New-York tribune., 1893-11-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES CLOTHES
TWO THEATRES BURNED In TIE CAPITAL
CITY OF OHIO.
A HOTEL ALSO, TIE HOME OF GONEhNoi' VI MIN
LEY. DESTROYED-FELIX NORRIS > lEi'fo foi'A-
ANCE INTERRUPTED-ONE LIFE LOST.


Columbus. Ohio. Nov. A-Fire broke out In the
Henrietta Theatre tonight, ana III ieSS INA"
an hour and half this elegant playhouse the
Chittenden Hotel and auditorium ana ,he rark
Theatre were In ruins Felix Morris, in THE Paper
Chase" was playing at the Henrietta lhea're
and the orchestra had just hnished 'he o'e''"ie
when the manager, Albert Ovens, appearea oh inc
stage and informed the audience that 'here was
small blaze in the rear Of the theatre. and sug-
gested that they leave the house. As no ha'ies
were to ba and the audience was SMALL '''ey
did SO in order The members of the company
were dressed for their parts ana as 'he! "e'e as
sured the theatre ireproof, made II" e'ior' 10
remove their wardrobes. In few moments the
flames. which first appeared in the large audi
torium adjoining the theatre. when was uh'ilshe'
broke out in the of the stage ana almost
Instantly the whole proscenium was abiaZe Ihe
members of the company fed in their stage ciothes
The manager said to a United Press representative
that he had saved almost nothing.
A high wind was blowing from the west and
famed the flames so that when the fire department
arrived the theatre was doomed anu the |ni'-
tenden Hotel. adjoining was burning
A man who was recognized Andrew ARM
strong a stage hand, and who worked above the
scenery. appeared at the fourth story wihuow OF
the theatre and cried for help He was told not
to jump and he would be saved He disappeared
from the window and not seen again. The
walls of the theatre fell in soon after. SO far as
now known this the only life lost the
guests Of the Chittenden Hotel had ample time to
escape, but few of them saved any property.
Just north of the hotel the High-st. front
stood the Park Theatre. Gray x stephens with
their trained dogs and ponies were giving an
exhibition there The curtain was suddenly rIng
down there and the audience was informed that
the hotel adjoining on fire. so far was the
audience from being panic-stricken that they re-
fused to go out. and demands were made that the
performance proceed. They finally went out slowly.
A half hour later this theatre, which was frame
and very combustibe, In ruins. Here also
the company los: much property. but saved their
animals.
The Henrietta Theatre. the auditorium adjoining
and the Chttenden Hotel were built three years
ago by Henry r. Chittenden. and were owned by him.
The Park Theatre owned by stock company.
The loss on the Henrietta Theatre and auditorium
Is about 100000.
The Chittenden Hotel. including furnishings and
property. was worth $4,000, and the Park Theatre
$4,000 There were also in the buildings the Ohio
Savings Bank. the Star shoe store. Rices drug
store and Goodmans clothing store The losses on
these will aggregate $4,000 There was an insurance
all the property burned.
Governor Mckinley lives at the Chittenden. but
both he and Mrs. Mckinley are in the East now
The private property Of value that the doVerhor
had in his apartments was saved by captain
II. o. s. Heistand. OF the Regular Army who
happened to be in the hotel.
Ths fire destroyed the whole square bounded by
High Spring AMI Front SITS. and the first alley
north of Spring-st. 1t is not known how the hre
originated. but 1t was probably from defective
fuc in the theatre. The engineer Of the theatre,
named Thompson. Is missing. but as his duties
kept him in the basement II is not likely tha. he
has been burned. The stage Of the Henrietta was
one Of the largest in the country and the theatre
was elegant ard modem In construction. Julia
Narlows opened the Henrietta the first week In
September. 1892. Stuart Robson was billed to play
there next Monday night
Messrs Dickson and Talbot. lessees OF both thea
tres say that an actor named Howard with the
Felix Morris Company. has not been seen since the
fire and they fear he is lost
The manager of Felix Morris Is assured that his
company all escaped from the theatre In safety.
1t is believed that lives lost except that OF
Armstrong though many fremen were seriously
injured by falling bricks.