The Portland daily press., 1892-04-28
THE DEVILS AUCTION.
Million Of Property Swept Away in
a Clend Of Flame.
FIRE AND PANIC IN A QUAKER
CITY PLAY HOUSE.

Wild Rush of the Audience to Escape--
One Man Cuts His Way Out With a
Knife-A Ballet Performance in the
Street.-The Times, Newspaper, Burned
Out-Seventy Injured-Some Missing.
PHILADELPHIA, April 27.-The most
sensational fire that has visited this city
in years broke out shortly before eight
o'clock tonight on the stage of the Grand
Central theatre. Before it was got UNI
dev control, nearly a million dollars
worth of property was destro yed, includ-
ing occupied by the Times newspaper.
In the panic in the theatre nearly fifty
people were hurt, but none seriously.
The Central theatre is located on Walnut
street, between Eighth and North, in the
most thickly settled portion of the oisy,
being surrounded by hotels, restaurants,
boarding houses, newspaper offices and
business houses. Immediately in the
rear of the theatre was the Times build,
ing, which faced on SAMSON street, This
week, a spectacular production, "The
DEVILS Auction held the stage of the
theatre.
just before eight O'Clock, while the
stage hands were lowering from the flies
a portion of the setting for the first scene
it became entangled in the bord er lights,
and in an instant, the fiimsy canvas was
a mass of flames, Tongues of fire shot
up to the roof and the blazing scenery
fell to the stage. In short time the en-
tire rear portion eof the theatre was
mass of fire. The production requires
the services of a large number of female
chorus singers and ballet dancers They
stood in the wings and about the stagein
scanty attire, awaiting for the perform
ance to begin.
They Were Thrown Into Panic
and rushed about, scarcely knowing
which way to turn to avoid the quickly
spreading flames. All were. it is be-
lieyed, got safely out. Fortunately, the
house was only partially filed. The au-
dience had just settled down in their
seats awaiting the beginning of the per-
formance when they were startled by the
fash that came when the scenery caught.
which could be plainly seen through the
red curtain. The next minute, bright.
white flames shot through the curtain.
Realizing that the. theatre was afire, ev-
erybody in the audience started for the
exits. The weaker ones were borne
down and crushed under foot and one
individual maddened by excitement,
drew a pocket knife and cut his way
through the mass of people. Half
dozen or more people We're found at the
hospital to be victims of his frenzy. None
of their wounds are dangerous. This
man was one of the first to reach the
sidewalk. Men and boys fell On the
stairway leading from the galleries and
were bruised and scratched under the
heels of those following them. IN all,
81 persons were cared for at two hospi-
tails near the theatre. Everybody was
outside the burning structure within two
minutes from the time the fire started.
The widest excitement prevailed on the
streets.
Ballet Girls in Gauze and Tights
rushed bareheaded around, almost in
hysterical condition. The fire spread
with marvellous rapidity and by the time
the fire apparatus reached the scene the
building was a mass of flames.
Looming away up above the rear of
the theatre was the Times annex build
ing. occupied on the seventh floor by the
editorial force and on the eighth by the
compositors and stereotyping force. The
city department of the Times was in the
rear of the building. A reporter saw
from the window the flames shoot
through the roof of the theatre His cry
of alarm warned everybody in the room
and all the reporters and editors started
for the elevator. Nobody thought of
stopping to secure clothing or other prop
erty. Everybody got out safely The
scenes in the composing room. where
about IS were at work, were of the same
character. The printers rushed from the
cases, not waiting to gather any of their
belongings.
The fire spread rapidly, and before it
was subdued had caused the destruction
of the Times annex building and the
Traction Company power house, which
will cause the suspension of cable car
traffic for several weeks. Anumber of
other buildings were more or less dam
aged, including the Boulson House and
the building of Taggart's Sunday Times.
The principal losers are: Central thea
tire building 1000, insurance $4,000;
costumes and scenery $4,000, insurance
$4,000; The Times $3.50, 900, insured for
about two thirds; Dekosenko & Hether-
ington Manufacturing Company, 500,
600; Hamilton & Diesinger, jewellers,
$780, 900, half insured, and on building
$4,000. J. O'Callaghan Sons silk ban
ner and badge manufacturer, $4,000.
Later-Seventy- people were adj
mitted to the hospitals, most suffering
from burns. About 20 are in serious
condition. A number of people connect
ed with the theatrical company are re-
ported missing.