The Indianapolis journal., 1891-01-04
TIE NEW YORK CONFEDERATION.

Nh live. We're Lost-Herrmapn's Theafer
Not q Total wreck-Losses and Insurance
NEW YORK, Jan. "a careful estimate OF
the big fire here last night places the totai
loss at 1861, 900, more than half OF which
falls upon the insurance companies. Never
in the history of the fire department of this
city were the members called upon to battle
with such fierce flames. SO far there is no
positive explanation given of the origin OF
the blaze. There isa supposition, however.
that cigar thrown carelessly away while
still burning was the cause. Then, again,
it is said that there was some smoke seen In
the Fifth avenue Theater during the even
ing which could not be accounted for. but
this Mr.. Miner positively denies.
Professor Hermann says the tre started
in the "supers" room or the Filth
avenue Theater. When the fire
was given up for lost, but now it is found
that the building is not so badly damaged
after all. Professor Hermann says the
total damage Will not exceed S2o0OO. he
pairs on the theater will be begun as soon
as it is possible. A rumor was started to
the effect that there were some lives lost.
but q careful investigation by the police
and firemen happily failed to confirm 1t.
The walls of the Fifth-avenue Theater
still stand, but the interior is one mass of
thickness of the wall of the Fifth-avenue
Thearer which secured from complete de-
struction Herrmann'splay-hous and which
therefore saved the entire block between
Twenty eighth and Twenty-ninth streets.
Diametrically opposite the theater. on the
northeast corner of Twenty ninth street,
the Sturtevant House showed the effects
of the blaze. for the rooms on
the northwest corner CT the mansard
roof were burned ont and the roof
az
No other part of the hotel was damaged, ex-
cept by water, and the part that was
touched by the fire included only eight
rooms, from which the guests bad ample
damage to themselves. The following is
complete list of the losses as estimated by
the police:
Fifth-avenue Theater. owned by the Gil
sey estate. o total loss. damage, $3.50, 900;
Henry G. Miner, lessee of the building,
loss, $4,000; Fanny Davenport, the actress.
loss, $50.00O the Gilsey building, No. 1855 to
1908 Broadway, owned by the Gilsey estate,
Sl0O. 900; !. b. Crooke g. Co.. sporting goods.
loss by water. and s. Spero, tailor, each.
goods. $4,000; L. A. Brooks. shoes, 5000;
Herrmann's Theater, $4,000: Sturtevant
House. by fire and water. S25. 900; Nos. 80
and 35 West Twenty eighth street, known
to these there are g number of smaller
losses ranging from $500 to $1,000. 1t was
not until O'Clock that all danger was over
and the reserves dismissed
A report from the Board OF Underwriters
puts the insurance on the buildings, 1185 to
l193 Broadway. at S4s $50; Herrmann's The
ater building, S51 500; Fifth-avenue Theater
building, SIS, $780, New York Register Manu-
featuring Company, 1893 Broadway, $500;
l.. Spero, same address, s.. 500.
II. c. Miner. the lessee of the Fifth-avenue
Theater. was found standing on the charred
ruins of the auditorium to-day gazing dole
fully at the wreck of his house. "Yes,n
said he. Il shall begin to build again at
once. In two months from now 1 shall
open this house again. with Cleopatra on
the boards"