Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-27
M'vICKER's BURNED.
Big Chicago Theatre Destroyed-Firemen
Iniured-One Fatally


CHICAGO, August 26.-Fre was dis
covered in McVicker's Theater, on
Madison street, between State and
Dearborn, at $3.50 o'clock this morning.
In a short time the building was prac-
tically destroyed, and number of fire
men were badly injured, one fatally. SO
far as can be learned, the fire originated
in the small smoking room under and 10
the west of the stage. The dry and IN
flammable material OF the room furnish
ed fuel for the blaze, and in moment
fierce fame burst through side
window out in the alley.
As soon as the Bremen arrived on the
scene they directed the stream OF water
through the window from which the
flames were coming. The smoke filled
the entire building, and soon ruined the
valuable scenery of the Shenandoah
Company, which was filling an engage
ment at the theatre. The fire made un-
expected headway in the interior OF the
building, and in thirty minutes after its
discovery made It's way from the base
ment TO the roof. The flames apparently
enveloped the whole building, and at a
few minutes before o'clock were leap
ing from all the windows on the west
and east side OF the theatre.
When it was seen what rapid head
way the flames were making additional
help was summoned, and every effort
was directed to saving the front portion
of the building, where a number of Of
fees are located. Nearly every occu-
pant OF the building is heavy loser, al
though 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 Euro
pean Hotel Many of the guests Of the
hotel were awakened, and panic re-
suited People hastily grabbed their
clothing and made their way to the
street. There was no occasion for the
fright. however, as the iiremen guarded
the hotel so well that the flames had no
chance Of communication with that
building. Panic also seized the guests
of the Saratoga Hotel and Bennett
House, but the flames did not reach
either Of these places.
Seven men belonging to the Fire In
surance Patrol No. l were in the audi
torium at work when the roof fell in,
shortly after o'clock. They all escaped
by miracle. Not so fortunate were
the men who were fighting the fire in the
rear of the building. When the rear
wall fell all the men of No. were bur
ried in the ruins. Every man was more
or less hurt, and Fireman Jack Duffy
had his sknl fractured and will proba-
bly, die.
The total loss to the theater building
and its occupants Is estimated at over
5000, ,OO9. Horace McVicker, the pro-
prietor. says his own loss will reach over
SiOO,O 900. Several stores on State street
caught fire. but the flames were soon
eXtinguished and the damage will be
nominal.
The entire interior Of the theatre IS
practically destroyed. What with wa
ter, smoke and the use OF axes, which
latter was rendered necessary to reach
| the basement, the theatre will have to
I be entirely rebuilt and renovated. That
| il was a fre-trap was shown from the
way the flames ran through the whole
structure; everything in il burned like
tinder-box despite all the tiremen
could do.
Mr.. McVicker is now at Saratoga,
His son and manager says the theatre
will be rebuilt and roopened inside OF
thirty days.
Manager AL Hayman, Of the "Shenan-
doah" Company, has duplicate set Of
scenery, costumes and properties in New
York, and he has teegraphed to have
them sent here as quickly as possible.
In the meantime costumes and proper
ties are being hurriedly got together and
the company will play the piece tonight
at the Auditorium, and will finish its
engagement at that place. Its future
engagements will not be interferred
with. 1t goes next to St. Louis.