The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 7, 1898, Page 7

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1898 PAl TED THESPIANS ELY | FROMBLAZING SCENES | AND SMOKING RAFTERS in the Columb Property Valued ‘Fire Thousand Dollars. ‘A Few Minutes More and | the Audience Would | Have Assembled. | ia Theater Destroys at Twenty-Five with smoke, and an alarm of fire was sent in from box 47. Scarcely had the district engines ached the scene when Chief Sullivan, fe ng that fl_le‘ building would be destroyed, turned ia | | & second alarm. The entire roof was ablaze, and f a time the flames A Bad Scare for the Members of the “Gay Coney Island” Company. GOTTLOBR'S COOL HEAD. He Dismissed “One of the Leading Actors Was Sick.” It was but the providential interven- tion of time—and very short time at that—that saves the recording this morning of a calamity the very thought of which causes a shudder. Fire started in the Columbia Theater 20 minutes before 8 o’clock last evening, and within five minutes the whole audi- torium was filled with dense, suffocating smoke. Had it been half an hour later there would have been a thousand or more men .and women s ggling in mad panic in their e to escape almost certain death a iay San Francisco have 1 of mourning. ar With the acrid, poisonous gases pour- | ing in dense from the burning | wood wor ous that the few | who were in the building were not | yxiated i t would have oc- | er filled with a | only be leit to spec- | ateful feeling that a tion of providence | he people and an awful | merciful stood between | e managers of the theater | a great financial loss, they people have reasons for con- that there was neither the suffering which itailed had there the time of the ic have been Ry rt delay in | | | | ion. is a gay as well as a grave | side to casualty, and what might | have been a public calamity now affords | food for jest with Matthews and Bul- | ger as the butts of the pleasantries. | These gentlemen were in grotesque | costumes ready to go on the stage ‘ when the zalarm was given and they rushed madly forth to meet the jeers and jokes of their iriends, as they pre- sented the contrast of frightened se- riousness garbed in the ludicrous hab- | { | | iliments of m ‘ ted on the top floor of | < used as a lodg- | to Captain | iters, it was | ty minutes before 8 o’clock ormers connected with 4 nd” show, which the Columbia, dressing-room. | red the other mem- and, after a hur- ; sent for Fred he jumped upon d the smell of d that a fire was | ed to the ticket of- | Gottlob. Leisurely main aisle so as not - people who were | y, he ascended to a quiet voice, he told | »f the actors had | sick, the perform- | He asked them | sed out to go to the box of- the money they had paid | ickets would be refunded. As they fited out of the theater Gottlob ordered | the fire curtain rung down. | this time the theater was filled NEW TO-DAY. The new year brings with | it many new businesses and | desk-wants for somebody to fill. We're ready. Never had so many before, nor so good, nor so easy to| buy. » 2.50 for one like picture. Solid oak, polished; combination | of pigeon-holes and er room. . Office chairs, too. Drop us a line and we’ll mail you 63 pages of pic- tures, prices and facts about office desks. the People Because | unicate to the ad- Armed with axes | ed the building and to chop away the burning roof. Realizing that a con- flagration was imminent, Chief Sulli- van ordered the water tower truck to take up a position in front of the the- ater. The immense stream from the tower was then brought into play, and in hort time the blaze was extin- threatened to comm Joining buiidings the firemen ent vainly endeavored guished. Captain Comstock estimates the loss | at about $25,000, principally due to water. The water from the tower reamed through the roof, destroy furniture in the lodging hous damaging the chairs in the theater an, playing sad havoc with the fixtures and bar of the Auditorium saloon, which is adjoining the theater. Th 2 as estimated by Captain Comstock are as follows: amage to the lodging house by fire water, $3000. Damage to the Auditorium saloon, $5000. Damage to the theater by fire and water, $10,000. Damage to the building by fire and | water, $8000. The people connected with the the- ater deny that the building caught fire from an electric wire. They strongly believe that it was due to a defective flue between the Columbia building and the St. Ann’s building, which ad- joins it on the south. After the firemen entered the thea- ter they discovered a volume of smoke pouring through the south wall of the | | | FIREMEN AT