The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-25
coLUHBUs rnfArRE BURNED.
Over Nil ion Dousrs' Damage Done
and a. Least On Life l. st,

over n Nil ion Doilars' Damage Done
and a. Least On Life List.
COLUMBUS. o., Nov. 24.-Fire broke
out in the new Henrietta Theatre, cor
ner Spring and Front streets, at SIS to-
night, and in less than an hour and a
half the elegant playhouse. the Chitten-
! den Hotel and Auditorium, and the Park
4 Theatre were IN ruins.
| Felix Morris in THE Paper Chase" was
| playing IN the Henrietta, and the or
chestra had just finished the overture,
wnen Manager owens appeared on the
stage ana informed the audience that
there y as small blaze in the rear of the
Theatre. and suggested that they leave
the house. As no flames were to be seen
and the audience was small, they dld so
in order The members OF the company
were dressed for their parts, and as they
were assured the Theatre was nre-proof.
made no emort to remove their ward
f)oes. In few moments the flames.
which first appeared IN the large audi
torium adjoining the Theatre which was
diminished. broke out in the rear OF the
stage. Almost instantly the whole pros
cenium was ablaze. The members OF the
company fled In their stage clothes. The
manager saved almost nothing.
or o. ... , ost.
a high wind was blowing from the west
and famed the flames, 80 that when Che
ire department arrived The theatre was
doomed and the Chittendeu Hotel adloin-
Ing on the east, was burning
A man who was recognized as Andrew
Armstrong, a stage hand, and who work
ed above the scenery. appeared al "a
fourth-story window of tine theatre and
cried for help. He was told not TO jump
ana he would be saved. He disappeared
from the window, and was not seen
again.
The walls Of the theatre fen I'm soon
after SO far as now known this was the
only life lost. The guests Of the Chitten-
den Hotel had ample time O. escape. but
rev OF them saved any properly. Steadily
lAe names worked away at the fine hotel
the fire department being app rently help /
less. In an hour after the fire broke out /
In the Henrietta the hotel was falling 1
into ruins.
Just north Of the hotel, on the High /
.reet front, stood the Park Theatre I
Gray and Stephens, with their trained |
dogs ana ponies, were giving al exhibl- 4
ton there. fhe curtain was suddenly
rung down there, and the audience was
informed that the hotel adjoining was on
ire So far was the audience from being
panic-stricken that they refused to 30 out.
ana demands We're made that the per-
romance proceed. They finally went out
slowly. A half hour later this theatre.
which was frame and very combustlble
was in ruins. Here also the company lost
much property but saved their animals
The Chittenden had Just entered upon It's
second season.
o. Nj lion Drmags.
The Theatre and the Chittenden Hotel
were built three years ago by Henry u.
Chttenden and were owned by him The
Henrietta was supposed 10 be fire.
proof The Park Theatre was owned by
a stock company. The loss on the Hen
Iletta Theatre and Auditorium is about
$4,000; on the Chittenden Hotel, includ-
hs furnishings and property contained
li II, SiOoOU and the Park Theatre. slO-
~ There We're also in the building the
Jhio Savings Bank the Star shoe store.
ftlces drug store, and GoOdman's clothing
store.
The losses on these win aggregate So
w Ihere was Insurance on all the build
lhSs ana property burned. the exact
'mount or which could not be obtained
n the confusion tonight.
The fire destroyed the whole SQUARE
bounded by High, Spring. and Front
treets' and the first alley north of
prng street. II IS not known how the
re originated, but it was probably from
defective fiue In the Theatre.
The engineer Of the Theatre. named
thompson, is missing. but as his duties
ept him In the basement. il is not like
mat he has been burned
Messrs. Dickson and Talbot. lessees OF
otH Theatres, claim that an actor named
toward, with the Felix Morris Company,
ad not been seen since the fire. and fear
e is lost