The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-02-12
A SPLENDID STRUCTURE DESTROYED
BY FIRE THIS MORNING.
All Ablaze Inside Before the Alarm Was
Given-Departments Good
Work-Great Crowds.
SEVERAL THEORIES AS TO THE
ORIGIN OF THE BLAZE.
Police and Volunteers Turn Out-Insur-
ance- History of the House
MIR. Twins Say.

at 7 o'clock this morning, and
within all hour was a complete
wreck. 1t is entirely Quilted.
The roof has fallen and only the
trembling walls remain.
The blaze was first noticed by
some one on the streets, and the
alarm was turned into the Mutual
Telephone Office. At that time
the smoke was coming through the
windows around the stage and the
roof. The tower was wrapped in
flames. Many people on the streets
saw the fire and congregated
around the building, even before
the alarm had been turned in.
Before the bell rang No. as big
engine was flying to the scene, fol-
lowing the chemical. No. rs
horses were out for exercise and
did not get there until some time
later, In perhaps fifteen minutes
China engine No. S put in an APP
pearance and dropped hose from
Alakea down King street.
By the time water was procured
the building was doomed. Smoke
and flames were merging from
windows and doors and from the
caves of the roof on every side. The
stage and settings were like so
much finder and sent the flames
shooting through the roof.
The main auditorium caught
overhead, the chairs in the para
quet and dress circle seeming to
remain almost unscathed until
the roof fell in. Another singular
thing was that the curtains front
ing both boxes down stairs were
not burnt when the windows op-
posite had been eaten away by the
| flames.
Water was thrown through the
windows and doors, but with no
effect whatever for some time. The
iremen acquitted themselves nobly,
however, frequently risking their
lives to get water upon the flames.
Several thousand people had
gathered on Union Square and
contiguous streets. Policemen and
members of the Citizens Guard
kept them back. The first fear
was of gasoline tank in the corner
of the Judiciary building grounds,
connected with the opera house.
Had this gone off the result might
have proven disastrous. The
gasoline tank happened to be
empty.
| Excellent service was rendered
the firemen and police and the Citi
zens' Guard. The telephone Office
was in control of strong squad in
a very few minutes, and details OF
other squads held themselves in
readiness in various places. The
military were also on hand. Thirty
one men Of one company alone
were counted around the Richard
street corner.
Though no pains have been
spared to ascertain the origin OF
the fire, the matter practically re-
mains mystery. Captain Larsen
and Deputy Marshal Brown have
both exhausted their resources on
the matter without positive result.
The theory that the fire started
from an electric wire is consider
ably weakened by the fact that the
wires were carefully insulated anc
are frequently examined.
6 Mr.. Irwin thinks that tramps
who are wont to raise the windows
and sleep in the opera house, start
ed the fire. Half burned cigarettes
q etc., have frequently been founc
on the floor in the morning, anc
windows have been forced open.
The fact remains, however, tina
a the fire had made greatest headway
!, in the top of the building when dis
f covered. The woodwork in the
e upper walls was all aflame befor'
b the stage settings had been de
Y stroyed. A fireman carried hi
hose among the flats on the lief
n side of the stage, at which time NJ
fire could be seen among the scener.
except what was falling from above
The center of the blaze appeared t.
h be Just over Mr.. w. G. Twins boz
= on the right side. 1t is possibl
: that it started below and ran up tn
n flats to this point.
y Some think that nibbling rat
n started the fire with matches lett b