WORK T Fred Meyer, the janitor, says he was | walking down the main aisle of the | theater when he detected the smell of smoke. “Realizing that something wss wrong,” he said, when relating his ex- perience after the flames were extin- | guished, “I jumped on the stage and | entered the wings.” The members of | the company had also discovered the | smoke, and seemed to be alarmed over | it. I told them not to get excited, | and leaving the stage I informed Mr. | Gottlob. There were not many people in’ the audience, as it was t®o early to put in an appearance. Mr. Gottlob made a nice speech to the few people who were present, in which he said that one of the members of the com- pany was sick, and for that reason there would be no performance. They then filed out of the theater, and it was not until the alarm was rung in and the engines rattled up to the| building that it dawned upon them that a fire was in progress. “After they had left I went upstairs | to see if I could discover the cause of the smoke. After considerable trouble I discovered the blaze between the two walls. I quickly got a bucket of water, | but finding efforts useless I ordered one of the men who was with me to turn in the fire alarm. “I am firmly convinced that the fire was due to a flue which is situated on the south wall of the building. As soon as I saw that a serious fire was im- minent I aroused the roomers in the lodging-house and told them of their danger. Some of the women ran froml sad havoe. The damage done by the water, however, is fully covered by in- surance.” It is said that there were forty room- ers in the lodging house, who were damaged from $25 to $100 each. This will increase the total loss to about $28,000 or $30.000. Friedlander, Gottlob & Company have arranged to transfer all their coming Columbia Theater attractions to the California Theater until the former house is entirely repaired. *“At Gay Coney Island,” which has been playing at the Columbia, will open at the California Theater on Saturday night. A special matinee will be given on Sunday afternoon and a final per- formance on Sunday night. The en- tire scenery, costumes, etc., have been saved. Nellie McHenry, in “A Night in New York,” will open at the Cali- fornia Theater Monday. Those per- sons holding seats for the remaining performances of “At Gay Coney Island” at the Columbia can have their money refunded or seats exchanged for the California. For a time the building seemed like an island in itself as the water poured down from above, and a scene could hardly be described which would be more realistic of a theatrical company on a wet day. When the smoke was first seen by the members of the troupe the men rushed heroically to the stance of the ladies, but in the long T pack their grips and give them well- timed advice as to the amount of time they would have In leaving the build- IN THE GALLERY. gallery. Cutting away a portion of the wall, they discovered the cause of the smoke. The fire had crept along the wall of the theater and was eating its | way to the gallery. After covering the | furniture of the theater with tarpau- lins, Chief Sullivan ordered his men to cut away the portion of the wall which was on fire. A hose was then run into the theater and a stream played on the burning embers. When the first cry of fire was raised there was considerable excitement be- | hind the scenes. The performers were | “making up” for their various parts in | their respective dressing rooms. When the smoke was discovered the women members of the company became California Furniture Company (. P. COLE & CO.) Carpets u7-123 Geary St. Mkl I alarmed and started to leave, unmind- ful of their stage costumes. Ome of them in her haste to escape from the burning building ran out, her stage wig tightly clutched in one hand and a powder rag in the other. The men remained perfectly cool, and greatly assisted the women in moving their effects to a place of safety. | to make an investigation. | the chute through which the ‘dummy | waiter’ runs I was nearly evercome by | smoke. | despite the use of tarpaulins, created | the house without stopping to take their personal property. One young woman was en deshabille when I in- formed her of the fire, and notwith- standing my protest she started to leave. A friend, who also .roomed in the house, promptly seized her and forced her to don her clothes.” Andrew Wood, one of the propgietors of the Auditorium saloon, was one of the first to discover thé fire. He was standing in his saloon when he noticed smoke arising from a “dummy’ waiter which is in the rear of the place. “1 first thought that the smoke was coming