The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-28

PHILADELPHIA, April 27-The most
sensational fire that has occurred in this
city for years broke out tonight in the
Grand Central theater. Before it was
gotten under control nearly a million dol
lars worth of property was destroyed, in
Guiding the massive eight-story annex
building occupied by the Times There
was a panic in the theater and nearly fifty
persons, most of them occupants of the
galleries, are hurt none, however, fatally.
A spectacular production was being pro-
duced this week. just before o'clock,
while the stage hands were lowering from
the flies portion of the setting for the
first scene, the scenery became entangled
in the border lights. In an in
slant the iimsy canvass was a
mass of flames. Tongues of fire shot up
to the roof; the blazing scenery fell to the
stage, and in short space of time the
greater portion OF the theater was mass
of fire. The production requires large
number of female ballet dancers. These
stood in the wings and along the stage,
in scanty attire, waiting for the perform
ance to begin. They were thrown into a
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 there is a re-
port that three ballet girls are missing
During the panic behind the scenes
scene of even more Intense excitement was
being enacted before the footlights For
tunately the house was only partially
filled. The audience were awaiting the
beginning of the performance, when they
were startled by the flash that came when
the scenery caught fire. The next minute
a bright white flame shot through the
curtain and everybody started for the
exits. The weaker ones were borne down
and crushed under foot. One individual,
maddened and brutalized by the excite
ment, drew a pocket knife and cut his way
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 more than
of a painful character.
Men and boys fell on the stairways lead
ing from the galleries, and were bruised
and trampled under the heels of those fol-
lowing them. In all fifty-two persons
were taken to two hospitals near the
theater Everybody was outside the burn
ing structure within two minutes from
the time the fire started. The widest ex-
prevailed on the streets Ballet
girls, in gauze and tights, rushed around
bareheaded almost all of them in hys-
terical condition. The fire spread with
marvellous rapidity, and by the time the
fire apparatus reached the scene the
tbeater was enveloped in flame
1OOUlluS up dUONS GHc rear Vi Un0
theater was the Times annex building, oc-
cupied on the seventh floor by the editorial
force and on the eighth by the composing
and sterotyping forces. An alarm was
promptly given and all the occupants of
the building got out in safety. The first,
second, third and fourth floors were occu-
pied by Dehosken & HetheriDgton, art
metal workers. Their plant was one of
the most valuable of its kind in the
The Times building was soon on fire,
and by O'Clock the interior was gutted.
The walls fell. crushing in the power
house of the Philadelphia Traction com
pany and a four story building occupied
by jewelry firm, and portions of several
other buildings below on Eighth street.
Colonel Mcclure, editor of the Times,
lost his valuable political library, which he
had been collecting for the past fifty years,
and which can never be replaced. The
total loss is estimated at $50, 900, only
partly insured.
The number of people injured and
burned now numbers seventy five. A
number of persons aIe missing, among
them being William Brooks, Vincencita
Chitten, Sarah Goldman, Thomas Lorella
and wife and Miss Converse. They were
probably killed IN the theater fire.