Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-23

NOTHING REMAINS Of THE GREAT
STRUCTURE But THE BARE
OUTER WALLS.
A FINE DISPLAY OF NERVE.
AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE MADE ITS
WAY TO THE STREET WITH
OFT A SINGLE MISHAP.

CINCINNATI. Ohio. January o.
The Grand Opera House is total ruin
except for its staunch outer walls.
A display of GOODNESS, perhaps never
witnessed before under such trying
conditions, prevented its loss from be-
ing attended by fearful catastrophe.
The play set for the night was Ham
let" by the E. H. Sothern Company.
The house was packed by a brilliant
audience. Many ladies without es-
corts were present The first act had
been finished and in the second. Mr..
Sothern, acting the part of Hamlet.
had spoken but few lines when a
slight disturbance was observed in the
fourth row of seats from the orchestra
near the center aisle. 1t was caus-
ed by slight issue of smoke at that
point.
An usher went down the aitle and
quietly asked the people to be seated,
saying there was nothing wrong.
Mr.. Sothern at this point stepped to
the front Of the stage and also assur-
ed the audience that everything was
right. To further remove apprehen-
sion, Mr.. Sothern resumed his part,
but before he had spoken two lines,
the smoke issued in surh volumes
that there was spontaneous move
ment of the people in its vicinity.
Without further order or sugges-
ton or advice, one of the most re-
markable scenes ever witnessed in
crowded audience took place. 1t was
as though the whole situation had
been revealed to every person in the
house and without a single shout or
anything else indicating leader. the
dispersal of the audience began and
was carried out with the utmost or
der and composure.
The fire appears to have started from
the furnace underneath the orchestra.
1t soon communicated to the stage and
to this fact is owing the losses of the
greater portion of the property of the
Sothern Company. Mr. Sothern esti-
mates his loss at $4,000. His COM
pany was compelled to reach the
streets clad only in their costumes and
to lose the greater portion of their
personal effects which were left in the
theatre.
Adjoining the rear of the Opera
House, separated by an alley, is the
large Butler building The fire enter
ed this at the upper stories and the
roof and the two upper floors of that
building were practically DESTROYED
The upper portion of the Gifts Engine
house, which adjoins the Butler build
ing, was seriously damaged by the
fire.
The present lessees of the Grand
Opera House are Rainforth & Havlin.
The building belongs to Mrs. Char
les P. Taft, whose husband is the
proprietor of the Times Star.
1t was bought by her father, the
late David Sinton, from the old Cath
Ole Institute, about thirty years ago
for 100000. The additions that had
been made to it since that time. are
probably balanced by the decrease in
valuation of real estate, so that the
loss on building may be put at $780,
GOO. 1t is estimated that the lessees
have an interest in the building repre-
senting their outlay in fitting it I'D
amounting to $4,000 or $4,000 which
is covered by insurance.
The loss to tenants in the Butler build
ing will reach $4,000. There was no in
surance on the Grand Opera House build
ing.
Across the street from the Butler build
ing and the Gifts engine house, is the
Palace Hotel 1t required all the skill of
the manager to prevent a panic among
the guests.
Mr.. Sothern announced that ne expected
to meet his next engagement at Detroit
as usual.