Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-05-07
NO. 81.
FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA.
1t STARTS on the Stage Of the Grand
Central Theatre.
Loss Nearly a Million Doiisrs-A PANE
Before and Behind tho Scenes ov~r
Fifty Persons are Hurt.

BefnrH ana behtnd inc SceucS-ON
Fifty Persons are Hurt.
The most exciting FIRE that has visited
Philadelphia in years broks out shortly be-
fore eight o'clock P. NJ, on the stsge OF the
Grand Central Theater, aud before it was
gotten under control nearly million dollars
worth Of property had been destroyed, inc'ud-
ing the massive eight'story annex building
occupied by the Times newspaper. In the
panic IN the theater nearly forty persons,
mostly occupants Of the galleries. were hurt,
none, however, seriously.
The Central Theater is located on Walnut
street, between Eighth and Ninth, the most
thiekly settled portion Of the city, being sur
rounded by hotels, restaurants. boarding
houses, newspaper Offices and business houses.
Immediately In the rear Of the theater was the
Times building, which faced on Samson street.
The iheater was USUALLY devoted TO variety
performances, but this week Manager Gill
more, who is interested in several spectacular
productions, had one Of them, "The DEVILS
Auction, F" on his stage. Just before eight
o'clock, while the stage hands we're lowering
from the flies portion Of the setting for the
first scene, il became entaugled 10 the border
lights. In an instant the 1imsy canvass was y
mass OF flames. Tongues OF fire shot up othe roof
and blnz.ng scenery fell to the stage, and in
short space of time the entire rear portion
OF the iheatcr was mass of FIRE.
The production requires the services Of a
large number of female ehoristers aud ballet
dancers. These stood in the wings and about
the stage in scaniy attire waiting for the per
/ Torrance to begin. They were thrown into
panic, aud rushed about scarcely knowing
4 which way TO turn TO avoid the quickly spread
4 ing flames. All were, It is believed, gotten
/ safely out, although report is ia circulation
/ that three women connected With the ballet
| were in the dressingToom, and have not beer
/ seen since
I The police and The ,heater people say how.
/ ever, that all of the company have been nc.
/ counted for While the panic WIS In progress
/ on the stage, a scene OF even more inieuse eN.
! element was being enacted before the foot
I lights. Fortunately, the house was only par,
| tally filed. The aIf'iienee had just settled
| down In their seats, awaiting the beginning OF
] the performance, when they were startled by
the fash that came when the scenery caught,
which could be plainly seen through the low
| red curtain.
| The next minute bright white fame shot
/ through the curtsin, and those composing the
I audience realized that they were face to iacs
with that most awful Of situaiions--a theater
l fire.
] Everybody started for thu exits. The
weaker ouses we're borne down and erused un'
\ der foot One individual, maddened and
brutalized by excitement, drew a pocket.
Eniie. aud with It cut his way through the
mass ofpeople. Halt dosen or more people
we're found at the hospital, who had been vic
! Tins OF his frenzy. None Of their wounds.
no Seyer, were OF a m re rhanpainful character.
/ Tnis man was one OF the first TO reach the side
] nd IA, all h. -
/ leading from the galleries, aud were bruised
and scratched under the heels of those fol-
\ lowing them. In ALL h1y.two persons were
| cared for THE two hospitals near the theater.
/ Everybody was outside the burning structure
I within two minutes from the fine the Ere
/ started.
! The widest excit ,ment prevailed on the
| ST ee e. Ballet girls in gauze and tights rushed
/ hareheaded a. ound almost all of them in hys.
/ tirical condition. The FIRE spread with marvel,
\ Gus rapdity. and, by the time the FIRE appnr.
I atus arrived the theater was a mass Of flames.
| Looming away up above the rear Of tho
! theater was the lines annex building, ocRn'
/ pied on the seventh floor by the editorial
force, and on the eighth floor by the com.
4 posing and stereotypine forces.
The city department Of the Times wns in
( the rear Of the building, the windows Of it's
I looms overlooking the rear Of the theater.
/ One Of HE reporters saw from the window the
1890
| His cry Of alarm warned everybody IN the
1 room. Assistant City Editor Wilson grabbed
4 his assignment book and started for the eleva'
/ tor, followed by all Of the editors and repor.
/ ters. Nobody thought of stopping TO secure
I clothing or other property, the main idea be-
/ ing to get 10 the siTeet-seven stories below a.
I as quickly as possible. Everybody ga out
safely.
4 The scenes in the composing room, where
! about sereniy-fYe people were at work, were
4 o. the same character. Printers rushed from
| Their cases, not stopping TO gather any Of their
belongings. Ga The sixth floor was the Illus
/ irating department Of the Times and too, the
rooms Of the American Press Association.
/ The fnh floor was unoccupied The first,
second, third and fourth floors we're occupied
/ by DtKoscnko Il IIetherington, art metal
! Workers Their plant was one Of the most
valuable Of its kind In the country. The
/ wind wes blowing IN n direction 10 carry the
flames from the theRtef to the newspaper
building, aud to n few minutes the latter
structure was on fire. By $50 the entire in.
terror had leen Quilted.
At that hour the west wall md portion n
tie cast rall fell In, the latter crushing in q
| large portion 81 the cne-story power house Of
the Philadelphia Tracii-n Company. which
contained the two immense ebgines recently
put in position, which propelled the com
pany's street cars over the lower section Of tha
| city.
These engines ore covered with bricks and
debris TO a depi Of twelve feet, and IL will
be several weeks before the cables can be
/ operated.
| As TIE confusion following the FIRE some.
what suLsided, the casualties we're fodn1 20 be
more serious than wns at FIRST supposed. Forty.
one people were admitted 10 the Pennsylvania
I Hospital. Most Of them we're suffering from
| burns, an1 Of the foriy.one about twenty are
] N ssfious condition. Their injuries ore
/ mainly ab6'f fi,s lace, and many, It Is fearedl
I have i.een blinded f6f life hy the fierce wall
\ Of FIRE they fought their wdy through. The
I jefferson Hospital attended to thirty Of the
/ injured tut Of this number on'y nine wcri
! seri ,usly enough burned 10 be kept in the in.
/ sthutiVn