from the restaurant under- neath,” he sald last night, “but as it seemed to grow in volume I concluded Looking up Rushing up stairs I saw that the building was on fire and raised an alarm. Fortunately the flames did not reach the saloon, but we no doubt had a narrow escape. The water from the tower poured into the saloon, and ing. Mathews, who takes the part of | Payne in the performance and is sup- | posed to take things easy, swallowed smoke, which pained him, and he did not carry out his part, but took things uneasily. Harry Bulger dropped his plumbing set in the dressing-room and followed. At this point the ladies were thought of, and Mathews returned, but Bulger would not budge from the front | door, which he had reached in safety. All performers in the piece forgot their lines and reversed the part they take before the footlights, with the ex- ception of Thomas Evans, who shaves all those who will stand it nightly. He had his razor with him, and it came in very handy, procuring an opening in the crowd which had gathered. Mark Hart, who is “an arm of the law,” was sent out of the dead line by an officer, and Basil Booth went in search of a tonic. Marie Toughey, who is supposed to be not old enough to know, took the hint and moved, but Clarence King, the undertaker, remained behind to see if there were any fatal accidents. That was possibly from a desire to see his fellow members get out in safety. The flames could then be seen, and Harold Montrose concluded that it was ‘“his move.” Jane Whitbeck knew her place, but wouldn't keep it, and Josie de Witt, who is supposed to have money to burn but no matches, was glad of it, Then came the members of the “Dra- matic School” and a “cornucopia of terpsichorean confections,” all huddled togetner, which made their part seem exceedingly realistic. The sign on the bills, “Just tell them that you saw us,” was uttered and the cornucopia dis- appeared in search of a dry place. Last but not least came J. Schwartz with a drum in one hand and a trunk on his back, closely followed by friends and admirers. All members of the troupe and many of the audience agreé that Gottlob’s speech was a masterplece so far as the rapidity of execution was concerned. The tale in brief which is told in the programmes was not altogether car- ried out, but some portions were very truthful. The first said, “Some things happen that lead one to believe that more things are likely to occur.” Now people wonder what next. The sec- ond, “You are induced to remain to see the fulfillment of your anticipations in act 3,” was not heeded, and In act 3 before the final curtaln, “Leave the theater if you dare,” was mocked at by audience and performers alike. It is estimated that Friedlander, Gottlob & Co. will lose $8000 through the fire. There was an insurance of $2000 on some small articles of furni- ture, which were destroyed. All those who had seats for last evening’s per- formance will be able to procure the money paid out by calling at the Cali- fornia Theater Saturday evening. Harry Oppenheimer, an advertising man, helped materially in removing the bric-a-brac from the theater, and it was principally through his efforts that all the fine ware was saved. The stage hands removed every particle of the scenery to the lene in rear of the theater, but in the hurry of re- moving it some of it got destroyed. they had to help the male members | | of affairs. | the rule will go even further and in- COMITY AMONG POLICE JUDGES Meeting Has Been Called to Adopt a Code of Rules. Presiding Judge Campbell De- sires Certain Evils Discussed and Remedied. One of the Most Important Will Be the Acceptance of Bonds in Appeal Cases. Judge Campbell, as presiding judge of the police courts, has called a meet- ing for to-morrow afternoon at which | the prosecuting attorneys of the four | courts will be asked to be present. The object of the meeting is to agree upon a code of rules of procedure, such as is in existence in the Superior | courts. Hitherto from jealousy, indif- | ference or some other cause, there has | always been a lack of harmony among the police judges and it is thought the time has arrived when an end should be put to such an unsatisfactory state | Hence the meeting to-mor- | row afternoon. The recent trouble between Judges Low and Campbell over the Sidney Kellett bond, which was taken into the Supreme Court, has had much to do with the calling of the meeting. One of the rules will be that no appeal bond shall be accepted except by the com- mitting judge, and it is possible that clude bonds for the release of prisoners held to answer before the Superior courts and bonds to