Evening journal., 1911-05-09
STUBBORN FIRE EATS
UP THE LYRIC THEATRE
Smoke and Wafer Also
Seriously Damage the
Stock ofLouis Jacoby's
Store Adjoining

Fire of unknown origin early this
morning completely gutted the Lyric
Theatre. at Nos 220-222 Market street,
and damaged adjoining properties, en-
failing a total loss of between $4,000
and $4,000
The loss on the Lyric Theatre build
ing is about $4,000 Il is owned by
Martha Ferris and is assessed at $20,-
600. 1t is covered by insurance.
The exact amount of the loss will
depend on the damage to the stock in
the store of Louis JacOby, No. 224-
226 Market street, which received a
deluge of water and smoke. Mr.. Jacoby
up to early this afternoon was unable
TO estimate his loss. II may be more
than $4,000 The insurance men were
looking over the stock today to esti-
mate the loss.
William Benner, owner and manager
of the Lyric Theatre, today placed his
loss at $4,000, but this estimate is re-
garded as very high. It includes the
furniture and cost of Transforming the
building He had no insurance.
Samuel Harris. of No. 21S Market
street, places his loss to property and
clothing stock at $4,000.
The interior of the playhouse was
completely destroyed, and all that re-
mains is the wall on Market street,
which will necessitate the erection of
an entirely new building.
Thrilling rescues were made by the
firemen, and due to their brave work
no lives were lost Mrs. William
Benner and Gertrude Ward, house
keeper for the Benners, were carried
down a ladder by firemen from a third
story window of the burning building,
and John and Daniel Mullin, actors,
playing at the theatre this week, were
assisted down the same ladder, after
the women had been landed safely in
the street.
Mr. Benner and William Worth. an
Englishman, also an actor, were
rescued by means of a ladder from
the second story of the building. and
both were nearly overcome.
The blaze is thought to have been
caused either by a defect in wiring
or a lighted cigarette thrown aside.
It started in the rear of the play
house near the dressing rooms, and
made rapid headway
Started in Rear of Building.
Charles Simmons, of No. 21S West
Fourth street, while passing the thea
tre about II o'clock. saw smoke is
suing from the windows. and looking
up to the third story, saw two women
standing at one of the windows, the
occupants Of the place having short
~ before that discovered the presence
of fire in the building. He ran tc
Fourth and Market streets and met
Charles Black, who sent in an alarm
from box No 9. Later Fire Chiel
Moran sent in the second and general
alarm, and the entire department was
ON the scene doing service.
II seemed some time before water
was gotten on the building. An hour
after the alarm was struck the in
terror of the structure was practically
gutted. The fire fighters then turned
their attention to adjoining property
and the buildings in the rear of the
theatre, doing good service in pre-.
venting the spread of the flames
The people within the building be
came agitated and the women were
badly frightened. The Mulliu brothers
used every endeavor to calm the wo
men.
When the Delaware truck arrived
there was a delay when the crews o
some chemical engines standing il
front of the burning building failed
to pull their apparatus away I'm orde
TO allow the Delaware Company Il
haul its apparatus close up to Thu
building so that It might raise its ex
tension ladder Finally the Delawar
men had to drag a thirty-foot ladde
from their truck and place It agains
the building and this did not quit
reach the window I'm which the womel
and the Mullin brothers we're standing
Carried Down the Ladder.
Despite the fact that the ladder di
not reach the mark Thurston N
Lowe, Clerk of the Market, and Jess
Traub, members OF the Delaware Com
peny, hurried up the ladder, and Trau
who was in the lead caught Miss War
sd passed her to Lowe, who carrie
w to the street Mrs. Benner wa