The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-28
A MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
FIFTY PERSONS HURT IN FLEEING
FROM A THEATER.


by the Flames.
PHILADELPHIA, April 27.-The most sem
sstional fire that has visited this oity in
years broke out shortly before 8 o'clock to-
night on the stage of the Grand Central
tbeater, and before it was gotten under
control nearly s., 900, 900 worth of property
had been destroyed. including the massive
story annex building occupied by the
Times newspaper.
In the panic in the theater, over fifty per-
sons mostly occupants of the galleries, were
hurt. none, however, seriously.
The Central theater is located on Walnut
street. between Eighth and Ninth streets,
in the most thlckly settled portion Of the
city. being surrounded by hotels, restau-
rants, boarding houses, newspaper offices
and business houses.
Immediately in the rear Of the theater
was the Times building, which faced on
SaDsOm street.
The theater was usually devoted to va
rietv performances. but this week Manager
Gilmore, who is interested il several
spectacular productions, had one of them,
"The Devils Auction" on the stage.
START OF THE FIRE.
Just before s o'clock, while the stage
hands were lowering from the flies por-
ton Of the setting for the first scene, it be-
came entangled in the border lights. In an
instant the flimsy canvas was mass of
flames. Tongues Of fire shot up to the roof
and the blazing scenery fell to the stage and
in a short space Of time the entire rear por-
ton of the theater was mass Of fire. The
production requires the service of a large
of nbC
dancers. These stood iu the wings and
about the stage in scanty attire
waiting for the performance to
begin. They were thrown into panic and
rushed about, scarcely knowing what way
to turn to avoid the quickly spreading
flames. All were, it is believed, gotten
safely out, although report is in circula-
ton that three women connected with the
ballet were in their dressing room and have
have not been seen since. The police and
theater people say, however, that all the
company have been accounted for.
PANIC OF THE AUDIENCE.
While the panic was In progress behind
the scenes a scene of even more intense ex-
element was being enacted before the foot
lights. Fortunately the house was only
partially filed. The audience had just set
tied down in their seats awaiting the begin
ming of the performance when they were
startled by the flash that came when the
scenery caught, which could be plainly seen
through the lowered curtain. The next
minute bright white flame shot through
the curtain and those composing the audi
ence realized that they were face TO face
with that most awful of situations. thearter
on fire. Everybody started for the exits
The weaker ones were borne down and
crushed under foot. One individual mad
dened and brutalized by the excitement
a seLs IL.
through the mass of people. Half dozen or
more people were found at the hospital
who had been victims of his frenzy. None
Of the wounds, however, were of more than
a painful character. This man was one Of
the first TO reach the sidewalk. 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 ffty-two persons were cared for
at the two hospitals near the
theater. Everybody was outside
the burning structure within two minutes
from the time the fire started. The widest
eXcitemsnt prevailed ON the streets. The
ballet glrlsin gauze and tights rushed bare
headed around, almost all OF them in hys-
terlcal condition. The fire spread with
marvellous rapidity, and by the time the
fire apparatus reached the scene the theater
was mass of flames.
FLIGHT OF THE NEWSPAPER MEN.
Looming way up above the rear Of the
theater was the Times annex building, oc-
clpied on the seventh floor by the editorial
force, and on the eighth by the composing
and stereotyping forces. The city depart
ment OF the Times was in the rear of the
building, the windows of its rooms over
looking the rear of the theater One of the
reporters saw from a window flames shoot
through the roof Of the theater. His cry Of
alarm warned everybody In the rooms.
Assistant City Editor Wilson grabbed
ms ms assignment book and started
Tor the elevator, followed by all
OF the editors and reporters. Nobody
thought Of stopping to secure his clothing or
other property, the main idea being TO get
70 the street, seven stories below, as quickly
as possible. Everybody got out safely. The
scenes IN the composing room, where about
seVenty-hve people were at work, were OF
the same character. The printers rushed
IL noIn Their cases. not stopping to gather any
VI their belongings. On the sixth floor was
'ne Illustrating department of the Times,
ana also the rooms of the American Press
association. The fifth floor was unoccupied.
me first, second, third and fourth floors
we're occupied by DeKosenks g. Hethering-
Ion. art metal workers. Their plant was
ohe OF the most valuable of Its kind in the
country.
%. CAhhlhD BY THE WIND.
Inc wind was blowing in the direction TO
earry the flames from the theater to the
.nL9"spaper building, and in q few minutes
sIg latter structure was on fire. By $3.50
c4ock the entire interior had been gutted.
az that hour the west wall and portion of
Sue east wall fell, the former crushing In a
.1rge portion of the 1-story power house of
.us n fnlladelphia Traction Company, which
T,oAtalned two immense engines recently put
aa position, which propelled the compauy's
oteeI cars over the lower section Of the
H5' 1hese engines are covered with bricks
LII nuI Georls to depth of twelve feet, and it
"iA De several weeks before the cables can be
SpeEated The east wall crushed a 4-story
puuudlng occupied by Hamilton & Diesinger,
snauutacturing jewellers, and portions of
Iteral buildings below it on Eighth street,
tSeIWeen SAMSON and Walnut streets. The
mont wall filed SAMSON street with bricks
si.o t1 STONE and damaged the buildings oppo-
stte In the cellar were the new presses of
Ile 1in1eS, the pride Of Owner Frank Nc
Ns4Iin. These are ruined beyond repair.
nv. ~ Eighth street, from SAMSON to Wal
so u', were eleven buildings, each having
8..e f8InersI 9 tenants, and all occupied on the
~ -IoH 81 uoors by storekeepers. Three of these
eII JGIe completely Quilted and the others were
oil badly damaged.
a. AI Joining the theater on the west was
oF ees Faulson house. The roof was burned
" ral ana the building soaked with water.
cu9 u9 next was the building of Tdqqdrt's
t1hu"uug Times. Its roof was burned, and
sII2 SOmposing room on the top floor was
1-sN 80 with water. The presses and other