The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-03

AAoA2A AN 0A0 -
opera house and is occupied by the
Western Union, the Associated Press,
the Big Four and other offices, was
threatened and all the wires Of the
Western Union for hours were in dam
ger. but this location was spared after
narrow escape.
There were many narrow scapas!
Night Watchmen John Agin and
Matt Garretson and Harry Rich
ardson, d~oor-keeper saved six lives
by entering the building and
forcing their way through the
smoke and rescuing dodgers. Four men
were asleep in a rear room of the Pike
building when they were rescued by
having their door broken in. they were
John Mulvern, H. C. Storey, J. F. Nc
Donald and w. c. Ashker. All escaped
in their night clothes. Again. Richard
son and Garretson proceeded through
the building giving the alarm to all
until they had to be helped out OF the
structure themselves.
The escape Of Will Jones. the we'll
known Cincinnati actor just before the
roof.of the building fell, and his rescue
half dead from the top of the building
was a thrilling and almost miraculous
one. Jones presence of mind. which
led him to throw his cuff into the street
below and thus make his whereabouts
Known saved his life. After q hard
rehearsal Jones went to the Pike build
ing about midnight to get his valse
which he had left in a studio of an ar
fist friend on the fourth floor. After
entering he was so tired he fell asleep
in a chair. When ne awoke suddenly
he was nearly blinded and suffocating.
He crawled to the door. Outside in the
great air shaft the flames were shooting
up. How he made his way he does not
know but some instinct found him the
stairway leading to the top. He went
up to the roof and in some manner got
through a sky light. He fell over some
thing and was TUNED. When he re-
covered, the flames were shooting
through the roof. He crawled % the
edge but the firemen in the street did
not notice him. He houte himself
hoarse. He took his cuff and wrote on
it Il am on the roof. Nearly lead from
gas.
C"Signed.) JONES'"
He threw it to the ground and a re-
porter picked it up and located he
figure Of a man standing outlined in
the sparks. Jones crept along the edge
Of the rear of the building and there
waited for the firemen who placed a
ladder across the alley from the tele-
phone exchange building. JCnss was
carried down and taken to the hosp tai
The girls in the telephone exchange
building across an alley from the burn
ing Pike building were badly frighten-
ed as the dark clouds of smoke rolled
about the building. The exchange
rooms are on the top floor of the six
story building and the night force con-
sist of eight exchange girls n he
night Manager George Cappes. The
girls pluckily stuck to their posts from
1:30 to $50 a. m, when the flames were
blazing in their so they were
ordered out. Later they returned to
their calls" and when the large day
force of girls came or duty they fear
lessly went to the sixth floor for duty
although the fire ragged all around them.
The Pike theatre building was to.ally
destroyed by fire in 1866 and 1t narrow
ly escaped total destruction on March
Goth 1902.
The American Book Company lost
1915. 900 on their publishing house and
stock and machinery. The plates OF
the electric system of school books were
all stored in his building, which. with
presses and electrical appliances were
lost. They are insured for 5000. 900.
Robert Clarke & Co, place their loss
at $3.50, 900, including $4,000 in plates
of law books and other works with $780,
900 insurance. Among the other losses
are the following: Pike building S475,-
600, insurance $3.50. 600: Seasongood
building $25, 600; Harrison building $685.
600: Forsdyk building $25, 600 Dupreme
Brothers jewelry SIS. 000: Richter and
Phillips jewelers. $50, 600; Miss Broth
ers milliners S. COO; Joffees grocery $751;
coo; Strauss wholesale cigar store S75,-
600.
The scenery and costumes used by the
Pike Stock company during the season
which closed last Saturday night, valu-
ed at about $40, coo were stored In the
opera house. Included in this was a
good portion Of the expensive costumes
used IN the presentation of "Cinderilla"
during Christmas week.
The loss of the Henrietta Crossman
which has been at the 4
this week is over doubled that of the
Pix Stock company. Henrietta Cross
man was called up with other guests
at the Burnet House and witnessed the
burning of her c~ompany's effects.
The Pike building belongs to the
Pike estate and Powell Crossley is the
general lessee. sub-letting it to over
two hundred tenants.
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