St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-09
Destruction by Fire Of the
Theater at 2 O'clock
This Morning.
The Flames Break Out Some
where Among the Flies
on the Stage
An Hours Hard Fight With
the Conflagration by the
Fire Ladies'.
The Loss About 5000
The Building Erected
in 1889.

Within three months of the ,deStruc-
ton by fire of the Park theater, another
temple of amusement in st. Paul has
| fallen prey to the fire fiend, the popu-
| lar Olympic theater on Seventh street,
being totally destroyed this morning,
| between the hours of and 3. At
five minutes to Police Officer Coveny,
while patroling his post, saw dense
volumes of smoke rolling over the front
roof of the theater. Realizing that the
| theater was on fire, he ran
| to Box 81, on the corner
of Seventh and Jackson. and
turned in an alarm. In one minute the
engine from headquarters was on the
spot, and amidst the changing of bells
apparatus dashed up from all directions.
The flames were
Leaping Heavenyvards
in furious manner, and Chief Jackson
saw that he had fierce fire to contend
with. He at once turned in flour
eleven" alarm, calling out every piece
of apparatus in the city except
two engine companies and the Ham
line and Merriam Park detachments.
No time was lost in getting to work, and
in short space of time copious streams
OF water were being poured on the
building from all sides. The fire,
which broke out ON the stage,
was raging fiercely at that end
of the building, and the fremen were
able to carry their hose from Sixth
street right up to the rear walls of the
theatre. through vacant lot.
The scene was most i'm
a inn
like an angry animal eager to break the
bonds, while the flames shot high into
the air carrying up
Millions ofSparlks
and Illuminating the sky for miles
around. The eight steam engines
poured tons of water on the burning
pile. but seemed TO have little effect for
soon the flames swept through
the auditorium towards the front
of the house and threatened
the destruction of the block on Seventh
street where the main entrance to the
theater is situated. Chief Jackson at
once sent for the famous "gey-
sor" Or water tower and at
twenty minutes past 2 the
huge telescope pipes Of the
machine shot up seventy feet high and
poured a stream of water over the top of
flames. From that minute all danger of
the conflagration spreading was past.
and at half past 2 the department had
the fire well under control.
The Olympic theater was built two
years ago on the site of. the old wooden
variety house, which had been re-
modelled from livery stable. Mr..
Woods ran the old house, which,
In 1885, was burned down.
The new theater was built
by Sam Mayall at a cost of S75, 900, and
was leased in 1889 to Pat Conley for
term Of twenty-five years. He opened
the theater as
First-Class Variety House,
and it became favorite resort of enter
tainment. BILLY" Wells was manager
for Mr.. Conley from the time of open
ing. and this summer sub-leased the
theater from Mr.. COnley for five years.
The house was redecorated and opened
under Mr.. Wells management Aug. Is,
last.
Beyond the books of the Office, which
were saved at the outbreak byTreasurer
Murray. everything in the building was
destroyed by fire. The 'Zepha" Bur
lesque company, which opened
weeks engagement on Monday night,
lost all their property and
CUotuulcS. IWcIlGS ITuukS luII VI FdludDl6
stage dresses being destroyed. Mana
ger Wells, who was called from his
house soon after the fire, was stunned
when he saw the theater in flames.
He wept bitterly and was led away
by some friends. When he became
calmer. He stated that Mr.. Conley was
in Chicago. and he was the only one who
could give any information as to the
insurance on the theater. He believed,
however, that abont 900 insurance
was carried on the building. Mr.. Wells
loss in costumes, scenery, manuscript
of plays will amount to 1000. The loss
to the ''Zepha" company will sum
up to $4,000, many Of the members
of the company loosing their personal
effects in addition to the stage ward
robes. The total loss Will reach $50, 900
with one half the amount insured.
A remarkable coincidence is the
presence of Miss Kate Claxton, the
actress, in the city, who, apart from her
stage reputation, has acquired the re-
markable notoriety of having PLAYED
engagements in many cities where the
aters have been destroyed byNfre dur
ing her engagement.
3:15 a. m.-The fire is now under
thorough control, though copious
streams of water are still being thrown
on the burning ruins.