The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-07
DETROIT'S
VISITATION.
Five Large Buildings De-
StrOyed by Fire.
LOSS NEARLY 100000.
Blaze Started in Opera House and
Spread Quickly.
LOSS NEARLY 100000,
BIG STRUCTURES SOON GUTTED.

Detroit. Mich, Oct Five lnrgs
buildings ard two smaller ones with ali
their contents were destroyed by fire this
morning which swept through a block
situated in tho center of the business
portion OF Detroit. and bouDdeds by the
Campus Martius, Woodward. Gratiot and
Monroe avenues Tho total loss is esti-
mated at 5000, 600 to $780, 600.
Tho blaze started shortly before
o'clock on the stage of the Detroit Opera
House. The origin of the fire is not de-
termined. 1t was not noticed until the
flames leaped out at the rear of the
theater following q blowing out of a rear
wall by the explosion Of a calcium light.
The opera house faced the campus Mar
titus and was obliquely across from the
city hall.
Its rear end was closely surrounded by
the rear or other buildings fronting re-
spectively on Woodward, Gratiot and
MuDroe avenues end the original location
of the fire was inaccessb bio when tie fire.
men first appeared. Within few MIN
utes. however. the flames had communi-
cated TO the front and roof of the theatre,
aud tho firemen began a several hours
fight against the spread of the flame.
BURNED FIERCELY.
The opera house burned at a terrific
rate. the interior being a solid mass of
flames. Meanwhile the ten stcry fire
proof structure. so-callcd occupied hy IL.
+. Leonard Furniture Company got afire
in the upper stories. III flames swept
through Its infiammablo contents from
q Ea tn hn
until within two hours, nothing remain
ed but the steel framework of the build
ing.
The buildings next adjoining the opera
house were the large jewelry establish
ment of Wright. Kay n Co., and the four
story building fronting the Campus Mar
titus and Monroe avenues. occupied by
the G. II. Michael Table supply Com
pany. BY strenuous efforts the jewelry
house was saved although the buildings
caught fire repeatedly. but the Michael
building was Quilted and all its contents
were burned.
sMORE DESTRUCTION WROUGHT.
At 3 o'clock it was supposed that the
fire would probably be controlled within
its then limits, but aided 10y an incress-
ing northwest wind ii swept along both
on the Monroe avenue ana Gratiot avenue
sides Of the block
From Michaels it continued with the
large six story building adjoining, ocou-
pied by e. III. Werner's crockery house,
and the Grand Union Tea company,
cSusing per hans the hottest blaze of the
conilaRratiop and leaving nothing remaiu-
ing at 3 o'clock but the front walls,
meanwhile, on the Gratiot avenue side.
the flames spread east from the Leonard
building occupied by the Central Stor-
aae company and Vaughan and Tanner.
which was also consumed with its con-
tents
A sidewall OF the latter building fell
upon the roof OF "a two story structure
occupied by the Parisian laundry which
was badly wrecked and partly consumed.
On the Monroe avenue side small shoe
store was crushed TO fragments by tho
fail or the east wall Of the Werner
building. AT both these points the pro-
gress of the ilsmes was checked
The early morning hour and tho rapid
sweep OF the fires prevented the saving
of any contents to speak Of Among
the losses was that OF the Julia Arthur
dramatic company which performing
its FIRST engagement in a Lady OF
Quality"
HER LOSS HEAVY. $500 -s-..
All Of its handsome costumes and stage
settings were destroyed. Miss Arthur
was prostrated over this serious blow to
her enterprise. The front portion of the
Central Savings Bank and n tailoring es-
tablishment. The upper stories 'front.' hv
various Offices. Ihe Grand Iru-k repair
shoIs located on the dock ut the foot OF
Deduldre street. nearly three-qunrters OF
o mile distant, caught fire from blazing
brand and were DESTROYED with u quan.
tlty If lumber and material Several
other fires started in addition to numor-
Gus small ones renr tho scene OF the big
fire, but mono resulted in great damage
lt was 5:3O before the nro was under
control.
HAD a NARROW ESCAPE.
william Moore jantor Of tho opera
house building. end wife. who were
sIpepinR on tho fifth floor, narrowly es-
caped alive.
Lieutonaut. John W. Hopkins and
Pipemen Archibald Bennett ana John
"a. Welch suffered serious fHll. caused
bv the Jerking down uf n ladder on which
they were ascending the front OF the
Michael huildlpg. Bennott's spine was
seriously injured.
Tho Datroit Opera House ives ownod
hy the CLARK estats Its value is estimated
Mt $50 001 IL WAS fully insured.
&. j. Whitnev, lessee of the building,
loss about $40. OOO partially insured.
TIE Julia Arthur Compnny's loss is
over So COO with $4,000 insurance.
Tho Michael building was owned by
George il. bar bur. les value was $50 0OO.
fully insured Tho Michael stock was
worth g7a. 600 aDd was 80 per cent in
sureG. THO Leonard building. stock and
building eco 600, fully insured.
The othor principal losses are: Central
Savings Bank. $1,000; Hugh Connolly,
ieweler. $4,000; Vaughan a Tanner.
500 OOO; G. IL. Werner Sl5 oOO Traugott
schmidt estate. owner Of the Werner
huilding sS5.O00 Grand Union Tea COM
pany, so, COO; Parisian laundry, $4,000;
Central Storage company $50, UO, Grand
Trunk railway shops. sGL 600; Brossy dye
sbors, 81, zoo; Opera House Musician.
II. 900; J.. j. kinnucan. tnilor. 81 0OO; ;Dr.
L.. Kessler, g.. 600: Boston Shoe store,
building ard stock e., 5UO: !. a. Hurley,
coal dealer. $4,000; Chope g. sons. wagon
| 80. .. a..l n.L 49, lnL 80. lna.-a hv