Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-04-12
DAVIDSON THEATER DESTROY.
ED AT GREAT LOSS.
MANY FIREMEN GO DOWN TO
pEApH IN THE RUINS.
Assistant chief Jansscn Among the
NictimS-lloTthlc Preiicamcut of
one OF the Brave Fellows Death
Threatened Either 10y Fire or
Water Details of the Holocaust.

Milwaukee, April 9.-The Davidson
thcater. the finest playhouse in the
city, burned with its contents this
morning between I 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
tire Fireman Ollie Refs put up a lad
Davidson hotel, which was two stories
lower than the thcater 10 the roof
of the latter. As he ncarcd the top
of the ladder it slipped aud he fell
with il 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 theatcr
fighting the flames Without any
warning the roof collapsed beneath
them, prccipitating them To the floor
of the auditorium. six stories below,
whore the flames were raging most
lierely. In response to their cries of
agony others of their comrades rushed
into the blazing furnace and riSkcd
their own lives in an attempt To rescue
them SIX or eight were dragged to
the outer air alive, although badly
injured by their fall and dhe scorch-
ing. Then all was still save thc-Gavk
ling Of the flames, and II was evident
the remainder of the unforWnatcS
who went down with the roof were
dead.
81 al
We're covering mp the seats in the par.
Quettc 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
failing wrerkage The opening in the
roof gave a draft and soon the whole
interior was a Scething mass of flames,
licking up everything comhuStible.
Following is a partial list Of those
buried in the ruins, who are certainly
dead; Assistant Chief August IanSscn,
Fireman Geo lansscn, Archie Camp
bell. Thomas Morgan, Frank Morgan.
James Freeman, O'Ncill and CpNlcy.
At the morguc, Ollie RicS.
At the Emergency hospital; Captain
Linehan. probably fatally hurt; Lieut..
CuIuHn probably fatally hurt, Fred
Marsh. foot crushed, Fred Schroeder
and John Voc badly burned.
1t was learned later that Crowley
was still alive i'm the ruins. After the
roof fell in the fremen began throwing
water on the wrcckagC 10 keep the fire
from any who might be alive. About
1OGclaak the flames were sub,lucd
enough to permit them to get nearer
and they were surprised to find Crow
ley conscious and able to talk. He
asked his reScucrS TO he careful not to
drown him with the streams, and said
there was a dead man near him
drowned by water thrown by the
fremcn, 1t appeared some iron rods
were pinioning Crowley fast The fire
men continued to throw wafer 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
considered Of cutting off his legs to re
lease him 1t is said that he requested
this to b. done There was ten feet Of
burning debris about him. He was
finally released from the ruins shortly
after noon but badly hurt and may
die
The guests Of the Davidson hotel fed
panic-stricken when the fire broke out
though they were In no real danger
and all got ont safely The scenery
and costumes Of the IIilliputians. play
ing at the theatcr. were entirely de
stroyed with loss OF $4,000 to $75,
900
The theater cost three years ago be
tween $4,000 and S40O. 900 The
walls still stand. and may possibly be
utilized in rebuilding,