The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-15
si,OOO,OOO FIRE IN BUFFALO.
THE OLD Arcade AND ANOTHER
MOCK BURNbD

Robtnsor's Muuee Theatre, Shea's Coseert
Hall a. n. Adnu,s's BiG Dry Goods store,
and - wholesale Grocer are DESTROYED.
Brrr.ro. Dec. 14.-The block at Clinton and
Main streets and extending back to Washing
ton known as tho Arcade. was destroyed by
IRE this morning. and Robinsons Musee
Theatre and Shca's concert hall tho latter the
finest between New York and Chicago.
are IN ruins At z o'clock people in
the vicinity heard mufIled explosion. Inc
scrub woman in charge OF the morning
work about the building had just arrived at
that timo and had been engaged in work
about the pretty auditorium. When the
EXPLOSION came the woman rushed through
tho corridors crying Fire. and the night
watchman reused those who occupied apart
ments in the building. All the inmates cs-
capped, though the Hro spread with such light
ming rapidity that In very short time tho
entire big building was enwrapped in flames.
It was evident from the fret that IL was
hopeless to think Of saving the Arcade
building and especial attention was d.
rected to checking the progress Of the fire to-
ward Eagle street The flames had penetrated
the building OF FaXon. Williams h Faxon.
wholesale grocers. and J. " Adams's big dry
goods store was threatened but vigorous
work on the Part Of the flremen saved It, and
the ilrc was confined.
Al this point tho water tower was located,
and its incpssant stream at this critical Juno
ture materially contributed TO save the re-
Almost innumernGie streams from the west,
north aud east sides OF the. Arcade building
we're keeping the flames well in the Arcade and
:, Among those who will suffer BY the if,T
Clothes Cleaning Company. 7. g. Tunke, Jew
elier and optician: Thebaud \ Co. dyers Har-
ngmbeTs j't Heum T H. pRotogrspRer:S LEVIN
cigars; ID. Levin, clothier: OTTO Ulbrich. sta
TONER; Faxon, Williams 4 Faxon. groccrs;
Cent store COMPANY. and anumber OF occu"
pants Of the Offices and tenants OF the living
The IRE was caused BY. an explosion OF
natural gas under tho boilers, which we're
Had 1t occurred when the theatre and concert
hall were running the loss OF lie would have
rERS e S Was can the bosT te
when the explosion occurred. and there does
not seem TO be the slightest chance OF his hay
ing ESCAPED. lie has not boon seen since the
N. c. shea. proprietor OF the. concert hall,
insurance. Mr.. Robinson. proprietor Of the
Muse Theatre, thought HE 9ss would not be
store is total loss together with the con-
tents. The building was valued at $500 900:
The Urn dLd general grocery business ,I and
cigars. SC. They were insured for about
$50 900 and the loss on their, goods will ex-
Is pacs "9f at 5"ood '0'a' '0'S o' 'ne hFe
Tho Arcade building was three stories In
height and covered one-third OF a block. 1t
was built in 1853 and had none Of the modern
improvements; The building itself was not
valuable. but IL occupied splendid business
location. When the Government was looking
for a site for ltnflalo's Post ONCE the Arcade
building was offered, hut was not accented:
Louis Fridez, the night watchman and fire.
man Tor the Nus6e Theatre. who was sup
posed to have persisted. turned up safely at
about noon. He said he made his last round
Of the Musae at u o'clock. The engines were
running as usual and everything appeared TO
be al! right. About $3.50 he went up stairs to
let in the scrub woman. and. while doing so,
the explosion occurred He ran through the
building CRYING Fire" arousing the in mates.
There were q number OF narrow escapes.
Manager Franklin OF the Musee Theatre
roomod on the third floor and was not awak-
ened until the flames had cut of his esca pc by
the stairways. lie was rescued with q ladder,
almost overcome with the smok e. Proprietor
through binding smoke. the intense heat
almost blistering his flesh. Several women
were rescued from windows by the hremen on
ladders