Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-05

and several of the others were badly dam
aged by falling walls and water. On the
southwest corner of Eighth and Sansom
was the four.story building occupied by
Kitchen & Bounds as restaurant, and
Callahan IL Sons, manufacturers Of silk
badges. Nothing is left of this building
except the walls. Kitchen e Bounds loss
is placed at $1,000 and Callahan II Sons at
81 l.5pD and the loss on the building will
reach 81, 500 more. Next to the restaurant,
l2iSouth Eighth street, was the large three
story building owned by Mr.. Laucr of 3li
Walnut, and occupied as Il cigar store and
mannfactory by Il. ID. Vetterlcin. This
building and stock were entirely destroyed
and Mr.. Netierlein places his loss at from
$4,000 To- $4,000; the loss on the building
is about 5000.
Coultcr's mems furnishing store occu-
pied the ground floor of the four-story
building at 1875 South Eighth street, while
l.. Lum Smith, publisher of the igcnts'
Herald, was the tenant in the three floors
above. Coulters loss will reach $1,000 or
$1,000, and he has no insurance. Smith
will probably lose between $4,000 and
5000. but il is not known whether lie was
insured or not. Dr. Clapp ownsthe build
ing and valued il at about $4,000.
AT No. l2S South Eighth street was the
hat mandatory Of w. II, Saunders. 1t
occupied II fotir-story building. The rear
of the building was crushed in by falling
walls, after which it took fire and was
badly gutted Saunders loses all his stock,
valued ut 5000. On this he had SO, 800
insurance. The building, owned by the
Sauter estate, cannot be repaired for less
than $1,000. Bonds Japanese store, in
the four-story building at No. 130, was
damaged III the rear to the extent of 81, 900
by falling walls and water. The building
is also owned BY the Sautcr estate and
$1,000 will repair it,
Barker's Atlantic City confectionery
store occupied No. 1872. Mr.. Barker said
his loss was principally from water and
would reach 81 900, but he has no insur-
ance. The building, owned by the same
estate rs the other two, is damaged 81 900.
The Central Theatre wall fell in on the
rear of this building, carrying the roof
with it. The rear building of Il. p. Paul's
shoe store, at l3i South Eighth street, was
crushed in by the Central walls and a
flood of water poured in oyer the stock.
Mr.. Paul places his loss at 81 900; fully in
sured. The building, which IS owned by
q. J. Brinton of 2022 Locust street, Suffered
q similar loss.
NJ, q. Ottens, confectionery, No. 13S, and
L. Haas music store, at No. 1856, escaped
with such slight injury us not to need
mention. The cigar store on the corner of
Eighth and Walnut streets, also escaped
injury.
When the fire was burning briskly in
the building occupied by Bonds Japanese
store, at l30 South Eighth street, it was dis
covered that four men were on the upper
floor and that their escape had been cut
off by the burning of the stairway. Their
cries were heard by the tiremen and the
members of Truck B quickly raised Il
ladder to their assistance. Laddermen
Welch and Drain mounted the rungs
and soon had the men safely down. amid
the cheers of the immense crowd on the
street.
on the north side of SAMSON street,
above Eighth, all the fronts of the build
ings were badly scorched and all were on
fire at one time.
The buildings on Walnut street. west of
the theatre, including the publication
called the Poltlson House, and the Walnut
Street Theatre, were only saved through
the heroic efforts of the tiremen.
CRowDISG THE HOSPITALS.
II is thought that nearly 100 persons
were injured by the fire but fortunately
none OF them were reported to be in pre-.
carious condition last night. The Penn
sylvania and Jefferson hospitals cared fol
most of the unfortunates and kept record
of about 90 cases. But many OF the men
| and boys who were only slightly burned
| jllries dressed and without leaving their
names with the hospital authorities. Tn,
nature of the injuries in most cases were
burns about the face and hands.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
There are numerous stories ailoat regard
! ing the origin of the fire, the most substan
tial of which is one told by Mr.. William ]
| Gilmore, proprietor of the Central Theatre
and vouchcd for by, several attaches ano
numerous people who were in the audi
| ence.
The stage hands were lowering border
| scene just before the overture began ano
the Stacking of a rope threw the edge o
the scene through the wire which protect,
| the border lights. In an instant the fir,
| caught, and the draft which is always stir
| ring in the flies spread the flames witt
| great ralidity.
The entire company-Mr Gilmores OWL
of which Mr.. William b. Andrews Il
| manager, which is presenting the Devil.
| Auction" and which consisted Of ~ peopl,
were behind the scenes. They, of course
knew of the fire before the audience saw i
| break through the curtain, and there wa
a pell nell rush for the stage exit doors.
How they got out no one can be folinc
who can tell 4 story which agrees with tha
ol some one else, but at ii o'clock las
! night Mr.. Gilmorc's manager Mr.
| Andrews reported TO him that ever,
member of the company was safe, the las
to be accounted for being the Chittens sis
ters, who were taken to the Pcnrose Clut
rooms, on Ninth street., near SAMSON
There were no members seriously burned
although q few sustained severe bruise
and painful burns in trying to escape
| Everything owned by them in the theatre
was lost-fed to the flames, and those per
formers who were TO go on first escape,
in their stage costumes,
| pmIIAnEIpu1A Anril 2S-trhe de