New-York tribune., 1902-01-02
KEITH'S THEATRE BURNS
FIRE QUICKLY SPREADS TO
ADJOINING BUILDINGS.
THREE HUNDRED GUESTS ESCAPE IN
NIGHT GOWNS THROUGH SMOKE
IN THE MORTON HOUSE.

Fire was discovered early this morning in the
engine room of Keith's Theatre. in Fourteenth
st, between Fourth-ave. and Broadway. The
fire was discovered by Joseph Burns, the engi-
neer Of the Morton House, which adioins the
theatre. He rushed into the hotel, and told
the clerk. who sent in an alarm from the box in
the hotel
Chief Croker arrived at the fire on the first
alarm. Before the companies got to work the
hre was gaining rapidly and eating up through
me engine room TO the first floor.
Immediately Chief Croker sent IN a second
alarm. His hremen plunged through tne smoke
and fought the fire from the staircase leading
to the cellar and engine room.
There was terrible excitement among the three
hundred guests in the Morton House The hotel
rapidly filled with smoke and panicstrcken
men and women. clad in their night clothes fed
from their rooms. darted down the staircases
and rushed into the street. The halls and cor
ridors of the hotel were dense with smoke. and
the guests had to grope their way 20 get out to
the street.
Keith's Theatre is a six story building and
the Morton House has five stories They
practically one building
BY o'clock the flames had spread with
narkable rapidity. and it seemed if the fire
men would not be able 70 prevent them from
reaching every part of the theatre. Chief
Croker feared that if the fire got much head
way the entire block in Fourteenth-st. would
be in danger of going up in flames.
It was learned that the fire started in the stor-
age room adjoining the engine room. It was
separated fromlthe engine room by sheet iron
door
a little after 2o'clock the fire had reached the
stores adjoining. The clothing store of Benson
& Co. at No. 60 East Fourteenth-st was
mass Of flames in few minutes as was the
cigar store of Manuel Diaz, a cigar dealer at
No. 60. The fireman then worked 10 save the
adjoining property.
Chief Croker. when he saw that the fire was
gaining such rapid headway, sent in third
alarm.
In the storage room Of the theatre were stored
quantity OF oils and paints. and carloads of
briskly. and the gases and odors drove the fire
men back repeatedly when they tried to force
their way to the cellar. and attempt to confine
the blaze there.
Dense volumes of smoke filed the theatre and
rolled through to the Morton House Men and
women did not take the time 10 pack up any
clothing but fed in their scanty attire. They
rushed UP Broadway. many of the women
screaming hygterically. They were conducted
70 the hotels in the neighborhood, where they
were cared for.
The fire chaplains and the searchlight arrived
ct the fire on the third alarm. Chief Croker
placed the searchlight directly IN front Of the
theatre.
The fremen tried repeatedly TO force an en-
trance through to the cellar. If they could have
got TO the basement and poured water on the
blaze in the storage and engine rooms they
might have been able to prevent the flames from
spreading.
The crew from hook and ladder company be-
gan smashing in the doors and windows of the
two stores that had caught fire. The flames
had shot up from the floors and enveloped the
places in a mass 6f flames. The fire threatened
TO spread upstairs, but the fremen concen-
trated their efforts TO save the houses adjoining
the theatre.
1t was feared that the Morton House would go
up in flames, and the iremen dragged lines of
hose through the halls and corridors and fought
the fire in the theatre from the rear
All the employees in the Morton House were
compelled TO fee from the place. Porters, wait
ers and chamberrnaids rushed to the street.
Several women in rushing down the stairs
tainted but all We're carried out TO the street.
Everybody got out OF the hotel in safety.
Three fremen who were trying to stretch a
line of hose through the front of the theatre
building to play on the flames that were coming
through the floor We're overcome. One by one
they dropped. but they were quickly rescued by
their comrades. The nremen who We're over
come are Edward O'Connor Charles Choups,
both of Engine Company No -, and Steven
Haley. Of Engine Company No. 33.
ROY PESCTER AT 4 FIRE