Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-29
Shows Much More Dreadful Results
as Time Develops
THE EXTENT OF THE LOSS OF LIFE
Nine People Now Supposed TO be Buried in the
Ruins Of the Big Theatre-The Loss Of the
"Times" Not 50 Great as Supposed.
Presses and Machinery Safe.

Auction" Company lie dead Oeneatn tne
fallen walls of the building, and nearly
three score people are in the hospital
suffering from burns.
OF the men and boys in the hospital
several are in such serious condition
that their recovery is doubtful. All
were members of the audience. Besides
those who were seriously enough hurt TO
remain in the hospitals, fully tiSty
others were treated for minor injuries.
The unfortunate members OF the COM
pany who lost their lives are:
Thomas Lorella, grotesque, and his
wife Flora, ballet dancer.
Vincentina Chitten, danseuse, one OF
the Chitten Sisters.
Miss Fancnon Conyers, juvenile, resi-
dence Chicago.
Miss Sarah Golden, ballet dancer,
residence Chicago.
w. L. Brooks, leading man OF the
company, residence, Philadelphia.
The injured in the hospitals who are
likely to die are all suffering from burns
about the face and head and from hav-
ing inhaled the flames. Their names
are:
Harry McCloskey, 16 years old; James
Pigeon, IA years old; Aller HiDchlitfe,
IA years old; Ray Patterson, 16 years
old; Albert Grumback, 16 years; 1hos.
Atchison, 81; Ralph Frazer, 16.
In addition to the serious condition OF
the above, it is feared that many will
lose their eyesight, as their burns are
mostly about the face. BY the light of
day, the destruction wrought by the fire
was made more apparent, and the deso-
lation of the scene seemed more terri
BILE, as it was without the accompanying
grandeur given by columns Of flames
shooting skyward above the tallest
buildings.
The ruin OF the Central theatre is
complete, only the front wall remaining
standing. The other walls have fallen
in and fill the space they once enclosed.
Directly back OF the theatre but shell
remains of the eight-story building oc-
Cuppied by the Times. The row of stores
to the east Of the two burned structures
and facing on Eighth street and eX-
tending from Walnut to Samson street,
are almost completely ruined by fire
and water. Last nights estimate,
placing the loss at $l,OO0,OO0 is about
correct.
MIDNIGHT-In all probability sew
enth victim must be added to the list OF
those who perished in the Central Thea
ter fire last evening. The parents OF
Samuel Wallace, boy of fifteen, to-day
reported to the police that their son left
home to attend the performance and up
TO this time has failed to return.
Diigent search has been made in all
the hospitals and other places, but no
trace of the lad can be found and it is
believed his body lies beneath the ruins
of the theatre. As soon as it became
noised about this morning that num-
Der OF persons were buried under the
walls Of the theatre the crowd surged
forward against the police lines in an
effort to get more clesely TO the scene.
Although it was reported last night
that several members of the company
had been killed, it was hoped they
would eventually turn up alive and
well. When, however, six OF the COM
pany had not made their appearance
this morning, the fear that they had
met their death in the flames and
smoke began TO grow into certainty.
Manager Yate, of the Devils Auc-
tion" Company up until 10 o'clock per-
sistently refused TO entertain the idea
that they were dead but persisted in
the belief that they would be found in
some Of the neighboring houses. But
when at that hour no tldings OF any OF
the missing actors had been learned,
Mr.. Yate reluctantly admitted that they
must have pershed.
All the members OF the company
were In the dressing rooms when the
alarm of fire souned through the house.
All those who sought safety by the left
stairway reached the street unhurt.
At this time the left side Of the stage
was still untouched by the fire, but
the right was already a mass Of
flames. 1t is Mr.. Yates belief
that the unfortunate men and
women who are supposed to be beneath
the ruins, ran towards the stairway
that let up into this fire. Finding their
escape cut off, they probably became
confused and blinded and choked by the
smoke, falling, gasping on the stairs, or
in the pasSageway below the stage.
Their fate then can be only too well
surmised as il was but a few minutes
after that that the whole stage was
ablaze.
Thomas Lorella, the dead gymnast,
met his death in an attempt to save the
life OF his wife. When the fire broke
out ne easily made his escape from the
dressing room and reached the street in
safety.
He supposed that his wife had pre-
ceded him and was safe. Not finding
her i'm the street he returned to the
alleyway leading into the. rear OF the
theatre. 1t was filed with smoke and
the flames were beginning TO break out
OF the theatre. Turning to friend he
said: "Fll see il she il safe II IL costs
me my life"
Without needing the remonstrances
OF those standing about him, he plunged
into the dark, Smoke-flled alley, and
disappeared from view. de was true
TO mis- word about seeking his wife.
/ though he met death on the way, and
lies buried beneath the ruins.
No attempt at rescuing the bodies has
been permitted as yet owing 10 the dan
gerous condition OF the ruins. None of
the injured have died and all are re-
ported tonight as doing well.
The Times tonight will be printed on
the Records presses. The Times loss is
found to be much smaller than was at
hrst anticipated. The presses and other
machinery valued at S2O0,O0 has es-
capped with comparatively little damage.