The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-03
WONDERLAND THEATRE
Quilted BY FIRE.
Narrow Escape of Mr.. and hrs. w. L.
DOckstader.
4 HOT STOVE THE CAUSE.
Heroic Work of the Firemen Who Suc-
ceeded In Saving the Building From
Destruction.

| Fire gutted the Wonderland Theatre
early this morning. Mr.. and Mrs. w. l..
Dockstader. who live on the upper floors
had narrow escape from being cremated
aud did not take time to dress Shortly
before o'clock Mr.. Docks ader was awali.
ened by II cracking noise and upon getting
out of bed found the room full of smoke
| They hastily donued some clothing and
| dashed for their lives. BY this time the
flames had eaten their way from the base
ment on the side of tho building towards
Seventh street through the stage floor and
spread UP through the wings to the roof oil
the building. Sergeant Bailey and Off
Ger Ford were at Sixth and Shiplsy stree j
when they heard the cry of fire given by a
| man who was passing by the theatre.
| On reaching Seven til and Shipley
| whero the theatre is situated they met Of
tleer Peterson. An alarm was turned in
from box II and tho fire companies quick.
| ly responded.
When the flremen arrived they discov-
cred the entire building on fire. Tongues
OF fire leaped against the windows and the
| men knew they had a stubborn Job before
them: hem They began tho fight with will.
The fire was he fercest in the basement
| Through the doors the flames rushed 10
| the sidewalk. Having eaten their way
| through the stage the flames found good
material in the scenery. From floor to
floor the tongues of fire leapea despite the
| efforts of the tireinen clouds Of dense black
smoke came pouring from tho windows
Tho second alarm brought additional en-.
gines into service. The Washington Chem
1cai engine gave its attention to the
Stage.
The Delaware Truck was raised to the
| third story and this move assisted tae fire.
men in their work. Perseverance ON the
part of the flremen saved tho building
from destruction and after an hour hard
fight the fire was under control aud Chief
Welde ordered some of the engines to shut
down and return to their house,. Three
engines kept streams on the building for
two hours later in order 10 prevent a Sec
ond outbreak.
The prlico had considerable trouble In
Keeping back the crowd from the inside Of
the roped off space. To save the incan.
desceut service in the city the wires of the
Electric LII ght Company were cut and tho
lights OH tho outside of the building were
accordingly Kept burning.
INCIDENTS OF THEFIRE
Manager Dockstadar had valuable dog
and monkey in his room. He did not
want them destroyed and offered reward
for their recovery. Job Mnnlove, of the
Phoenix Company, assembled the big lad
der and found the pets near Mr.. Dock
stader's room door. Tho monkey was
dead and the dog was taken to ncighor-
ing house. where the little pet was at
teuded by Veterinary Surgeon caves.
ManlOve had his head cut by broken
glass. His injuries were dressed at DR..
James Belts drug store.
Robert Port or had his head slightly cut
by piece of falling debris
Mr.. DockStader's hair and moustache
were singed by the flames as he and Mrs.
Dockstader escaped from the building.
Mrs. Dockstader's hands were slightly
burned.
from the building by William Freye. The
tiremen arc receiving congratulations
from all sides to-day for the determined
manner in which they fought the stub
born fire.
Several of the tlremen received slight
injuries.
Dockstader attempted to re-enter the
building and was prevented from doing so
by an officer.
blocked off by wire ropes this morhing.
Thousands Of persons viewed the theatre
building all day.
During the progress of the fire. officer
William Ward refused to permit report
or to enter the lines. Here is where an i'm.
portant question arises. The public de-
mand q full account of such fire rs oc-
Cured at tho Wonderland Theatre No
officer has right to act the part of row.
dy and bnlly. He has right to keep out
certain parties, but he has no right to in
suit reputable member Of the Press or to
debar him from his rights
Ward even went so far as to arrest the
reporter but Captain Robert w. Cham
bers refused to entertain any charge True
1t is that right at this timo Wilmington
has host of SO called reporters. They arc
everywhere Few people know them but
the reporter who was insulted and de.
barred by this rowdy officer has been con-
nectod with the papers of Wilmington
for several years.
Its the duty of the Police Commission
to take cognizanco of the matter The
Commission must now do as requested
long ago to do-ssue an official bulge Or
card. The reporter who receives such
card or badge should be sworn not to lend
tho same to any one else. Then when a
fire occurs, the police have the right to
refuse admission inside of the lines with
out a card or badge. the same as fireman
Is not tolerated inside the lines without
his badge.
Tho cellar Of tho house occupied by vii.
liam H. Robinson was found this morn
ing to contain five feet of water The
Washington Fire Company sent it's engine
around and pumped the water out.
THE LOSS AND INSURANCE.
The Wonderland Theatre building Is
owned by George S. Allmon and Is in
sured for $l1 900 in the following COM
punics, through Gilpin & Co., Scotland
Union and National of Scotland Western,
of Toronto; National Standard of New.
York, and the Pennsylvania Fire Com
pany, of Philadelphia, $1,000 each; and
Lancashire of England and Philadelphia
Underwriters Association, of Philadel-
phia. 81, 800 each.
Tho damage to the building Is placed at
not more than $1,000. Building Inspec-
tor Grubb inspected the building this
morning. He says the walls are uninjur.
ed. The timbers of the building are but
Slightly injured.
w. j. Lee, better known as w. L. Dock.
etader lost everything he possessed in tho
theatre and estimates his loss at between
$1,000 and s1OOO on which there Is an iusur.
ance of 81, lO0
His effects were insured as follows:
Through Gilpin Il Co.. American Fro
Insurance Company of Philadelphia,
$1,000; Western Insurance Company of
Toronto $1,000; North British and Mercan-
tile of England 1880. With Mather & Co.:
Provident. of Washington, $1,000; and tho
NltTCuHHlS luSurulCe SOlupauy OL lTOVls
dence. r. l., $400.
The loss to the actors who were filling
an engagement at the popular resort Is
estimated at between 81 800 and $780,
Some Of the instruments destroyed cannot
be replaced. The actors will be properly
taken care of snd Wilmington people with
their usual open hearted generosity will
throng the Opera House tomorrow night
and thereby make the receipts amount to
substantial sum,
Those who cannot go to the entertain
ment should buy tickets and give them to
persons who cannot buy them. These peo.
pie were making an honest living. Their
effects were totally destroyed. These eff
feCts were essential to their earning q live
lihood. The actors cannot appear without |
proper costumes and they are too poor to
buy new ones, The savings Of years went |
up in flames, by the will of an all wise |
Providence. Let the people of Whining
ton rally to their aid in the hour of need |
Full particulars Of the entertainment will |
appear in tomorrow REPUBLICAN.
COMPLIMENTS FOR FIREMEN.
Manager Dockstader was seen by u re
porter of the REPUBLICAN this morning.
He said all honor is due to the volunteer |
fire companies OF Wilmington. Tho de-
partment Is the best ! have ever seen. |
Talk about your paid departments, whyit
Is not in 1t with tho volunteer fire depart
ment.