The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-29
Big BLAZE IN CHICAGO.
Thrilling Scenes at the Burn.
ing Of a Museum.
The Total Loss Estimated at Over
$2,000,000.


Chicago, H., In several years broke out late
on recant afternoon at Kohl & Middleton's
Museum, on West Madison street. Within
two hours $4,000, 900 worth of property was
reduced to bare walls and ashes. The space
Tdssn spst from the o~ south side , 2,
one building of Halstead street, in
cluding the museum, John NJ. Smiths
immense furniture store and the adjoining
building, Peats four.story paper ware
house, on the opposite side Of the street on
corner of Union, the site Of the first police
station after the big fire Of 1871, and the fine
business block Of the Haymarket Theatre,
the best building Of the west side The Hay.
market Theatre, in the rear Of the business
block, fortunately escaped without damage.
While the last performance was in progress
on the ground floor Of the museum cloud of
smoke broke from under the stage, followed
almost tinstantaneously by gust Of fame.
It is said the fire started from clamp Jug
gler." The audience, which fortunately was
not as large as usual ON afternoons started
precipitately for the doors.
A wild panic followed among the 40G per.
sons In the building, most Of whom how
ever, were on the first floor, watching va
riety performance. Those on the first floor
stampede on the upper floors. and as they
arose to their feet and fed precipitately
toward the front door, the fre
appeared at the rear windows, in
creasing the terror OF the crowd.
The emergency brought out hero in the
person Of a policeman, Patrick Sheehy.
Forcing his way through the frightened
people who were madly retarding each other
in the jam at the exit, he stationed himself
at the head Of the stairs, and drawing his
revolver, declared his intention to kill the
first person who refused to obey his orders.
BY GOODNESS and determination he succeeded
in quieting the panic, and with one exception
everybody reached the street In safety.
man, who. before Officer Sheehy reached the
stair landing, made rush for the front Of
the building and throwing open the window
jumped out into the street. BE fell on the
stone pavement and was unconscious when
pickedup One old woman who was In this
crowd fell when near the bottom of the
stairs and broke her arm. She was picked
up by friends and taken away in carriage.
The last Of the clamoring, scrambling
crowd had hardly reached the sidewalk
when the stage and auditorium were invel-
oped in flames, which spread rapidly to the
upper floors used for the exhibition of curl
osities. The monkeys were loose, and came
down the fire escapes, and the snakes crawled
hslplessly about, Kissing at the flames, while
the inanimate curios made fuel for the fire.
The excitement among the freaks who
were on exhibition on the third floor was
pitiful. They werepractically unable to help
themselves, owing to their abnormal develop
ment or lack Of development, and could only
with difficulty be restrained from throwing
themselves from the windows Clarence
Dale, the big-headed boy; lola Lorenzo, the al
bino; Nine. Carver, thefat woman who weighs
300 pounds and her son, who is a wee mite
of boy and exhibited as midget were on
the platforms Mime. Carver hobbled down
from the platform, and, seizing the midget,
dragged herself tothe rear window and was
about to throw the child out, when she was
restrained by Manager Belmont, who with
difficulty escorted them down the stair.
ways. A. D. Lafayette, the father
Of the big-headed boy, who was
so top-heavy he could not walk alone, rushed
to the assistance Of his son, and while lead
ing him out, found the albino almost blind,
by reason af her weak eyes, cropping about
in the smoke. With the big-headed boy
under his arm, he seized the albino, and
dragged, rather than led, her to the stair
way and reached the street.
1t took forty fire engines and nearly 300
III
Several times It seemed as if the men would
be compelled to abandon their engines, so
intense was the heat, but chesred en- by in
defatigible superiors they managed to with
stand theheat by turning the hose upon them
selves. The nerve displayed by the firemen
was heightened by the fact that all the time
they knew at least hundred barrels Of oil
were stored in the basement Of the Smyth
establishment, likely at anytime to create
terrible explosion.
On Smyths building the total loss is $780,
600, and stock $500, 600, with only S175, 900
insurance. Kphl & Middleton lose SEQ, 900,
their insurance policy having expired last
October Beside this Kohl & Middleton lose
a valuable stone and iron foundation for
their new theatre on the extreme east.
Nicely Brothers store, eastof the museum,
was consumed; loss, 10000: insurance,
stock worth S35, 900, the bulk Of which was
secured in flreproof receptables.
On the opposite side Of the street Peats
loses an aggregate Of $4,000, Senate Club
House, 0000; Irmann, cigars, SIC, 600;
tenants Of Haymarket Theatre building,
$4,000.
When the fire broke out DR.. j. q. Bsr.
geron was attending Mrs. Sarah Macks in q
fat in one of the buildings subsequently,
burned. When the fire got too close Dr..
Bergeron seized the suffering woman,
and wrapping her in blankets,
descended three flights Of stairs
with his burden and carried her to q
refuge near by. In less than fifteen minutes
fine girl baby was born amid the crash Of
falling walls and the hoarse shouts Of the
fremen. Both mother and child are doing
well.