be accepted for the release of prisoners arrested on warrants issued from a particular court. At least this will be suggested, | and if adopted will remedy a cause for many annoyances. In support of the ruie it is pointed out that the judge holding a prisoner or issuing a warrant of arrest is fa- miliar with the facts and cannct be, therefore, imposed upon by false rep- resentations, as has been too often the | case. Another suggesticn, and a proper one, is that one judge with his warrant clerk shall bs on duty every | afternoon, Sundays excepted, for issu- | ing warrants and attending to other | matters that may crop up. The courts | are often closed for the day by noon, and people anxious to get a warrant are compelled to wait till the next day, which has often entailed considerable annoyance and the escape of the per- son sought to be arrested. Judge | Joachimsen has for some months re- mained in his chambers every fourth week till 4 o'clock in the afternoon along with Assistant Prosecuting At- | torney Drury for this purpose, and it has proved beneficial In many ways. Judge Conlan did not attend the | meeting Wednesday when - Judge | Campbell was appointed presiding | judge, as there was a difference of | opinion between him and Judge Camp- | bell over the appointment of a French | interpreter to the courts, but it is thought that will not keep him from attending the meeting to-morrow fin | view of the important matters to be | discussed. BODY WAS NOT DISSECTED. J. B. Wilson Bequeaths His Body to a Physician and Then Outlives Him). The last will of J. B. Wilson was filed for probate yesterday, but it is certain that one of the grewsome | wishes of the testator will not be ful- | filled. The will was written and signed by the decedent many years ago. In it he bequeathed his body to Dr. Weldon, who resided in life at 2382 Mission street, for dissecting purposes, but re- quested that his boneg be cremated af- ter the scalpel had stripped them of flesh. Four years ago, however, the physician to whom Wilson bequeathed | his body died. In consequence the tes- | tator's remains were interred wlthnuti being distigured. | | very | In the following paragraph of the will Wilson gives his son, James Rae Wilson, $100, and his granddausghter | $300. The balance of the decedent’s es- tate is bequeathed George H. Wilson, his eldest son. “I Do Nothing For my cold; let it wear itself out,” you say. It ismore likely to | wear you out unless you make haste to free yourself from its clutches. This is a month when a | cold is a mighty power for mis- chief. Spare yourself weeks of misery and danger by prompt use of Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey, the famous medicinal stimulant. Why it is famous you will see for vourself when it has stopped your cough and ended the stiffness in your back and limbs. It will make you feel like your old self and you will not begin to cough every time a door or window is opened near you. Sold by Druggists and Grocers. ““Health Is better than Wealth."” CURES Colds, Bron~ Humors, etc., etc. Physicians rreseribe it. All droggists nell it Ask for WILBOR’S and rake ) o otner. - THE TEST OF TIME. “CATARRH | Send for FREE BOOK and Symptom Blank. NEW TO-DAY. AN OPEN LETTER To MOTHERS. WE ARE ASSERTING IN THE COURTS OUR RIGHT TO THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE WORD “CASTORIA,” AND “PITCHER’'S CASTORIA,” AS OUR TRADE MARK. I/, DR. SAMUEL. PITCHER, of Hyannis, Massachusetts, was the originator of “PITCHER'S CASTORIA,” the same that has borne and does now on every bear the fac-simile signature of m wrapper. This is the original *“ PITCHER'S CASTORIA” which has been used in the homes of the mothers of America for over thirty years. LOOK CAREFULLY at the wrapper and sece that it is the kind you have always bought, M——- onthe and has the signature of x4 Mf wrap= per. No one has authority from me to use my name except The Centsur Company of which Chas. H. Fletcher ic President. March 8, 1897. Offc.ic Bl Do Not Be Deceived. Do not endanger the life of your child by accepting a cheap substitute which some druggist may offer you" (because he makes a few more pennies on it), the in- gredients of which even he does not know. “Ihe Kind You Have Always Bought” BEARS THE FAC-SIMILE SIGNATURE OF L4 [4 Insist on Having The Kind That Never Failed Youw. THE CENTAUR COMPARY. TT BUARAY STREET. i NEW TO-DAY—AMUSEMENTS. FRIEDLANDER GOTTLOB 8 CP LIssers & manautas. —LAST THREE PERFORMANCES— MATINEE SATURDAY. STUART ROBSON In Bronson Howard's Masterpiece, YTHE HENRIETTA.” EXTRA—HE ARRIVES Next Monday Night. WILLIE COLLIER, The quaint comedian, in the