The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-04-30
TELEGRAPHIC.
Destructive Fire In Philadelphia.


PHILADELPHIA, April 27.-The most
sensational fire that has visited this city
in years broke out Tonight on the stage
OF the Grand Central theater, and before
1t could be gotten under control nearly
$1,000,00O worth of property was de-
stroyed, including the massive eight story
annex building occupied by the Times.
There was panic in the theater and
nearly fifty persons, mostly occupants of
the galleries, were hurt, none seriously,
however. Just before s o'clock, while
the stage hands were lowering scenery
from the flies, portion of setting be-
came entangled ia the border lights. In
an instant tongues of fire shot up to the
roof and blazing scenery fell to the stage,
snd in short space of time the entire
rear portion CT the theater was a mass OF
fire. A number of female chorlsters aud Y
ballet danrers, who stood In the wings
waiting for the performance to begin,
were thrown into panic, and rushed
about, scarcely knowing which way TO
turn to avoid the quickly spreading
flames. All, 1t is believed, were gotten
safely ut, although there is report that
several ballet girls are missing. a scene
of even more intense excitement was en-
acted before the footlights. The house
was only partly filed. When the aud
ience realized that they were face to face
with fire, every body started for the exits,
and the weaker ones were borne down
and crushed nnder foot.
DRIVEN TO FRENZY.
One individual maddeued and brutal
lied by the excitement, drew pocket
knife and cut his way through the mass
of people. Half dozen or more persons
were found at the hospital who had been
the victims of his frenzy. None of the
wounds, however, were of a serious char
acter. Men and boys fell on the stair
ways leading from the galleries, and we're
bruised and scratched under the heels of
those following them. Fifty-two persons
were cared for at two hospitals near the
theater. The widest excitement pre-
vailed on the streets. Ballet girls in gauze
and tights rushed bare headed around,
almost all of them in hysterical condI-
tion. The fire spread with marvellous
rBpldity, and by the time the fire appar-
atus arrived the building was mass of
flames. The alarm was promptly re-
sponded to, and all the occupants of the
Times annex building ran out in safety.
The first, second. third and fourth floors
were occupied by Dekoskene & Hether-
Ington, art metal workers.
The wind was blowing in direction
to carry the flames to the newspaper
building, and in few minutes the struc-
ture was on fire. By o'clock the entire
interior was gutted. Then the west wall
and portion of the east wall fell, the
former crushing In large portion of the
one story power house of the Philadelphia
Power company. The east wall crushed
the four story building occupied by
Hamilton & Diesinger, manufacturing
jewellers, and portions of several buildings
below on Eighth street. The front wall
filed Sansome street with bricks and
stone and damaged the building oppo.
site, In the cellar were the new presses
of the Times, which were ruined beyond
repair. The Paulson House roof was
burned and the building soaked with
water. The Continental Hotel escaped
with slight scorching. Colonel A. G.
Mcclure, editor of the Times, lost val
liable political library.
MANY SERIOUSLY INJURED.
AS the confusion following the fire
somewhat subsidized, the casualties were
found to be more serious than was at
first supposed. Forty-one persons were
admitted to the Pennsylvania hospital,
and about twenty are In serious condi-
tion. The injuries are mainly about the
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 institution. A |
number of people are missing, and it is
not known whether they perlshed or have
remained among the crowd around the
ruins. 1t is not known, positively, up to
q late hour, whether or not any of the
company which was performing at the
Central theater were killed or injured
but it is reported that William B. Brooks,
Vincencita Chitten, Sarah Goldman, ,Thos.
Lorllla and his wife Flora, all of whom
were connected with the company, are
missing.