The San Francisco call., 1898-05-02
Fred Seitz the Hero of
 the California Thea ter Fire.
Women Showed More Bravery in Danger Than Their Male Escorts.
WEARING APPAREL LEFT
The Foyer Had the Appearance of an Ultra Respectable Junkshop Yesterday Morning.

Amid the uproar and confusion which followed the discovery of fire in the building adjoining the California Thea ter on Saturday evening there was one man who retained his coolness, but for which fact many lives might have been crushed out in the mad rush to leave the building.
 Fred Seitz, the man who handles the drums, cymbals, Xylophone, bells and what not in the opera company's or chestra, was the hero of the occasion. He did not follow his portly leader or his fellow players in a wild chamber over the footlights, but grasping the dangers of a general stampede re- mained at his post, and beating time on his snare drum quieted the excited multitude into an orderly march to the various exits. Before this the audi ence was pushing and crushing in an endeavor to leave the theater. but when Seitz's drum beats were heard chaos was turned into order, and keep ing step to the taps of the drum the building was soon emptied.
 In their hurry to reach places of safety wearing apparel and articles of every description were left behind or
 
 sealskins, seventeen black and colored f1chus, twelve pair of gloves, twenty seven pair of opera glasses, nineteen ladies hats, twelve umbrellas, thirty two gentlemen's assorted hats, nine hatpins, fifty handkerchiefs, seventeen overcoats, eleven canes, four pair of rubbers, keys, glasses, lorgnettes, purses and other things too numerous to men
  the theater and placed on a long table in the foyer. The appearance of the latter place yesterday morning resem- bled a secondhand clothing store, and to carry out the idea business was opened by Manager Friedlander at o'clock Standing in line, anxious to recover their belongings and eager to gain admittance were representatives of both sexes One by one they were allowed to examine the contents on eX- hibition, generally finding what they looked for. Many, however, were dis appointed, as their belongings had been either taken by excited persons or picked up bv a gang of Vultures who gained access to the theater through the Pine street exit during the ." excitement. Purses and silk hats were their prey, and before they could be driven off they had succeeded in reap ing a harvest.
 over 300 people visited the California during the day inquiring for lost arti- cles. Some were made happy, while many were disappointed. Mayor Phe- Ian reported the loss of a diamond star brooch worn by his mother at the per formance and valued at $500. So far 1t has not been recovered.
 Janitor John Beguhl has been com plimented for the nervy stand he took when a wildly excited lndiY1dIal climbed the long flights leading to the gallery breathlessly yelling ire in hls ascent. John met him half way, which was lucky for the alarmer as he only had that distance to fall; Catching him by the scruff of the neck and firm ly grabbing him by the trousers, Be guhl threw him down the stairs and calmly returned to his station in the gallery quieting the fears of the audi ence and preventing calamity.
 George H. Meyers, the young man who occupies the seat in the box office at the California, was astonished early in the day when a man, who claimed to have attended the performance the night be- fore, demanded the return of $l as he had only witnessed half the perform ance. When MT. Meyers could regain his speech, he politely but firmly re- fused the demand. and the stranger moved away from the box office nut tering about the injustice of things.
 Manager Friedlander Is disgusted with the lack of courage shown by the male element during the stirring scenes on Saturday night. He said he expected as much, as past experience has taught him that men are greater towards than women. He bears this statement out by pointing to the greater number of hats and overcoatS lett by them in their rush to escape danger. He said the men acted shamefully. Mothers, wives and sisters were left to care for themselves. Why they should have been in such rush to leave the theater when there was no danger and plenty of exits puzzled MT. F'riedlander at the time, but after reflection he laid 1t to their cowardice.
 An inspection of the St. George Sta ble, in which the fire occurred shows that the damage is not quite as bad as 1t was at first supposed to be. The en- tire roof was destroyed and a portion of the side walls injured. all of which will have to be repaired. To do this about S2000 will fully cover the entire damage. MT. Seymour, the owner of the building, allowed his insurance of $10,000 to lapse few months ago, con sequently the entire loss will fall on his own shoulders.
 The firemen have suffered somewhat from smoke and water which found a way into their quarters from the stable adjoining, damaging the cloth ing and bedding of the men. While the quarters of Chief Sullivan on the upper floor were thoroughly soaked and per fumed the gallant Chief is too much of a fire hero to complain. The only grievance he has is that his parrot got a dose of stifing smoke and an occa- sionaI shower from the spray of the water thrown on the building. The Chief values this bird very highly, as it is a great pet and the idol of the household. Mrs. Sullivan loves the bird for it's cleverness. Every time the gong sounds in the engine-house the parrot cries out: "Fire-fire-run-you- of-gun" On the occasion of the blaze Saturday night 1t screeched out Fire fire" long before the men in the engine house knew of the danger
 The Chiefs loss amounts to over s100, while that of bis men is equally as