despite all the hremen could
do.
Five companies Of firemen who had been sta
toned near the main entrance barely escaped
with their lives. The brave fellows were push
Ing through 70 the stage when they heard a
loud ereaking above their heads. They in
stantly renseed and had barely gotten outside
into tire lobby when the roar Of the falling gal
Ierses and dome teid Of the destruction Of the
theater.
W. Miller. truckman. and another fireman
were also injured. but not fatally. Fireman
Duny, who came down with the falling wall n
Is now stated will recover. The fire communi-
Gated to several small hotels in the immediate
vicinity, but did no serious damage. The
guests were panic stricken, but all escaped in
safety. All the front offices OF the building re-
ceiVed little damage except by water, and the
tenants viii continue to do business at their
old stands. Nr. Mcyicker is now at Saratoga.
HIS son and manager says the theater will be
rebuilt and reopeBed Inside of thirty days.
A COLORED MEMS CONVENTION.
Slight Possibility of . Ceiered Candi-