Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10
A Popular Playhouse Quilted by Fire at
an Early Hour Thursday Morning.
0RiGiN OF THE FLAMES A MYSTERY
Tho Loss Estimated at From
$4,000 to $4,000
LESSEE AWAKENED BY CONFEDERATION

AFc carry UNA nlprnluRI cdubInH lush
varionsly estimated at fIom IS. 900 to
SlO,0d The theatre il total wreck.
thu stage and western end being com.
pletoiy Quilted ana the eastern end
badly damaged by fire and water.
Tue origin OF the fire Ia u mystery.
passerliy discovered flames in the rear
OF the building ubout the stage abuut
IL 80 o'clock. AT about the same time
Mr.. Dockatader, who lives in the thru
story OF the building, and who was in
u do,H, wes aroused by his dog, which
manifested signs of uneasinnss. Aa
soon as Mr.. Dockstader awoke no heard
the roaring OF the flames in the theatre
below. lie realized that the hDuse was
On fire and hastily hWoke Mrs. Dock
atatsr. 10th rushed from the building
in thair night clothes. MIR. Docltstader
in his light picked up his trousers and
coat, in the pocket OF which was a
small amount OF money. On his way
out of tho building he dropped the
coat, hut it was picked up by some
body and handed 10 Mrs. Dockatader,
who hsstened to the house of n neigh.
hor. Mr. Dockstader in descending
the stairs. had his mustache burned off
and his hair scorched and Mrs. Dock-
burned 10th had narrow eacape,
and neither was seriously injured.
Sergeant Bayloy aud Officers Ford
and Peterson wero in the vicinity OF
Sixth and Shipley streets when the
fire broke out and the sergeant ran to
the City Hall and turned in an alarm
from box No. II, while the othsr OH
GERS went to the scene Of the fire and
began to do what they could to assist
in the work Of extinguishing il. Whom
Mr.. Dockstader left the building no
ran to the City Hall, but ny the time
he reached there tho alarm had been
sounded and in few minutes the fire
companies in the diatrict were at the
theatre and went into service as aoon
az practicable. As the rear of the
building was securely fastened 1t was
difficult for the firemen to make much
headway at first, although they made
NOZZLE efforts. The stage door was forced
| open and some Of ths windows were
| brok0u, and through the openings the
| tirenen played on the burning timber.
A line Of hoae was also run through
Bacon Brothers. building, at No. T07
Shipley street, ndioining the theatre.
which enabled the firenen to do more
affective work in the rear of the build
! ing. After working an hour aud a half
the fire was under control and shortly
afterward the engines were ordered to
shut down by Chief Engineer Welde,
out plug streams were kept on the
building for short time as pre-
cautionary measure.
Manager DockHtnder, VINO was seen
this morning. was unable to account
for the origin of the lire. Everything
appeared to be ell right at the close OF
the performances, at 10. 80 o'clock last
night. The dressing room stove con
tanned only little fire. and the blaze
coull hardly have originated from that.
In fact it appeared TO have started
under the stage in another place, and
the presumption is that tho furnace
must have become overheated and fired
some woodwork in the vicinity although
Mr.. Dockstader thinsa,this i'm probable
Notwithstanding the heroic efforts OF
the tiremen, they were unable TO save
much in ths shape of personal property
and directed their efforts almost en-
tirely toward saving the building and
adjoining property. When Mr. Dock
stader returned to the scene of the fire
after going to the police station, be
remembered that his two pet dogs and
monkey were still in the building. and
SO Informed tho firsmen. John Man
love, a member OF the Phoenix Co., at
once set about the work of attempting
to rescue the animals, which we're in
the third story. BY daring and heroic
work he fought his way through the
flames to the room where the animals
were, and, nfiding one Of the dogs still
alive, picked 1t up and carried it safely
from the building. 1t was partially
suirocated sud was Immediately put
under the care of DR.. ii. p. Ewes, The
monkey and the other dog were sulfo-
Gated to death.
A specially meritorious compauy,
under Mr.. Dockstader's own manage
ment, began a weeks engagement on
Monday, and about all of the property
of the individual members waa 10 the
building at the time, and, Of course,
was destroyed. The players were ap-
prised OF the fire soon after il broke
out and were early on the scenu They
were much distressed, as they were
unable to do anything to save their
property. The musicians lost about 500.
larry, Arthur and Miss Dsaves LOST
about $1,000. Miss Ella Williams lost
about sou. j. W. Harrington lost q
dress suit valued at $40. He had nc
other property at the theatre. Maurice,
Nano and Rapbialo Dsl Fhino, known
as the Del Primo Trio, lost about
T Sl,oOO. Maurice Del Primo stated that
they had Just returned from Mexico.
! While there the property used by them
, was much damaged and when they
came To the United States complete
new outfit was secured. The Halt
Sisters lost 500. Charles Rawson anG
Z MAZE Balsley sustained a loss of be
tween $500 and $500. Two pianos ons
valued at $500 and the other at $500,
were also destroyed, as was also all o.
, the scenery and stage trappings. The
noor In the auditorium was burned in
{ places and the chairs in the front o.
the room were scorched. Those in thC
I rear were more or less damaged by water
! bacon brothers, at No. 707 ShipleJ
/ street, sustained much damage by
. water. hut a member of the firm salt
the actual loss would not exceed $50.
The residence OF William II. Robin
son, no. lOl West Seventh street, adj
joining the theatre, sustained sumt
damage Ivy water, hut the flamea dit
not communicate to tho building.
I An experienced insurance man est
=, mated the loss on the building to III
g. 000. The building is insured fo
8 @lo, 600, as follows: New Castle Count,
Mutual CO., $1,000; Farmers Mutua
, 20, ", 600, and nthor companies. with
Gilpin Co., as follows: Scottish
Union and National of Edinburgh
Scotland Western of Toronto. Ont.
a Philadelphia Firs of Philadelphia, ant
. National Standard of New York, 81, ON
: each; Lancashire OF England an