Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-29
1'HEATER FIRE.
Panic in Which Over Fifty
People Are Injured.
Several Members of the DEVILS Auc
ton Company Missing.
The Total Loss Estimated at
Nearly 100000.


Terrible Scenes In the Rush to Escape
One Coward Draws a Knife and Cut
His Way Out-The Entire Bushes
Portion of Hudson, o., Swept by al
Incendiary Fire Believed to Have Beer
Started by the Friends of the Liquoi
Interests--Loss $4,000
PHILADELPHIA, April 29-Death ant
destruction visited this city in horrible
form Wednesday night. A fire broke
out in the Grand Central theater, ant
before it was gotten under control near
ly $1,000,00 worth of property had beer
destroyed. The scene of the fire wal
the half square bounded by Eighth
SAMSON and Ninth streets.
At the Theater.
The Central theater is located in the
most thickly settled portion of the city
surrounded by hotels, restaurants
boarding houses and newspaper offices
Immediately in the rear of the theatel
was The Times building. A spectacular
production, THE Devils Auction" was
on the stage.
Behind Scenes.
Just before s o'clock, while the stage
hands were lowering portion of the
setting for the first scene, it became en-
tangled in the border lights. In an in
slant the flimsy canvass was a mass OF
flames. In short space of time the en-.
tire rear portion of the theater was a
mass of fire. A large number of female
choristers and ballet dancers stood in tIe
wings in scanty attire, waiting for the
performance to begin. They were
thrown into a panic, and rushed about
scarcely knowing which way to turn to
avoid the quickly spreading flames,
Before the Curtain.
During the panic behind the scenes q
scene of even more intense excitement
was being enacted before the footlights.
The audience had just settled down
awaiting the beginning of the perform
ance, when they were startled by the
flash that came when the scenery
caught The next minute a bright
white flame shot through the curtain.
Everybody started for the exits. The
weaker ones were borne down and
crushed under foot.
A Cowardly Act.
One individual, maddenod and brutal
lied by excitement, drew pocket knife,
and with it cut his way through the
mass of people. Half dozen or more
people were found at the hospital who
had been victims of his frenzy. None of
their wounds, however, were of more
than painful character.
Men and boys fell on the stairways
leading from the galleries, and were
bruised and scratched under the heels
Of those following them. In all, fifty
two persons were hurt. none seriously
Everybody was outside of the burning
structure within two minutes from the
time the fire started.
Spread by the Wind.
The wind was blowing in a direction
to carry the flames to The Times annex,
and in few minutes the structure was
on fire. BY $50 the entire interior had
been Quilted. The west walls and po"
ton of the east wall fell, the former
crushing in a portion of the power
house of the Philadelphia Traction com
pany.
The east wall crushed the four-story
building occupied by Hamilton q Del
singer, manufacturing jewellers, and
portions of several buildings below it on
Eighth street. The front wall filled
Sansom street with bricks and stone,
and damaged buildings opposite. In the
cellar were the new presses of The
Times These are ruined beyond re-
pair.
Adjoining the theater on the west was
the Poulson House. The roof was
burned and the building soaked with
water.
Above the Grand Central, at Ninth
and Walnut streets stands the historic
old Walnut Street theater. The house
was we'll filled. There was great danger
that the house would catch fire. The
performance was, therefore, stopped,
and the audience quietly dismissed.
Colonel A. X. Mcclure, editor of The
Times, lost his valuable political library,
which he had been collecting during the
past fifty years.
The total losses will reach 81 900, 900.
The Victims.
There are conflicting rumOrs about
loss of life in the fire. The latest report
is that six members Of the Devils AuC-
ton company are beneath the ruins.
They are
Thomas Lorilla.
Florence Lorella.
Vincenoina Chitten.
Sarah Goldman.
FanChon COnyers.
William Brooks.
Three of the injured are reported as
having received injuries which will re-
suit fatally. They are:
William Quincy.
John Quincy,
Erel EvnDa