Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-25
ONE LIFE is LOST
Fire Destroys the Columbus Thea
ters and a Hotel.
CAUSING A LOSS OF MILLIONS
One Man Lost His Lif'. in the Flames.
Governor Mckiniey's Goods ia
the Hotel saved.

CoLUAECs. Ohio. Nov "a Fire broke
out in the new Hearieita theatre. corner
of Spring and Front streets at s;l5 To
night aud ia less than an hour aud a
half this elegant playhouse the Chit
tenden hotel and auditorium and the
Park theatre were IN ruins- Felix
Morris in the Paper Chase" was at the
Henrietta thester and the orchestra had
just finished the overture when the
manager. Albert Ovens. appeared on the
stage aSd inform-d the audience that
there was Q small hlaze in the rear OF
the theatre and suggested that they
leave the theatre. Asno flames were 10
be seen. aud the audience was small.
they did 20 in order. The members Of
the company were dressed for their
paris. and ss they we're assured the
theatre was firepruoi. made no effort 20
remove their wardrobes- In few
moments the flames. which first ap-
peared IN the large auditorium adjoin.
ing the theatre and which was unfin-
ished. broke out IN the rear OF the stage.
Almost instantiy the whole bnilding
was ab.azs. The members OF the com.
pany fed IN their stage clothes A high
Wind was blowing from the west and
famed the flames SO that when the IRE
department arrived the theatre was
doomed and the Chittenden hotel. ad-
joining on the east WIS burning.
Pcrished an the Flames.
A man, who was recognized as An
drew Armstrong. stage hand. and who
worked above the scenery. appeared at "A
fourth story window OF the theatre and
cried Tor help. He Was told not TO lump
and he would be saved. He disap.
peared from the window and was not
seen again. The walls of the theatre
fell ia soon afterward. So far as now
Known this was tho only life lost. The
guests OF the Chittcnden hotel had
ample time TO escape. but few of them
saved any property. Steadily the flames
worked away at the fino hotel, the tire
department being apparently helpless
la an hour after the FIRE broke out 10
the Henrietta, the hotel was fast falling
into ruins. just north of the hotel on
High street front stood the Park theatre.
ia which Gray 4 Stephens, with their
trained dogs and ponies. were Civ
ing an exhibition. The curtain
dr cuddChl. Aunk dOhu anu the
audience was informed that the
hotel adjoining was on tire. So far was
the audiences from being panic stricken.
they refused to go out and demands
were made that the. performance pro-
ceed. They finally went out slowly. A
half hour later this theatre, which was
frame building. was in ruins. Here
also the company lost their property.
but saved their animals. The Henri
eta had just started upon it's second
season. The theatre. with the auditor
ium adjoining, and the Chit.enden hotel
were built three years ago by Henry II.
Chittenden. and were owned by him.
The Henrietta was supposed to be fire
proof The Park theatre was owned by
"A stock company. The loss on the Hen.
rietta theatre and auditorium is about
100000; that on the Chittenden hotel,
including furnishings and property. con-
tanned siOO.OUO. and the Park theatre
$1,000.
Mckinley's Property saved.
Governor Mckinley lives at The Chit
tenden. but both he aud Mrs. Mckinley
are in the east now. The private prop
erty OF value that the governor had in
his apartments was saved by Capt. IL.
o. ). Heinand. who happened To be in
the hotel. the fire destroyed the whole
square bounded by High. Spring and
Front streets. and the first alley north
of Spring street IL is not known how
the hire originated. but probably from
a defective flue IN the theatre. The
stage of the Henrietta was one of the
largest in the country. aud the theatre
was elegant and modern 10 construc-
tion. Julia Marlowe opened the house
the first week in September. 1872 Stu.
art Robson was billed TO play there next
Monday night Messrs. Dickson and
Talbot. lcssecs of both theatres, claim
that an actor named Howard. with the
Felix Morris company. has not been
seen since the ire and il is feared he il
lost There was insurance on all the
buildings and property burned. the exact
amount Of which could not he secured
IN the confusion tonight