The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-28
Blazing Curtain Frightens the Audience, and
Rush for the Outside Follows in Which
Many Were Trampled Under Foot.
Several Members of the "Devil's Auc-
tion" Company Reported Missing.
Some Big Buildings Destroyed. Including the
Times Annex-Total Loss Estimated at
$1,000,0OO-Names Of the Injured.
PANIC IN A THEATER,


PHILADELPHIA. April GA million dol
lars gone up In smoke and flames and
nearly an entire square consumed ls the
record of the fire fend's work in PhIladel-
phia tonight. The territory devastated by
the flames is bounded on the north by San
som street. on the south by Walnut
street. on the east by Eighth street and on
the west by Ninth street. In the block
were the Central Theater. now q smoulder-
ing ruin, and the historic old Walnut. street
Theater, which was not reached by the fire.
The Times annex. which stood in the rear of
the Central Theater, where the flames
originated, is also in ruins. In addition
to the Times. which occupied two floors
and . basement. the building was
occupied by number Of business
houses. whose losses will be heavy. The
amount is impossible to give at this hour.
as the fire. whlch Is under control. 10 still
burning. The Times and Paulson's Hotel.
which stood on Walnut street above
the theater. are badly Ruttcd,
and the loss will be heavy.
All the buildings on Eighth street
between Walnut and SAMSON are badly
damaged by fire, smoke and water. as
are those pointing to Walnut street.
At this hour "a. ny o careful estimate
places the entire loss at over g.. .O0O, 900. and
it is said that the insurance will not reach
100000.
The fire was one of the most sensational
winch has ever occurred in this city. At
8 o'clock Gilmorss Central Theater. the
most popular variety theater in the city.
was crowded. the attraction be-
ing the Devils Auction" While
the orchestra was playing the
overture o stage hand was startled by the
discovery of fire In the fies A sky border
had swung against one of the border lights.
and in an instant q sheet of flames swept
over the stage. The innammable scenery
caught like finder. and almost before
the alarm could be given the stage was q
mass of fire. Half dressed chorus girls and
actors made wild rush for life and sought
to reach the street. Those on the stage
easily escaped, but those in the dressing.
rooms under and above the stage
had o hard struggle for life.
As they rushed from their dressing
rooms they were met at every turn by the
flames and many had narrow escapes A
number of the women tainted and were
carried into the street almost at the cost of
their life and those of the rescuera All of
them lost every thing except the costumes
which they had on at the moment the fire
started.
MAD RUSH FOR THE DOORS.
In the front Of the house the first warn
ing received was from the crier on the stage.
which was followed by q burst of smoke
and tongue of fame which swept through
tho proscenium arch. Fire" re-
sounded on every side. and there
was rush for the doors.
Men. women and boys were borne down
and crushed to the floor in the fight to
reach safety. In the top gallery the rush
was the worst, as the staircase
leading to the street Is mar
row and tortuous. At the Walnut
street front are improved fire escapes.
and hundreds reached the street by them.
Hundreds more were. however. trampled
under foot, crushed and bruised into in
sensibility and left lying in the burning
theater. The force of officers on the spot
worked like beavers, and On alarm had
been quickly followed by o second.
The police and fremen began work at
once. and brought ont those who had been
injured and left to perish. Many were
found to be but slightly injured. and took
care of themselves as best they could.
for there were too many who
needed medical aid at once to be provided
for. Ambuances from the Jefferson.
Pennsylvania. Hahnemann and Univer-
sity hospitals were promptly on the
ground. and. aided by the police
wagons carried about $50 injured
to the hospitals. The Pennsylvania
Hospital alone received forty and at mid
night had thirty light Of the injured in the
wards. The flames spread like wildfire.
and In an incredibly short time the rear OF
the theater was a mass of soothing flames,
which shot high into the air.
Directly in the rear of the Central Thea
ter. and fronting on SAMSON street. was the
eight-story Times annex. separated from
the theater only by q few feet OF
space. As the flames shot up
they licked the wall and burst
through the windows. and that, too
was doomed. When the alarm was given
the whole force of the Times was at work
The compositoTs were on the top floor and
the editorial staff on the sew
enth floor. Ample time was afford
ed for escape, and the employees had
no trouble in leaving the building
in safety. The Times editorial-room;
were elegantly fitted mp. and q valuable
library occupied q section of the floor
Every thing was eaten up by the fire
which. while il made very slow progress II
the Times building, was no less effective.
PANIC AVOIDED AT THE WALNUT.
At the southwest corner of tho square. a.
Ninth and Walnut. is the historic old Wa.
nut-street Thcater. where a large audienc,
had assembled to see comedy
When the alarm was gwen Busi
ness MANAGER Simpson dectled instant
ly and dismissed the sssem blsgt