The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-04-28
THIRD EDITION.
GOES UPIN FLAMES.

sons Injured - Loss, Oyer S55O,OUO-
Insurance, s355,OOO - Caused by
Theatre Scenery Catching Fire.
PHILADELPHIA, April 27-Flre broke
out shortly uetore = O'Clock tonight
on the stage of the Grand Central
Theatre, and before it was gotten un-
der control nearly n million dollars
worth OF property had been destroy
efs includirg the massive eighth story
annex building occupied by The
Times" newspaper. During panic in
the theatre, nearly fifty persons, most
sy occupants OF the galleries, were in
1ured, none seriously however. Just
before O'Clock, while the stage hands
were lowering from the Il es portion
of the setting for the first scene, it be.
came entang lod In the border lights,
In an instant the ilimsy canvas was u
mass of flames.
The large number of female chorls.
tiers and ballet dancers were thrown
into panic and rushed about, scarcely
knowing which way to turn to avoid
The quickly spreading flames. All
were, 1t Is believed, gotten safely out,
although report is III Gil culatlon that
three women connected with the bal,
let were in their dressing room, and
have not been seen since. The police
and the theatre people say, however,
counted for.
While the panic was In progress be.
mind the curtain scene of even more
Intense excitement was being enacted
before it. Fortunately tho house was
only partially filled. The audience
had just settled down in their seats,
awaiting the beginning of the per.
formance, when they were startled by
the Hash that came when the scenery
caught which could be plainly seen
Through the lowered curtain. The
next minute bright white lame shot
Through the curtain and those COM
posing the audience realized that they
were face to face with that awful sit
uation-a theatre fire. Everybody
started for the exits.
The weaker ones were borne down
and crushed under 20. One indi-
sidual, maddened and brutalzed by
excitement, drew pocket knife, and
with 1t cut his way through the mass
of people. Half a dozen or more PEG.
pie were found at the hospital vino
had becn victims of his frenzy. None
DI their wounds, however, were OF d
more than painful character, His
man was one of the first to reach the
sidewalk. Men and boys fell ON the
stairwayS leading from the galleries
and were bruised ana scratched under
the heels OF those following thrm. In
all, hlty-two persons We're cared for
At the two hospitals near the theatre.
Everybody was outside tho burning
structure within two inmates from
the time the fire started.
The widest excitement prevailed on
fhe streets. Ballet girls in game u,.l
tights rushed hareheaded around, nj
nOst all OF them hystericGl Tho tir0
IDon spread to Tile Times anprN
building The assistant city edllUr,
wilson, grabbed his assignment book
and started for the elevator, followed
by all of the editors ami reporters.
Everybody got out safely. In the
composing room, where about seven j..
Hve people were ut work. printers
rushed from their cases, not stopping
10 gather any of their belongings on
The sixth floor was the Illus rating ID,
partment of The Times and tho
rooms OF the American Press Ascot,
uon. Ihe first, second. third uur
: Fourth fioOfs were occupied hy Dt
koskeno y HetuerlnEtou, art metal
workers. IEer plant was the most
valuable of its kind In this 20 lulrv.
AT $50 O'Clock the entire iHtcrIDr haG
been burned out. At that hour the
West wall ana u portion OF the east wall
He'll, the former crushing III large
portion OF the One-stury poWrr-housr
OF the Philadelphia Traction DUHpauy
The east wall crushed the fOur,stuFy
building occupied by Hamilton h
biesiIger, manufacturing jewellers
end portions VI several buildings be
low II on Eighth street, between san.
POM and Walnut streets. lue naW
nssrs OF Tile Hines are ruined be
repair
tghth street, from SAMSON IL
we've eleven buIl inE5. euet
nseYcrai tenants luieo vi
IRE completely lies fuNrd an