The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-23
SOTHERN'SCOOLNESS
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE IN GIN
CLIMATE AVERTED.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE BURNED.
sOTBERN SUFFERED A Loss OF
%JO,OOO.

Large Audience in Attendance
Upon the Play of "HamIet" When
smoke Was Seen Issuing From
Center of House-sOthern's Cool
ness Prevented Panic and the
Audience Dispersed QufetIy-Tho
Opera House Ruin with 100000
Loss-Large building Adjoining
Also Destroyed.
Cincinnati, Jan. 22.-The Grand Opera
House Is total ruin except for its
staunch outer walls display of cool-
ne% perhaps never witnessed before un-
der such trying conditions prevented its
loss from being attended by a fearful
catastrophe. Hamlet" was being played
by the II. Il. Sothern Company. The
house was packed by brilliant audience
Many ladies without escorts were present.
During the second act smoke was seen
issuing from the fourth row In the or
chestra. After quiet assurances from MIR.
Sothern and an usher. the dispersal OF
the audience began, and was carried out
with the utmost order and composure.
Actors and actresses assisted the audience
in making their exit through the stage,
while most of the audience passed
through the regular entrance. Nothing to
indicate the possibility of panic oc-
CURED.
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 loss Of the greater
portion Of the property Of the sothern
company Mr.. Sothern estimates his loss
at $4,000. His company was compelled to
reach the streets clad In their costumes
and TO lose the greater portion of their
personal effects. which were left in the
theater. Those in the gallery and the
balconies escaped with no serious acci-
dents. Notwithstanding the combustible
nature of the interior. at 10 o'clock the
upper part, along Vine street, was still
burning. This portion of the building
was occupied by the Cincinnati Gymna-
sium, which had costly equipment. The
adjoining large Butler building caught
fire, and the roof and the two upper floors
were practically destroyed.
The present lessees of the Grand Opera
House are Rainforth and Havlin. The
house belonged to Mrs. Charles p. Taft,
WHoSt nuSOdttu Is the PROPRIETOR OF tn3
Times-Star, and the loss may be put at
$20O.0OO
The Iessees interest is also estimated
at about $4,000. covered by insurance.
The principal losers I'm the Butler build
ing are the American Engraving Com
pany. Achert and Henckel Engraving
Company. the Bruner Wooen Company,
s. Roeepthal, printer; Proctor & Collier.
advertising; Max Wocher Son, surgical
instruments; Ilsen q Co., music publish
ers; Raush & Goldsmith, and s. Silver. op-
tician The loss to the greater number
of these is from water. and probably VIII
reach $4,000 to 100000. There was no
insurance on the Grand Opera House
building.
panic among the guests OF the Palace
Hotel across the street was barely
averted.
Several theories were advanced con-
corning the origin of the fire. Charles
Schmalastig, secretary Of the Snton es-
tate said:
Il believe the fire started in the elec-
trical room by the crossing of wires. We
will rebuild and be ready for next sea-
son."
Michael Gavin, general manager Of the
stage part Of the house, blamed the fire
on the "supers," who, he said, were
probably smoking down stairs.
Peter Mccarthy, guardian of the ac-
tresses dressing rooms, says that the
fire did not start I'm dressing room
Many members of the gymnasium rush.
ed down the stairway half clad, while
others were rescued by fire ladders.
rumor that one or two of them had
been hurt was not confirmed.