Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-02
BOSTON ABLAzE AGAIN.
The Globe Theater the Center
 of a Big Fire.
WAS STARTED BY A CIGARETTE.

The Fire Was Near the Heart of the Big
 Dry Goods District, and For Awhile the Hub FiremenWorked Desperately-Part
 of the City Without Light.
 BOSTON, Jan. 2-The new year began in this city of large fires with destructive and at one time very dangerous blaze in the Globe theater on Washington street, owned by John Stetson and at present oc- cupied by the Hanlons' "Superha' compa- ny, whicS is playing an engagement here. The elegant playhouse is completely gutted and the property of the Hanlons ruined.
 Early this morning every engine that could possibly be spared was being used to try and protect adjacent property. At that time the large six story building just erected by the Harvard college trustees had caught, and every effort was being made to save it. It looked at one time as if the entire block on the Harrison avenue extension would be swallowed up. Dur ing the progress of the fire several severe explosions occurred, which proved to be the powder and cartridges owned by the Hanlon company.
 It is stated that every particle of the wardrobes of the company has been lost. The inmates of the houses on Essex street and Hayward place prepared to leave in case the confagration extended. The efforts of the firemen on this street were gigantic, and every line of hose that could be obtain ed was brought into play with partial sue cess. On the Essex street side, adjoining the theater on each side, are valuable blocks Of buildings occupied by large business concerns.
 The City En Darkness.
 The streets of the city were in total dark ness, and the electric cars ceased to run, owing to the current being turned off. The heavens were illuminated with the blaze, which could be seen fer miles around. Sparks from the fire travelled with the wind two and three blocks away. The wa ter towers which were stationed on the Washington street aside of the fire poured thousands of gallons of water into the fiery furnace.
 The first alarm of the fire was given at 1:15 a. m., and this was quickly followed by a second and third alarm. When Chief Webber saw how the fire was gaining, he had a fourth alarm turned in. It is thought the fire started in the coatroom of the the ater by some one throwing lighted ciga- rette on the floor and that it smoldered un- til it broke out into a blaze.
 It is estimated that the loss on the thea ter will be in the neighborhood of $500, ,0OO, and that of the Hanlon ''Superba'' com pany will be in the vicinity of $40O00, as they have not been able to save any of the valuable scenery which they carry with them.
 This is the second time the Globe theater has been visited by fire, the first time be- ing on Decoration day, 1873. This was the original Selwyn theater, which was opened Oct. %, 1867. This house was built by DeX- ter Follett and the late Arthur Cheney, being named after its first manager, John H. Selwyn.
 III fate also seems to follow the Hanlon company, for about a year ago, while per forming at the Euclid Avenue Opera House in Cleveland, they lost all in the destruc- tion of that theater by fire.
 The fire was checked on the Essex street and Harrison avenue extension side of the theater but on Hayward place the fire still continued eating it's way into the adjacent buildings The Globe cafe is total loss, nothing but the walls remaining. Every effort was made to confine the fire, with fair success. During the whole conf1agra- tion not an accident was reported.