Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-05

NUMBER OF people were
BURIED UNDER THE WALLS
of the theatre, and the crowd surged
forward against the police lines in an
effort TO get more closely 10 the scene.
Although it was reported last night that
several members of the company had
been killed, it was hoped that they
would eventually be found alive.
When, however, six OF the company
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. Man
ager Yale of "the Devils Auction" com
pany, up until 10 o'clock, persistently
refused to entertain the idea that they
were dead, but held to the belief that
they would be found in some of the
neighboring houses. But when at that
| hour no tidings of any of the missing
actors had been learned, Mr.. Yale re-
luctantly admitted that they must have
persisted.
SEVENTY PEOPLE ON THE STAGE.
Mr.. Yale said that at the time
the fire broke out there were about
20 people in all behind the curtains.
The dressing rooms were beneath the
stage in the rear of the theatre. Two
stairways, one upon the right and the
other upon the left of the basement, led
directly to the doors that admitted to
alleyways in the rear Of the theatre.
The members of the company were in
their dressing rooms when the alarm of
fire sounded throughout the house. All
these who sought safety by the left
stairway reached the streets unhurt. AT
this time the left side of the stage was
still untouched by the fire, but the right
was already q mass of flames. The
canvas, grease and paint of the scenery
was like SO much oil before the advance
of the flames and great volumes of
heavy sitting smoke were rolling over
and underneath the stage.
HOW THEY WERE LOST.
1t is Mr.. Yale's belief that the unfor-
tunate men and women who are sup
posed to be beneath the ruins, ran
towards the stairway that led up into
this fire. Finding their escape cut off,
they probably became confused, and
blinded and choked by the smoke, fell
gasping on the stairs and in the passage
way beneath the stage. Their fate,
then, can be only too well surmised, as
it was but few minutes after that the
whole stage was ablaze. The work of
searching for the bodies has not COM
menced yet, us the ruins are still hot,
and six feet of water fills the cellar.
SYMPATHY FOR GILMORE.
William ]. Gilmore, proprietor of the
theatre, was much overcome to-day by
the tragedy which has taken place at
his house. lie has been in receipt of
kilograms from the theatrical managers
all over the country, offering him sym
pathy. The board of directors of the
Academy of Music this morning ten
dered him the use of their theatre for a
benefit for himself and the company.
While declining the offer on his own
behalf, Mr.. Gilmore accepted greatfully
for the company. The theatre will be
rebuilt at once.
Several people who were in the audi
ence, and who were reported missing
returned to their homes this morning.
MUST FIRST TEAR DOWN THE WALLS.
Director of Public Safety Beitler and
Fire Marshal Thompson, after inspect
ing the burned buildings this morning
decided that until fragment of the real
wall of the theatre and the rear wall oi
the Times building, which are still
standing, should be pulled down il
recovering the bodies.
THE 'sTIMEs" PEOPLE AT WORK.
The Times staff was called together a
noon to-day in the former quarters oi
the paper, at the southwest corner oi
Eighth and Chestnut streets, where it!
business Office has always remained
Proprietor Frank Mclaughlin an
nounced to his employees that the pub
lication of the Times would be con
tinued as usual and all took up the
daily routine of their work.
Portions of the building occupied by
the tenants were cleared for the com
, positors, editors and reporters. Two
presses were secured for temporary us,
, and will be Immediately placed in the
basement of the old building.
THE PRESSES SAFE.
The Times loss is found to be mucl
smaller than was at first anticipated
owing to the construction of the annea
building, which was designed to save
the valuable presses in case of fire
Double arches were built above the ma
chinery and it was found this morning
the hundreds of tons of debris and the
presses and other machinery valued a
100000 had escaped with compare
| lively little damage.
THE BUILDING A TOTAL WRECK.
The building, valued at $140, ,234, is ,
total wreck, with fixtures which cos
$4,000. at will be at once rebuilt,
said Mr.. Mclaughlin to-day. IL thinl
on the same plan," he added. The Iimc
was insured for $4,000 in u large mum
Der of companies.
, Mr.. Hetherington of DeKosenko &
Hetherington, art metal workers, VIII,
occupied four floors of the Times annex
places their loss at 100000, insured
The firm has secured quarters clsewhert
and will resume The books and paper
, of the firm were recovered intact from
their safe. Their insurance is $4,000
scattered among 20 companies.
Half the Traction Company's cabl,
: line, extending south from Market stree
S through the lower portion Of the city, i
4; being operated by horse cars, owing t
: the fact that one of its motors in th
(, SAMSON street power house was burieC
/ beneath the falling walls of the Time
9 annex. Workmen succeeded in Olsen
l numbering it this morning, and while
!; the lighter portions of tho machiner!
were bent and twisted, most Of it is .st
ponderous as to be but little damaged
and can be put in use as soon as re
, paired.
, PHILADELPHIA, April 29.-To-day worl
!, | was commenced on the debris of tn
!. burned Grand Central Theatre, in order t.
get at the bodies Of the victims buriel