Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-04-12
DAh 1DSON THEATER DESTROY
ED AT GREAT LOSS.
MANY FIREMEN Go DOWN TO
DEATH IN THE RUINS.
Assistant Chief Jansen Among the
Nictims-Horrible Predicament of
One of the Brave FellowS-Death
Threatened Either by Fire or
Water-Details OF the Holocaust.

Milwaukee, April 9.-The Davidson
theater. the finest playhouse in the
city, burned with its contents this
morning between 4 and ) O'Clock, en-
failing a loss of 100000 and causing
the death of from eight to ten fire
men. During the early stage of the
fire Fireman Ollie Refs put up lad
der from the roof of the adjoining
Davidson hotel, which was two stories
lower than the theater, to the roof
of the latter. AS he neared the top
Of the ladder it slipped and he fell
with it and was dashed to earth.
Later on, when the fire seemed to
be under control, about twenty fire
men were on the roof of the theater
lighting the flames. Without any
warning the roof collapsed beneath
them, precipitating them to the floor
Of the auditorium, six stories below,
where the flames were raging most
tiercely. In response to their cries of
agony others of their comrades rushed
into the blazing furnace and risked
their own lives in an attempt to rescue
them. Six OF eight were dragged to
the outer air alive, although badly
injured by their fall and the scOrch-
ing. Then all was still save the-crack-
ling Of the flames, and it was evident
the remainder of the unfortunateS
who went down with the roof were
dead.
Members of the insurance patrol
We're covering up the seats in the par
Quette when the roof fell. but most of
them managed to get beneath the gal
larry before the timbers came down on
them, though several were hit by the
falling wreckage The opening in the
roof gave a draft and soon the whole
interior was a Seething mass of flames,
licking up everything combustible.
Following is a partial list of those
buried in the ruins, who are certainly
dead: Assistant Chief August Jansen,
Fireman Geo. Jansen. Archie Camp
bell, Thomas Morgan, Frank Morgan
James Freeman, O'Neill and Crowley
At the morgue, Ollie Ries.
At the Emergency hospital; Captain
Linehan, probably fatally hurt: Lieut.
Curran, probably fatally hurt; Fred
Marsh. foot crushed; Fred Schroeder
and John zoe, badly burned.
1T was learned later that Crowley
was still alive in the ruins. After the
roof fell in the firemen began throwing
water on the wreckage to keep the fire
from any who might be alive. About
10n'cldck the flames Were subdued
enough to permit them to get nearer
and they were surprised to find Crow
ley conscious and able to talk. He
asked his reScuers to be careful not to
drown him with the streams. and said
there was a dead man near him
drowned by water thrown by the
firemen. 1t appeared some iron rods
men continued to throw water to keep
the flames from him while an engine
was kept drawing water from under
him to keep from drowning him. At
noon the dreadful alternative was
of cutting off his legs to re-
lease him. 1T is said that he requested
this to be done. There was ten feet of
Jul HIHS utDIIS dDOtlJ HILL he WAS
finally released from the ruins shortly
after noon, but badly hurt and may
die
The guests of the Davidson hotel fled
panic-stricken when the fire broke out,
though they were in no real danger
and all got out safely. The scenery
and costumes of the Llliputians play
ing at the theater, We're entirely de-
stroyed, with loss Of $4,000 to S75,-
900.
The theater cost three years ago be-
tween S350,O0O and 100000 The
walls still stand, and may possibly he
utilized in rebuilding.