The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-10
FIRE IN SAENGER HALLE
THE INTERIOR or THE BCILDTNG
RUINED BY THE F'LIMEs.
Mr.. A. schwanc, the Lessee, and His
Family Have "a Narrow fscape-Ihe
Loss and Insurance.

Shortly after O'Clock yesterday morn
ing while. Henry Vance. former old fire.
man and driver of engine No g. but now
the janitor Of the Second police-station'
was going to his work. he noticed smoke
coming from the basement OF sanger
Hall. on north Seventh street. lie at
once turned i'm the alarm at Box 2. and
second alarm. which soon followed,
brought all but two engines 10 the scene.
II took longer than two hours before the
men of the Fire Department were mas
ters Of the situation. but by o'clock the
fire was entirely out However. the en-
tire interior of the structure, from the
basement 10 the roof, Is utterly ruined Dy
fire. water. and smoke.
The building, which is well known. as
a restaurant bar. cafe, and concert-room,
belongs 10 the Gcsangverein Virginia, ana
the lessee Is Mr.. A. Schwane. late of Chi
cago, who had only lately fitted up his
restaurant and dining-rooins in beautiful
style. and the concert hall was engaged
for many social occasions ahead during
this winter
NARROW ESCAPE.
Mr.. Schwane with his wife and little
boy, were asleep in the second story when
the FIRE broke out. and narrowly escaped
suffocation. for the smoke was very dense
and sitting. 4 neighbor, MI Heeke.
across the street rang the bell communal
eating with Mr. Schwane's rooms yio-
lentiy. and pounded on the street door till
he was awake, and seeing the condition
of things, brought Mrs. Schwane and the
little boy, with great difficulty, down the
steps 10 the street. They were without
any clothes. except what was hastily
snatched up in their flight The boy was
wrapped I'm blanket. They were kinds
cared for at Mr. Hocke's house, Just
over the way.
As 10 the origin Of the fire nothing def
mite can be ascertained. but 1t seems 10
have started from "a stove or furnace in
the basement used as "A kitchen, and il
'"quired hard labor on the part Of the
hremen 10 subdue the cOnnagratiOn before
u could assume larger dimensions For
tunately the wind was blowing from the
north al the time. and the adjoining ar
mory OF the First Regiment was there
fore saved.
THE INSURANCE
Saenger Halle was insured for $500 I'm
the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance
Company, and nasmuch as both the
front and rear buildings have been ser
iously injured 10y the flames and smoke.
even inclduing the grand piano. II is
thought that the insurance VIII just
cover the damage. The insurance was
only renewed about two months ago.
and at that time some OF the members OF
the Gesangverein considered the advis-
ability Of reducing the amount IL was.
however, finally decided TO renew the
Insurance on the old terms.
Mr.. SChwane carried $4,000 insurance
on his stock and furniture in his bar,
restaurant ana diniug-rooms I'm the Viz
ginia State Insurance Company He
stated yesterday that there was nothing
left that was Of any use. and whoever
made a tour OF inspection through the
building became fully convinced Of the
truth of that statement
Saenger Halle was also the social rem
dezvOns for the Gesangveren Virginia.
and their friends of German birth and
descent. and weekly did this singing So
ciety meet for rehearsal and social in
tercourse-
WILL REBUILD
The building was erected by the &C.
sangVerein about twenty years ago, and
took the place of a comprehension and
a two-story brick dwelling. The addition
in the rear which contains the club
rooms proper. has only been erected some
thret or four years ago
The Gesangverein will as soon as posi-
bic repair the building. but il will GER
fainiv require a month before its va
rious rooms can be again used, and the
loss caused I'm that manner to the or
eanization as we'll as TO Mr. Schwane IS
a very serious one lnasmuch as the
building had been hired out for great
many entertainments.
ANOTHER FIRE
An alarm of fire was sounded yesterday
morning at l.4S o'clock from box y on
Leigh and Judah streets. II was caused
bv the partial burning Of two houses
Nos. as and il1 west Duval street o'-
cupied by colored people. A aelecuNe
hear,b caused the fire. which damaged
~ uronertv to the extent of 800.