The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-27
Over One-HaIf of CiB's Best Square Destroyed
 by Fire
PIXIES HISTORIC OPERA
 HOUSE COMPLETE LOSS
Actor Who Went Into Building Has Miraculous Escape-Sent Message to Rescuers on His Cuff.
 Nobody Killed.

Cincinnati, February 26.-Over one-half of the best square In Cincinnati was de- stroyed by fire today The square bound- ed by Vine. Fourth, Walnut and Third streets was conceded 10 be the most solid ly constructed portion of the city
 That half north of Baker alley with the exception of the Carlisle building at l the southwestern corner of Fourth and l Walnut streets is in ruins, while the American Book company's publication house. the Woodrow printing works. the zumbrlel Box factory and other concerns on the south side of Baker alley are also burned out.
 The fire was discovered at l:3O m. and 1t was 50 D. m. before 1t was fully under control. although all the depart ments of this city and the fire depart ments of surrounding towns were con stantly turning dozens of streams on the conflagration. There are a score or more of streams still pouring on the smoking ruins tonight, and they will keep it up all night.
 While the property loss is tho largest in the history of the city by fire, h Is believed there was no loss of life. ala though two men who lodged in the Pike Opera house building still missing tonight.
 John Kenan and Joseph Schaefer. who were badly hurt while escaping from burning buildings, are reported tonight as resting well. Several forces of fire men. who were caught on the roofs of burning buildings, had narrow escapes, | but all were rescued by ladders. | One of the heaviest losers is the Hen 1 rietta Crossman company, which at i the Pike this week, and lost everything: even the safe with the receipts from a crowded house last night. The company 1 will not appear again this week l The fire was such that few office safes withstood 1t.
 The total loss tonight Is estimated at from $1, GOO to s2.0o0.000, ana 1t Is dis tributed among occupants of four large office buildings and other structures.
 Actors Miraculous Escape.
 The escape of Will Jones, the well known Cincinnati actor, just before the roof of the burning Pike building fell and his rescue half dead from the top of the building was a thrilling and almost mira culous one. Jones presence of mind. which led him to throw his cuff into the street below and thus make his where abouts known. saved his life.
 After hard rehearsal Jones went to the Pike building about midnight to get his valse, which he had left in studio of an artist friend the fourth floor. After entering he was so tired out he fell asleep in chair. When he awoke sud- denly he was blinded and suffocating. and he saw outside the glare of the flames. He crawled to the door. Outside in the great air shaft the flames were shooting up. How he made his escape he does not know, but some instinct found for him the stairway leading to the top.
 He went up to the roof and in some manner got through a skylight. He fell over something and was stunned. When he recovered the flames were shooting through the roof. He crawled to the edge, but the fireman in the streets did not no- tice him He shouted himself hoarse. He took his cuff and wrote on 1t:
 "I am on roof Nearly dead from gas
 JONES"
 He threw 1t to the ground and re- porter picked it up and located the 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 telephone exchange build- Ing. Jones was carried down and taken to the hospital
 Theatre Burned Once Before.
 The Pike theatre building was totally destroyed by fire in 1866, and it narrowly escaped total destruction on March 30, 1902. when there was a Sunday matinee in progress, but no lives were lost in any of the fires.
 After the fire of last year the interior of the Pike was remodeled and the the atre redecorated and refurnshed al an expense of several thousand dollars. over $15O0 worth of gold leaf alone being used in the decorations
 The scenery and costumes used by the Pike Stock company during the season which closed last Saturday night. valued at about S10.0O0 were stored in the opera house. Included in this was a good por- ton of the expensive costumes used in the presentation of Cinderella" during Christmas week.
 The loss of the Henrietta Crossman company, which has been at Pike's this week. Is double that of the Pike Opera company Henrietta Crossman was called up with other guests at the Bur rett house and witnessed the burning of her company's effects She went into the crowd on the street in the night and ot- fered her assistance
 The Pike building belonged to the Pike estate and Powell Crossley is the gem eral lessee. sub-lettng 1t to over 200 tea- ants.