Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-04
iK'S BIG FIRE.
The Fifth Avenue Theatre wreek-The
Losses aud Insurance.

New YoRK, January "A careful esti-
mate of the loss by last nights tire places II
at S567 900, more than half of which falls
on the insurance companies.
Never in the history of the fire depart
ment of this city were the members called
upon 70 battle with such fierce flames.
So far there is no positive explanation
given of the origin of the fire. There is a
SuppOsition, however, that cigar careless
ly thrown away while still burning was the
cause. Then. again, it is said that there
was some smoke seen in the Filth Avenue
Theatre during the evening which could
not be accounted for, but this Mr.. Miner
positively denies.
Prof. Hermann says the fire started in
the "supesn room of the Fifth Avenue
Theater. When the fire was at II height
HermTnn's Theater was given up Tor lost,
but now IL is found that the building is not
50 badly damaged after ALL But little fire
entered il, and the greatest loss IS by
water Prof Hermann says the total
damage will not exceed $4,000. Repairs
on the theater will be begun rs soon as II
is possible.
Crowds gathered around the scene of the
fire rs soon as the sun was up to-day; the
neirhborhOod was filed with people, who
oazed curiously on the ruins and watched
the ENGINES. Streams OF water were still
hn
Sa,e fol. the charred and olackened walls
/ of the Fifth Avenue Theater, and the
I hnrned northwest corner of the upper
story of the Sturtevant House, on the OPP
Dosife side of the street, ii would be hard
IN realize that the city had been, only u
fsv- hours before. visited by a confagra-
tion which threatened TO wipe out the
,yealthiesr portion of the town. At day
lirht Mr.. and Mrs. Hermann stood on the
steps of their theater and ordered the
electric lights turned on. IL looked COM
paratively safe inside, except that II was a
trife damp. There were only two places
where traces OF the lire were at all visible
and these were at the windows.
While the Gilsey building, which covers
the ground on the Broadway side from the
street. does not appear TO be very badly
damaged. the interior is in dilapldated
state. The stores below which escaped
the flames suffered greatly from water.
The walls of the Fifth Avenue Theater
still stand. but the interior is one mass OF
blackened smoking timoerS. IL was the
thickness of the wall of the Fifth Avenue
Theater which secured from complete de
struction Hermann'S play house, aud
which therefore saved the entire block be-
tween Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth
streets DiametUCally 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 of the mansard roof
were burned out and the roof itself at that
corner was gone.
Following is a list of losses as estimated
bv the police: Fifth Avenue Theater owned
bv the Gilsey estate a total loss. S2JO,OOO.
Henry G. Miner, lessee of the building,
loss. $4,000. Fanny Davenport, the &C
fsfleatr hl1il0fpo
lS5 10 /. .9O3 Broadway, owned by the Gil
sew estate. 100000: l. B. Crook x Co,
sporting goods, loss by water, $1,000; ).
Spero. tailor, similar amount; +. j.
Brooks, shoes, 5000; Hermann's Theater,
s. 900: Sturtevant House, by ire and
water. $4,000; Numbers 33 and 20 West
Twentv-eighth street, known as the Gllscy
Mansion. = 900. In addition 10 these there
are a number of smaller losses. ranging
from $500 to 5000. IL was not until .
O'Clock that all danger was over and the
reserves dismissed.
Harry Miner owned the t1fth Avenue
Theatre, had 5000 on his property MY
loss on three remaining weeks OF Cleo
nat,.a. > - said Mr.. Miner, lis $4,000, and on
Sarah Bernhardt's engagement put II at
Sl5.OOO. The loss on the engagement oil
Mr. and Mrs. Kendall for two weeks Will
be SaDOOO. NV books were filled up TO
February. 1892 My whole personal loss
estimate at $4,000. My safe seems to be
AM right. II contains books and valuable
manuscripts. II happened 10 be IN the out
side office, and was not burned"
A report from the Board OF Underwriters
nut the insurance on the buildings from
ISIS to $50 at SIS, go; Hermam's Theatre
building. S5i.5OO; Fifth Avenue Theatre
building. SSS. 80; New York Register Man
ufacturiug Company, ll93 Broadway, 81
600; L. Spero, same address. So,oOO.