St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-03
managed by Harry Miner. On Deem
Der 23d last,


made her first appearance in Sardou's
of which there is some dispute
and legal trouble. The actress
has been greeted by large audiences,
and as it was expected that "Cleo-
patra" would have d long run. But
In half an hours time, the scenery,
costumes and building, worth probably
$75, 900, vanished in fire and smoke. 1t
was very lucky indeed that the fire did
not break out during the performance,
for it is claimed that the play
houses were we'll patroniZed. And it
seems odd, too, that in so short space
of time the fire could nave gained such
headway, with Watchman inside the
building. This is the mystery Fire
Marshal Mitchell will be called upon
to solve. And what caused the eXplo-
sion is another puZzling question for
the same official. Then again it was
said that the firemen when they first ar
rived undertook to fight what was ap-
parentlv a dangerous fire, with
too small a force. Only two steamers
and truck responded to the first sig
nal, which was rung from Box No. 419,
on the corner of Twenty-eighth street
and broadway. There was gap of five
rung. 1t brought five engines. and
after that the gongs were kept busy.
Guests Excited.
All the guests in the Sturtevant house
we're aroused when it became apparent
that the great caravansary was in
danger. They packed up their effects,
and if il was necessary, were able
to move at a moments notice.
Several nervous guests went to other
hotels. but the rest remained to witness
was Oh fire perhaps dozen or more
times, and the awning in front
of the stores below were all burned
off. Still at o'clock the damage 10 the
hotel, all told, was not over $1,000
There was some lively scenes in the
Brewer house, but there was no panic.
The front of the Fifth avenue is of
iron, and as tn beams vanished
it was feared that it would fall out and
crush Everard's bath house on the south
side OF Twenty-eighth street. Up to the
time of going to press the
walls were standing and the fire
was still burning. The Fifth Avenue
theater was complete wreck and
Herrmann'S was not much hetter. Ac-
cording to the Herald, six fifemen lost
their lives by the fire in the Hermann
theater. The Herald story is as follows:
HOW They Died.
Six firemen had gone through Herr
mann'S theater to the roof, and had just
succeeded in hoiSting length of hose
up when the furnace opened di-
rectly at their feet. Five of them
could not be seen from the street,
but one stood outlined against the sea
of fame that rose from the burning
buildings. a shout was made for
scaling laders by the firemen on Broad
way, but before they could be procured
the fireman was seen to take fare
well look at the crowd below and then
to deliberately walk into the flames and
disappear. A deadly silence, that
lasted for a full moment re-
suited, and then moan of
agony arose from the crowd.
Firemen were seen to bend their heads
and wipe away the tears that they could
not prevent from flowing. During the
performance in the theater last night
a sharp odOr of smoke was noticeable,
and before Harry G. Miner left
the theater, he Went all over it and
made a personal investigation of the
theater. but without discovering any
thing, 1t was said that he had a strong
presentiment that something was
going to happen, and spoke to some
members of the orchestra of the posi-
bility of fire in the theater. He appeared
perfectly satisfied, though, when he left
the theater and was the last one out.
The World says: A.curious confrma-
tion of stage superstition is worthy of
note in this connection. When Miss
Davenport saw the scenery in the sec
ond act, she cried out in dismay at see
ing the wings on the symbol
of OSIRIS, the winged sun, on the drop
and declared she would not play under
it. She was told that it was essential to
the Egyptian character of the scene
and persuaded to abandon her supersti-
ton.
"Very well, will play" she said.
''but bad luck Will follow"
Bad luck seems to have come as fore
told. First the seizure of her costumes
by the custom house, and now their de-
struetion with the theater by fire.