The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-29

COLUMBUS, O.. Nov 2f-About s
o'clock this evening as the orchestra was
playing the overture at the new Henrlet-
Ia theater FOR the opening Of a play by
the Felix Morris company the manager
announced there was a fire in the rear
and requested the audience to quietly re-
tire. All passed out in order.
The fire originated in the auditorium
an uncompleted portion Of the structure.
and communicated TO the theater prop
er. 1t soon became evident that the
new Chittenden hotel, which was a por-
ton of the same structure. connected
by a bridge. would also burn. Within
two hours the whole of the quarter
block had been burned over, entailing a
loss estimated at from 100000 10
S7OO.O
The buildings were owned by II. r.
Cbittenden. who did not carry more than
$50. OOO insurance. The loss of the Hotel
Chittenden company, composed Of ShOup
K COwen, is estimated at 100000, which
was in furniture alone. Dickson & Tai
bOtt Of indianapolis were lessees of the
Henrietta and opened IL IN September,
1892 when it was completed. They were
also lessees Of the Park thcater in the
same block. which was also consumed.
A sensational drama was being present
eQ Dy Gray q stephens at Ine BdIh-
The loss Of Dickson * Talbot at both
theaters will be between $4,000 and $15,-
000 The loss of Chittenden. owner Of
the buildings, Will be over $500 600
Firms who occupied business rooms IL
the buildings were the Ohio state saw
ings and trust company. whose loss will
be about $1,000; a saloon, shoe house,
drug store and q small clothing house
were completely destroyed. The loss of
Felix Morris & Co. Is about $1,000 on
wardrObes which were burned.
The fire takes from Columbus her best
theater. her best hotel and a number OF
fourishinE business enterprises
The ticket Office Of the Columbus,
Hooking Valley * Toledo railway com
pany was burned with a comparatively
small loss.
As soon as the alarm Of fire was given
in the hotel the widest scenes prevailed.
There were about one hundred guests
in the hotel and they at once set about
in a pell-meil manner 10 save their per-
sOnal effects. The double elevator was
kept running until it finally became
evercrowded and stalled at the second
floor and had to be abandoned. The
guests then made use OF the stairways
and ran 20 and fro with trunks and
clothing such as they could gather in
the excitement OF the moment and the
majority Of them succeeded in saving
much Of their goods. Some of the per-
manent bOarders in the hotel met with
severe losses.
Gov. Mckinley and wife who were
regular boarders at the hotel and had
elegant apartment were not in the city,
not having returned from Boston. Adjt.-
Gen. Howe and other members of the
governors staff who were early on the
scene made a speciality Of saving the
governors effects and carried all to a
place Of safety before being driven out
by the fire. The loss Of the governor
and wife viii be comparatively nothing
With all the excitement attending one
OF the most terrific fires which has Wis
tied Columbus there were no serious in
1uries to persons and but one was killed
he being Harvey Thompson, a janitOr
who was engaged about the Henrietta
theater lie was trying to lay a hose
10 fight the fire inside the building when
he was cut off by the flames and per-
Ished.