The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-23
.VUUL AUUlLNUE
WALKED OUT OF A BURNING Play
HOUSE WITH C0MPOSURE.
Smoke Was Filling the Place, Yet No.
body Showed Signs of Becom-
ing Panic-Stricken.
HEAVY LOSS AT CINCINNATI
INTERIOR OF THE GRAND OPERA
HOUSE A SMOKING MASS.
Nothing Left of the Building Except
the walls, and Nothing Saved
from the Fittings.
E. H. SOTHERN A SUFFERER
WAS PLAYING "HAMLET, WHEN THE
FIRE BROKE OUT,
And Assisted I'm Preserving Order, In
stead OF Attempting to Save
His Company's Effects.
HIS LOSS PROBABLY $4,000
BUILDING WORTH ABOUT 100000
AND THE FITTINGS $4,000.
other Structures Damaged to the Ex-
tent of S1OO,OOO or More-NarrOw
Escape of Gymnasts.
And Assisted I'm Preserving Order, In
stead of Attempting to Save
His COmpany's Effects.
HIS LOSS PROBABLY $4,000
BUILDING WORTH ABOUT 100000
AND THE FITTINGS $4,000.
other Structures Damaged to the Ex-
tent of s1OO,OOO or More-Narrow
Escape of Gymnasts.

CINCINNATI. Jan. 22.-The Grand Opera
House is a ruin except for its stanch
cutter walls. The circumstances aided by
d:s play OF coolness, perhaps never wit
prevented it's loss from being saddened into
a catastrophe.
The play set for the night was ''Hamlet"
by the E. H. Sothern company. Owing to
its great length the play began at 7:45 p. m.
The house was packed by brilliant audi
ence. Many women without escorts were
present. The first scene had been fin
ished and in the second Mr.. Sothern acting
the part of Hamlet. had spoken but a few
lires when a slight disturbance was OBJ
served in the orchestra seats about the
fourth row from the orchestra on the
south side of the center aisles. 1t was
caused by smoke at that point. An usher
went down the aisle and quietly asked the
people to be seated saying there was moth
ing wrong. Mr.. Scthern at this point step
ped to the front of the stage and also
right. To further remove apprehension
Mr. ssothern resumed his part, but before
he had spoken two lines the smoke issued
in such volumes that there was a spon-
taneous movement of the people in its
vicinity.
Without further suggestion, or advice,
one of the most remarkable scenes ever
witnessed in a crowded audience took
place. Without single shout or anything
else indicating a leader, the dispersal Of
the audience began and was carried out
with as much order and composure as If
no such thing as a fire had ever been
known. In the lower part of the house the
abundant passage to Vine street gave an
easy egress to the greater part of the audi
ence. large number seated near the
orchestra were assisted by the actors and
| actresses to mount the stage and to make
their exit by the stage door on Longworth
street. This assistance by the company
was all the more appreciated when it is
| understood that it was rendered at the
cost of an entire neglect Of their own per-
sonal property.
LOSSES OF THE ACTORS.
4 man seated In the fourth row from the
orchestra describes the exit of the audi
ence, as one of the most orderly that he
ever witnessed. He says there were many
women near him without escorts who ex-
hioited the utmost composure and took the
best and safest way TO reach a place of
safety. Nothing to inuicate the possibility
of panic occurred. 1t appears from every
indication that the fire started in some
way 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 COM
PEELED to reach the streets clad IN their
costumes and to lose the greater portion
of their personal effects left in the theater
Fortunately the gallery, which has the
least commodious means of exits was not
crowded and those who were i'm that part
of the theater escaped with no serious ac-
cidents. Here and there some one stumbled
on a steep stairway, but ready help was
rendered and there was no one trampled
or hurt. The same calmness marked the
behavior of the people In the balconies,
which were emptied as quietly as If the
play had been ended.
Notwithstanding the combustible nature
OF the interior. the fire was a long time in
burning out. AS late as 10 o'clock the up
per part of the Vine street front was still
burning. This portion of the building was
occupied by the Cincinnati Gymnasium,
which had costly equipment. Adjoining
the rear of the opera house. separated by
an alley Is the large Butler building The
fire entered this at the upper stories and
the roof and two upper floors of that build
ing were practically destroyed The upper
portion OF the Gifts Engine House which
sdjoins the Butler building was seriously
damaged by the fire.
THE LOSSES
the present lessees OF the Grand Opera
House are Rainforth & Haylin. They are