The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-04-10

MILWAUKEE, Wis, April o.. The
Davidson theatre, tho finest play house
in Milwaukee, and ono OF tho hand
soonest and costliost stthcatresin tho coun
try, was destroyed by fire, which broke
out between and o'clock this morn
ing. The valuable scenery carried by
tho Liliputians, whose ten days engage.
mcnt at tho theatre was to close on
Wednesday, ia gone. Manager Roscn.
thai, OF the company, says it was worth
$4,000.
Shortly after 5 o'clock when the fire
was seemingly under control, tho roof
on which score or moro OF tho brave
firemen stood rs they ioughtthe flames
won't down and the bravo men werC
carried with it to tho floor OF tho audi
torium below. Some wero extricated
from the furnace OF flames in which the
whole interior was now enyelopcd b.
their brave and moro fortunate COM
rades who risked their lives to drag ou,
the PROSTATE forms OF the dead and in
jured mon. Six or eight mon were soon
brought out and those who wero able tc
speak said there must be ton more in
the ruins where death awaited thcm
For these poor follows there was nc
chance. The burning roof had fallen
on them and they were roasted to death
il they were not killed in that ter
riblc plunge from the roof.
HORRIBLE FATE.
A cry OF horror went up from the
tiremen who cav tho awful catastrophe
Tho members OF the insurance patrol
were covering mp the seats in the par
quette OF the theatre when suddenly q
light was seen through the roof. The
men in the theatre ran back just in
timc and the next moment the roof fcl
into the parque:te. Several OF the mer
in the theatre were caught by the fall
ing timbers. The sccno that followed
is never to be forgotten By those who
witnessed it. For q moment all was
dark, then suddenly tremendous sheet
OF flame shot up and with it came the
cries OF the flremen who had fallen
through the roof to the theatre below.
One man was heard to cry: "My God,
help me; I am roasting to DEATH"
The water was turned on and several
OF the tircmen who had fallen nearest
the front door of the lobby were drag.
ged from the burning debris and car.
ried out more or less injured.
The interior OF the auditorium coon
became seething mass OF flames, which
tho tiremen rainly endeavorcd to sub.
due in order to save their doomed com.
rades. Pr
Tho first fatality Of the fire happened
before the awful tragedy on tho roof
Ollie Refs, fireman. lost his life while
trying to reach the roof OF tho theatre
before the roof fell. He had put up 0
ladder from the northern wing OF the
hotel building, which Is two stories
lower than the theatre proper, when
the ladder swayed and he fell with it to
tho roof OF tho wing. He was carried
away and died in the arms OF his com.
radios.
WENT DOWN 70 DEATH.
Assistant Chief Dever, who was
among those on the roof when the
crash came, said: ."Tho members
OF engine companies Nos. 8, T.
. and II were on the roof, wnere the
main portion .cf the fire was raging.
Suddenly, without moments warning
tho roof gave way, and down it went
with all the men. Third Assistant
Chief August Jansen was among those
who Went down with the crash. He
managed to catch o fire. escape Just as
the roof was swaying and held on.
The following were buried in the
ruins:
George Jansen, Company No. Q
Captain Linehan, Company No.4.
Assistant Chief August Jansen.
Archie Campbell, fire boat Cataract.
Thomas Morgan, Company No. l.
Frank McGurk.'
James Freeman, Company No. 4.
O'Neill.
The following were rescued end taken
to the emergency hospital:
Lieutenant Curran, Company No. !,
Central fire station, probably fatally in.
iured.
Fred Marsh, Company No. 5. foo.
crushed.
Fred Schroeder.
John Yeo, pipe man, Company No. /,
badly burned and back hurt. :
Captain Linehan. Company No. a,
probably fatally injured.
At the morgue:
Ollie Refs, company No. 3. fatally
injured by fall off ladder; died on the
way to the hospital.
L. ]. Rodriguez, OF the Academy oi
Music, said: "lhe loss to Manage,
Ludwig Rosenield, OF the Lilliputians
will be between $4,000 and $4,000.
AT 1915 Fireman Crowley was re-
leased from the ruins and taken to the
emergency hospital He is badly hurt
and may die. He had bcen imprisoned
for seven hours.
The origin OF the fire is unknown,
The flames wcre discovered in the mea.
room adjoining tho kitchen OF tho hotel
over the auditorium of the theatre.
THE LOSS.
The loss on the building, scenery and
equipments Of the L;liputian com pany
aggregates 100000. on which there Is
an insurance OF SSS. 900, Of which $1,000
IS carried by Roaentleld Brothers, owners
OF the Liliputians. Their loss will be
$4,000. The Davidson theatre opened
IN September, 1891, by tho Emma Juch
Opera Company. Manager Sherman
Brown said. stVTha -originoj oost - , !,