Evening journal., 1898-03-03
BURNED AND CHARRED
Dockstader's Wonderland De-
stroyed BY Fire.
FLAMES ATE ACTORS BFFEOTs

THEATRES INTERIOR A MASS OF
RUINS. BUT MANAGER DOCK
STADER WILL REBUILD-THE
LOSS WILL REACH INTO THE
THOUSANDS.
Dockstader's pretty Wonderland
Theatre, at Seventh and Shipley
streets. was destroyed by fire shortly
afber midnight this morning. The
building is supposed to have caught
fire from an over-heatei furnace,
which was underneath uhe stage. The
fire ragged fercely before it was discoy-
cred, consuming the entire Stage and
It's properties, and necessitaIting the
5rmmon.ng OF the entire Fire Depart
ment.
At the conclusion Of the regular per-
formance the place was closed and
locked for the night. MIR. and Mrs.
Dockstader were the last to leave the
theatre. They had a suite of rooms on
the third floor OF the building. After
closing the theatre they dined ait a
restaurant and returned Immediately to
the rooms and retired. Shortly after
The neighbOrhood was aroused by the
cry Of "fre" Patrolmen Peterson and
Ford hastened to the call, and, seeing
That The theatre Was ablaze, they no
tilted Sergeant of Police Bailey, who
sent in an alarm. The district engines
were quick in responding, and without
delay the firemen had several streams
: playing on the doomed structure.
Asleep In their beds were Mr. and
Mrs. DOclstader. The latter wals the
first to discover that the building was
2 on fire. Awakening her husband, they
} hurried from the room, but managed TO
\ save their valuables and money, to-
gether with a few clothes. Mr.. Dock
stader's hair was singed and Mrs.
DOckstader's arm was burned.
!. When It was seen that the engines
l. called out ON the first alarm were UNI
b able to control the flames Chief Welde
a sent In another alarm, and the entire
department responded. The flames
Il had by this time eaten their way TO The
y auditorium, and were rapidly ascend.
o ing to the second story. Dense vol.
u umes OF smoke poured fr'Om every
e loop-hOle.and what was Thought 10 be /
2 small fire was now threatening the aid
2 joining properties. After the engines
a which responded to the general alarm
"a were In service the streets were rOpeg
l. off and the policemen encOuntereG
d their usual difficulties in keeping thl
Is crowd cit bay. When all OF the com
IS panies got in working trim, stream al
D. ter stream was poured on the burnini
ID playhouse. The Delaware's truck ex
)r tension ladder Was used effectively b
&c the fire-flghters in shooting stream
ne OF water from the second and tlhir
w stories OF the building The fire wa
a stubborn one and it WIS only afte
ne two hours Of hard work that the flame
OF were conquered.
"a Mr.. Dockstader. after seeing his VIII
ia comfortably fixed in a house opposite
T. assisted the firemen In their effort.
His dog and monkey were in tn
- building, and Mr. Docl1stader offerC
r 800 TO the person securing his pets
e. John Manloye and Walter Watson als
~ cenied a ladder and made their way o
ne Mr.. D0cEstader's apartmlenlbs, wher
az lay the dog almost suffocated by th
ne smoke. The monkey was dead. Tn
40 dog was brought safely to the gT'oun
IN and ManlOve was paid the reward.
III THE LOSSES.
H. The players that have baoa perform
ing at the theatre this week lost nearl
all OF their valuables and costumes.
7 CoOgan and Bacon. sketch and SKI
!, tOrial artists, place their loss at $780,
~. Abbott Davidson, sentimental SINCE
no lost everything. excepting a FEW proI
- erties, but his lozs amounts TO onl
~ about $40.
ne Hale Sisters, blacl1-faee artists los
y, everything. Less, $500.
Ib
- lost hsr entire wardrobe. II was va
n, an ued at SIS.
~ Rawson and Baisley, oOEnic singlr
VI and the origlnators Of the humorol
stereopticOn pictures, lost their entil
outfit Their loss will be about 1876.
]. II. Harrington, mimic and impel
st. senator, was fortunate. lie Save
TO everything, excepting a full-dress sui
II Loss. $40.
a Among the heavies, losers are q
Ice Del PhinO Trio. a musical team. Ih'
ly, lost al of their instruments, valued
Vi 81 900. The Deaves. Royal Manikin
3ts lost their entire outfit valued at 81
.he 500,
ie- All Of the performers were at u
scene of the fire this morning, huntlI
up their effects Some CT them we
brokenLhearted and in tears, as th'
md had nothing left, but the CLOTHES (
.vv- their back
re Manager Baygis Of the Grand Ope
mn House, has rendered Mr. DOckstad
IN the Opera House for a benefit ON III
in day night free OF charge. including q
80 services Of the orchestra and ATTACKS
Il The entertainment will be helped alol
- by local people, as we'll as the unfc
o0. tunate performers
Mr. Dockstader said this morni
that he did net need assistance, but
,r hoped that the people of Wilmingt
-, viii help those who suffered by I
elle fire. The price Of admission viii be
I'VE 20 and 30 cents, and the present INK
era cations are that the house will
70 crowded.
inu The interior CT the once pretty II
atre is mass of ruins, but IL will
ale rebuilt Mr. Dockstader's loss will
hu- about 81, 500. The Washington engi
was at work this morning pumping
wafer from 4hQ Dlaep