Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-04-28
HOLOCAUST.
Several Killed and a Large
Number Injured.
A TERRIBLE FIRE.
The Grand Central Theater Burns
In PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA, April 2S.-The
most sensational fire that has visited
this city in years broke out last nigbt
on the stage OF the Grand Central
tbeater. and before it could be got
uoder control, nearly Sl,0OO,OOO
worth of property was destroyed,
including the massive eight-stOry
annex building occupied by the
Times. There was a panic in the
iheater aud nearly tifty persons
mostly occupants of the galleries,
were hurt, none seriously, however
Igst before 8 o'clock, while the stage
hands were lowering scenery from
the fies, a portion Of setting be
came entangled in the border iights.
n an instant tongues Of fire shot
up to the roof and blazing scenery
fe to the stage, and 10 short space
If time the entire roar portion Of the
heater was mass of fire. A num-
ter of female choirst rs and ballet
i,ncers who stood in the wings
waiting for the performance to begin,
we're thrown into a panic and
.ushed abont scarcely knowing
which way to turn to avoid the
luickly spreading flames. All, it is
believed, were got safely out, al
though there is a report that several
PALLET girls are missing. A scene OF
,ven more intense excitement was
.nacted before the fOotlights. The
house was only partly filled. When
he audience realized they were face
o face with fire, everybody started
'or the exits, aud the weaker. ones
we're borne down and crushed under
loot.
AS the confusion following the
ire somewhat suhsided, the casual
ties were found to be more serious
han at was at first supposed
Forty-one persons were admitted 10
he Pennsylvania hospital and
.bout twenty are in a serious condi-
ion. The injuries are mainly about
he face, and many, it is feared,
have been blinded for life by the
fierce fire through which they
fought. Jefferson hospital attended
thirty of the injured, and of this
number, nine were seriously enough
burned to be kept in the institutions.
A number of people are missing and
it is not known whether they have
perished or have remained among
the crowd around the ruins. 1t was
not known, positively, up to a late
hour, whether or not any of the
company which was performing at
1.-The Central theater were killed or
injured, but it is reported that Will
liam B. Brooks, Vicencita Chitten,
Sarah Goldman, Thomas Lorilla
and bis wife, Flora, all cf whom
were connected with the company,
are missing.
/ LATER DETAILS.
PHILADELPHIA, April 2S.-The
destruction of the Grand Central
theater by fire last night proves to
be far more terrible in results than
was anticipated. Six members OF
the "Devil Auction Company" lie
dead beneath the fallen ruins and
nearly three score people are in the
hospital suffering from burns. OF
the men and boys in the hospital
seven are in such serious condition
that their recovery is doubtful. All
members of the audience, besides
those seriously enough hurt to re-
main in hospitals, fully fifty others
are being treated for minor injuries.
The members of the company who
lost their lives are: Thomas Lorella,
grotesque aud wife Flora, ballet
dancer; Vincentina Chitten, premier
danseuse, one of the Chitten sisters;
Fancheon Coniters, juvenile; Sarah
Golden, ballet dancer and VIM. L..
Brooks, leading man.