year's farcical hit, “MAN FROM MEXICO.” Company includes Louise Allen, Maclyn Arbuckle, Dan Mason, Violet Rand, ete. And the Seats Are in Great Demand. EXTRA! Pending the nme!snf{ Theater, a transfer o The treatment of the Englishand German Expert Specialists, 731 Market Street, for Chronic Diseases cures—not for a week, not for a month, but for ail time. To demonstrate our superior methods we will ER MONTH $5 " MEDICINES FREE. § repairs at the Columbia the attractions will be made 10 the California Thicalrd FRIEDLANDER GOTTLOB 8 C° Lessies & manastay SATURDAY NIGHT. SPECIAL! &2 Matinee Sunday SUNDAY NIGHT. LAST 3 TIMES—The Wizards of Fun, MATHEWS & BULGER, In the Farce-Comedy Triumph, AT GAY CONEY ISLAND! Next Monday—Everybody’s {avorite comedienne JOLLY NELLIE McHENRY, In the enchanting, effervescent Lyrical Comedy, “A NIGHT IN NEW YORK!” Abgolutely the funniest farce ever constructed. CALIFORNIA THEATER. TO-NIGHT and Matinee Saturday—Last Times. VILLA WHITNEY WHITE In her successful song and lecture, recitals, German folk song, bailads and romances, with exvlanatory talks. Prices—5ic, 7ic, and $L. TIVOLI OPERA-HOUSE. MRS. ERNESTINE KRELING, Proprietor & Manager EVERY EVENING. THE SEASON'S TRIUMPH Our Holiday Spectacle. C“MOTHER GOOSE.” 3_GRAND BALLETS—3 Lots of Singing, Dancing ahd_Specialties. THREE HOURS OF FUN. NEXT WEEK—'"A SECOND EDITION 1" Seats on Sale One Week in Advance. 25c and 50¢ Asthma, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Neural, Disease, Dyspepsia, Eye Diseases, S eases, Rheumatism, Malaria, Nervous Dis- eases, Kidney Diseases, Bladder Difeases, In- somnia, Hyster! ets, Scrofula, ¢ Disease of the I Deformities, Spinal Chronic and Private Paralysis, Rick- | Liver Disease, Dysentery, eases. ENGLISH AND GERMAN EXPERT SPECIALISTS (Incorporated for §250,000), Masters of Chronic Diseases, 73l MARKET STREHET. Hours, §-5; Evenings, 7-8; Sundays, 9-11. Phone Green 601 CONSULTATION ALWAYS FREE. e PERFECTION... PREVALLS CUISINE £ SERVICE —IN THE— LADIES’ GRILL W PALACE. # Direct Entrance from Market Street. & EREEREEXEELRERER HHEXRER Popular Prices... A GRAND SUCCESS! The Legitimate Star, PATRICE, Supported by ALF. HAMPTON and J. F. WHITBECK; FARNUM America’s Acrobats; KITTY MITCHELL, Winsome Sou- IR KKK NN ENE D R BROS., MONEY CAN BE HAD :CiNone Sirens. - Character Arisis: MLLE. ROMBELLO, Sand Paintress; MUSI- CAL DALE, Campanologist. BALLET SPECTACLE. Reserved seal il . Laleony, 10¢; Opera Chairs and B 50c. ALCAZAR--" LAST Drama, THREE “THE GIRL I LEFT NIGHTS.| BEHIND ME!” —LAST MATINEE TO-MORROW.— Seats by "Phone—Main 254. For Building Purposes from either The Fidelity, Empire, Mechanics' or Califoraia Mutu! Building ad Loan Associations ON VERY FAVORABLE TERMS. WILLIAM E. LUTZ, Secretary, CAN 205 Sansome Street. wEAK ME BE CURED FREE by writing THE PHYSICIANS’ INSTITUTE, 1967 Masonic Temple, Chicago, Il NEW TO-DAY—AMUSEMENTS. PACIFIC COAST JOCKEY CLUB INGLESIDE TRACK. RACING FROM MONDAY, Dec. 27, 15¢, 25¢, 85¢, 50c. MOROSCO’S GRAND OPERA-HOUSE Walter Morosco. Sole Lessee and Manager. Inittal Production of the Great Racing Drama, “THE DISTRICT. FAIR.” With Types of New England Farm Life. e Fire Scene. to SATURDAY, dan. 8, inclusive. The Race Track at the District Fair. The Great Race Scene With Biooded Race orses. —A GREAT EASTERN SUCCESS— Evening Prices: 10c, 2%c and 30c. Matinees Saturday and Sunday. BUSH-STREET THEATER. The Thalia German-Hebrew Opera Company. 3 { Friday and Sunday nights, January 7 and 9, ELECTRIC CAR LINES. !;'ALE;&:\]}'D};B,; the Erenprincx of Jerusa- Kearny street and Mission street cars eves Sk W i SR three minutes, direct to the track, withouy | f0¢ oven daily from 10 a. m. to § p. m. change. Fillmore-street cars transter each i COOPER MEDICAL COLLEGE, F. H clu;mg: ?.'e,t.’.‘g‘_“’“ Eredent Corner Sacramento and Webster sts. i LANE LECTURES FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7. DR. L. C. LANE, ‘TRANSFUSION.” AI?MISSION FREE. INGLESIDE COURSING PARK. Stakes Dnubiod!;liigantic Entry! TWO DAYS OF SULTRY SPORT. SATURDAY, 1 P. M.—Rain or Shine. SUNDAY, 11 A. M. Five or More Races Daily, Rain or Shine. FIRST RACE AT 2 P. M. S. P. B. R. Trains 12:45and 1:15 P, M. Dally. | Leave Third-street station, stopping at Va- lencia street. Returning immediately after | the races. THECHUTES AND FREETHEATER Every Afternoon and Evening A GREAT VAUDEVILLE SHOW! Clever Comedy, Mirth and Music! SPECIAL!—Beginning Sunday Next, CHIQUITA! Cuba’s Atom! The Smallest Woman on Earth! Admission and performance, l0e: children. 50 OBE RO N —0FARRELL STREET, tockton. Grand Concert Evers Srening b0 CARL MARTENS ‘And ino COSMOPOLITAN ORCHESTRA.