Evening journal., 1891-01-03
A BIG NEW YORK BLAZE.
Hermann's and the Fifth Avenue
Theatres Burned.
CLEOPATRA DAvENPORTs LOSS.

NALVA ~ IA ia AsafA OAs 4 > DUH -
SIX Firemcn Reported killed and the ri
nanclaI Losses Very Hcavy-F Fortunately
the Audiences Had Beer Dismissed or n
Terrible Calamity Might Rave Occurred.
NEW YORK, Jan 3.--Fire which, it is be-
lieved, resulted in the loss Of the lives Of
at least half dozen brave fremen, broke
out in the Fifth Avenue theatre shortly af-
ter midnight this morning. Within an
hour that famous playhouse was practi-
cally destroyed, Hermann's theatre was III
flames and the entire block in grave peril
The flames broke ont under the stage OF the
Fifth Avenue theatre. Waterman DAN
discovered the smoke, and notified Police
mon Adams, who rang ia an alarm, and
this was followed by second and third,
turned in by the iremen who responded to
the first alarm
AT first the fire did not seem 30 be serious,
aud the firemen played on il with streams
Of water, expecting that the flames would
be at once drowned out At 1890 o'clock
an explosion was heard in the building,
and moment later the upper part Of the
city was illuminated 10y huge sheet OF
flame which rose from the roof of the
theatre, enveloping the entire building
and Herrmann's theatre Immediately ad-
joining.
Six Firemen Reported Lost.
II is said that six hremen had gone
through Hermann's theatre to the roof
and had just succeeded in hosting
length Of hose up when the furnace opened
directly at their feet Five OF them could
not be seen from the street, but one stood
outlined against the sea o. flame that rose
from the burning buildings. A shout was
made for scaling ladders by the hremen on
Broadway, but before they could be pro-
cured the fireman was seen to take fare
well look at the crowd below and then TO
deliberately walk into the flames and dis
appear. A deadly silence that lasted for a
full minute resulted, and then a moan Of
agony arose from the crowd. Firemen
were seen to bend their heads aud wipe
away the tears that they could not prevent
from flowing.
The Entire Block on Fire.
At this time the whole block, from
Twenty-eighth street to Twenty-ninth
street, was in flames, while on the Twenty
eighth street side OF the Fifth Avenue
theatre the flames burst from the windows
and doors and threatened the Everard
baths and other buildings on the opposite
side Of the street. Guests of the Brewer
house were early turned into the street
The Sturtevant house, opposite the Broad
way entrance 70 the burning theatre, did
likewise and was in serious danger.
When the news spread that several fire.
men had fallen into the flames IL struck
the crowd with horror. No one knew ex.
actly how many firemen were on the roof
when the flames burst out, but II was said
that there were fully six il not more.
A scene OF Magnllcence.
During the performance in the theatre
last night a sharp odor OF smoke was
noticeable, and before Mr.. Harry @ Miner
left the theatre he went all over it and
made personal investigation of the thea
tire, but without discovering anything.
Many explosions which could not be ac.
counted for were heard just prior 60 the
falling in Of tho roof. No one knows what
caused them, but il is supposed they We're
| due TO the ignition Of fireworks and gas.
At ] o'clock the scene was one OF mag
nifcence, the entire block on Broadway
and $50 feet on both Twenty-elghth and
/ Twenty-ninth streets was like a seething
furnace. A high wind blew and carried
cinders and huge blocks Of burning wood
on the roofs OF the neighboring buildings.
There the residents poured pals OF water
on the burning refuse and protected their
/ homes.
The Loss of the Firemen.
The firemen were in a state OF agitation
over the report that many of their num-
Der had perished in the flames One fire
man who saw the roof as it caved in de
scribed the scene with horrible realism.
The man stood on the edge OF the roof
pulling at the house, he said, the rest OF
the boys being further back, when the
whole roof seemed TO burst out and rise
and then settle back with crash.
Poor fellow he continued, "he looked
at US and then walked right into the fire -
The others must have gone down with the
roof, but he might have held on until help
arrived. He would have had the scaling
ladders up in a moment had he but waited,
but he lost his head.
Cleopatra Davenport Homeless.
Fanny Davenport was playing Cleo.
patra" in the Fifth Avenue theatre Harry
Miner was at the scene of the fire at mid
night. He estimates his own loss az $780,
600 and Fanny Davenports at $50, 600 Her
1 tosbAiucnt NopDNAuAAy pANPhAtA Autumn AbA
Cleopatra, wardrobes Of her company
and the scenery Of the play we're wholly de-
/ stroyed Hermann lost everything he had
in his theatre, estimated in value at SO, 600
! The Gilsey estate also lost 100000 on the
Fifth Avenue theatre.
The Burned Theatres.
The Fifth Avenue theatre was the prop
erty OF the Gilsey estate, and was recently
leased to Harry Miner The former lessee
was John Stetson, who ran il for years as
a combination house. II had more than a
metropolitan reputation, being favorite
theatre for notable productions. Salvini,
Booth, Barrett, Mary Anderson, the Ken
dals, Adelaide Nelson, Julia Marlowe-
the list of names identified with the his
tory of this theatre is long and luminous.
This season it practically opened with the
Kendals, followed by Margaret Mather as
Joan Of Arc, and then Fanny Davenport
took possession with her gorgeous presen-
tation of Cleopatra.
Fanny Davenport's Superstition.
A curious confirmation of a stage super
stition is worthy Of note in this connection.
When Miss Davenport saw the scenery Of
the second act she cried out in dismay at
seeing the wings on the symbol Of Osiris,
the Winged Sun, on the drop and declared
she would not play under it. She was told
1 thof n tyae aaaantial m tha EUvnfian rh as.