LYCEUM THEATER FIRE
Washington & Montgomery
November 27, 1860

GENERAL ALARM
(all companies responded)

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
BURNING OF THE LYCEUM THEATER

1860 November 27
The Lyceum Theatre, situated at the corner of Montgomery and Washington streets took fire this morning about eight o'clock, and the interior was totally destroyed, leaving only the bare walls standing. The flames were first discovered by the watchman of the theatre, who, having been up all night, retired to sleep in the front part of the building, about half past seven, and he was awakened by to smoke and flames issuing from the vicinity of  the stage. This leads him to the belief that the place was destroyed designedly. The entire department was quickly on the spot, and by their unremitting exertions, the fire was confined to the theatre, where it raged fiercely for nearly an hour. By ten o'clock, the theatre, where so many gay audiences had congregated, was a heap of smoking and blackened rums. The Lyceum proper, which comprised the second story of the large brick building which was burned, was built by John Wilson in 1858, in opposition to the low-priced melodeon which had been started in the present Temperance Hall, on the opposite side of Montgomery street by Mr. Johnson, the comic singer, and others. It soon killed out the melodeon, when it was enlarged and converted into a regular theatre, for which it has since been used. During its brief career it has been the scene of the classic impersonations of Anderson, the tragedian. Miss Davenport, and other leading stars. The French and Spanish companies had also made this their usual theatrical head-quarters. John Wilson, who continued to be the proprietor, being largely indebted to Thomas Adams, the keeper of a liquor saloon No. 132 Montgomery street, and of the Lyceum Saloon, he made over the property to the latter a few days ago— that is. just as he was preparing to leave in the barque Yank— for the Sandwich Islands, with his circus and general equestrian performers. The barque sailed yesterday.

The losses by this fire by persons occupying stores on the ground floor of the building, are as follows: Claude Long, hardware dealer, stock damaged by water, $1,000, no insurance ; John G. Hein. New York leather and findings store, damage by water, $12,000, insured for about $5,000 ; W. S. Mellor, auctioneer, $800; J. C. Combes, liquor saloon, $500; G. & W. Snook, tin and iron ware, $600 ; J. K. Prior, gas fitting establishment, $1,000 ; Thomas Adams, proprietor of  Lyceum, $12,000 ; Mrs. Taylor, Mr. John Wood, and several others lost to an unknown amount in wardrobe., etc.

A sadder aspect is given to the affair by a severe accident to Mr. Alfred F. Barbier, a brother of the agent of Tucker's Academy of Music. Mr. Barbier has always taken an active part in the duties of  the Fire Department. He was ordered to step out upon the iron roofed balcony of the theater and remove a piece of burning matting which had fallen there. While doing this, the slight material broke through, letting him fall a distance of some twenty feet upon the sidewalk, when he struck heavily, head downwards. He was taken at once to Keith's drug store and thence to the track house, of St. Frauds Hook and Ladder Company, where he was attended by Dr. Gray. The full extent of his injures can not yet be ascertained : but it is found that the spinal column is seriously injured, as the whole body is paralyzed — the unfortunate man being utterly unable to move a limb, and experiencing great pain in the neck and back. This is the third accident he has met with within two years, in the discharge of a fireman’s duty.
Source: Daily Alta California, Volume 12, Number 3942, 28 November 1860 — From our Evening Edition [ARTICLE]

FALLING OF THE LYCEUM WALLS
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE MARTINETTI FAMILY

City Items.

1860 November 28
Since writing the account of the burning of the Lyceum Theatre for our last evening's edition, we learn that the principal losers among the actors are Messrs. John Wood, George Coe», John Kelly, Franks, Brown, Grosvenor, and Mesdames Claughley, Brown, Devine, Shaw. and Cole. The musicians lost all their instruments, valued at from $60 to $250 each. The total loss in building, stocks in the stores, wardrobes, etc., will not fall far short of $35,000.

The walls of the ruined theatre are in a dangerous condition, and pedestrians will do well to avoid passing under them. That on Montgomery street is cracked at the angle with the north wall, and threatens to fall at any moment. It seems to have bulged from the intense heat to which it was submitted. A portion of the wail adjoining the Opera House fell about nine o'clock yesterday morning, during the fire, and smashed in the dressing -room. giving some members of the Martinetti troupe a narrow escape. But for their remarkable agility, two of them would undoubtedly have been wounded, if not killed. Upon this, Mr. Maguire applied to the Fire Wardens, who, with Mr. Adams, the proprietor of the Lyceum, engaged Mr. Henry Platt, of the New Music Hall, to take down the more dangerous parts of the walls. Those on the west are so ridiculously thin that one cannot but wonder that they supported the audiences that have often congregated within them.

The belief gains ground that the fire was the work of an incendiary, though we can hear nothing indicating up the truth of such an accusation. A lighted cigar carelessly thrown upon a cushion or play-bill, as the audience was leaving night before last, or a candle left behind the scenes, may have started the flames.

At ten o'clock last evening, Mr. Barbier. the injured fireman, was sleeping, but, by reason of the paralysis, unable to move a limb. He was receiving every attention from his friends ; but it is feared he cannot survive the terrible shock occasioned by the fall.
Source: Daily Alta California, Volume 12, Number 3942, 28 November 1860 — SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28 CITY ITEMS. [ARTICLE]

Extracted from original sources with grammar and spelling as published.

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