The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-01-07 00:00:00

THE FIRE AT THE GRAND
THEATRE AT ISLINGTON.

Lord Londesborough presided over a meeting held
in the saloon of the Lyeeum Theatre on Tuesday after-
noon in aid of the fund opened for the relief of the
sufferers by the disastrous fire at the Grand Theatre,
Islington. Those present included Sir A. K. Rollitt,
M.P., Mr. Wilson Barrett, Mr. D'Oyly Carte, Mr. C. G.
Compton, Mr. E. Terry, Mr. Ledger, Mr. Macklin, Mr.
Garden, Mr. Donald, Mr. Townley, Mr. Abud, Mr.
Freeman, Mr. Morris Abrahams, Mr. Holt, Mr. Bash-
ford, Mr. T. Beard, Mr. W. S. Johnson, Mr. E.
Righton' Mr. Sidney, and Mr. Fernandez. In opening
the proceedings the noble Chairman said that while
at any time such a catastrophe as 4fiat they had to
deplore was a great misfortune, it was especially
so at Christmas, during the run of the pantomime.
At this period fresh engagements were most difficult
to obtain; many poor people who looked forward to
It as an annual harvest by which they might pay off
their small past debts and obtain a few comforts for
the coming year had been thrown out of employment
He trusted the charitably disposed public would come
forward and liberally subscribe to this most deserv-
ing case. A resolution having been passed adopt-
ing all that had already been done by the pro-
visional committee, it was agreed, on the motion
of Mr. Townley, that the two funds, being collected,
tinder the treasurerships of Mr. Ledger and himself
respectively, should be amalgamated. An executive
committee was next appointed, consisting of Sir A.
Rollit, Mr. Under-Sheriff Beard, Mr. M. Abra-
hams, Mr. E. Terry, Mr. C. J. Abud, and Mr. W.
S. Joonson, with Mr. Compton and Mr. Free-
man as hon. secretaries, and Mr. Ledger and
Mr. Townley as hon. treasurers. It was an-
nounced that benefit performances had been
arranged at Sadler's Wells Theatre, by the Mohawk
Minstrels, and at Deacon's Music Hall, in addition to
one in which all the music hall managers of London
will co-operate, on the 18th inst., at CoLlins's Music
Hall. Mr. Freeman explained that all last week's
salaries of the employ6s, amounting to £446, were
paid, but that most of the principals and some few
others had been able to obtain other engage-
ments. The pantomime engagements were for
eight weeks certain. After some friendly dis-
cussion it was recommended that the executive
committee should return Mr. Wilmot the half of the
money paid by him last week, and also to pay the
salaries of all the minor artists and employs this
week, as well as to restore the instruments lost by
the band, which were valued at £l6O. It was com-
puted this would exhaust over £6OO. Mr. Freeman
reported a visit he had paid to the poor fellow who
was so severely injured in trying to save the horses,
and it was agreed that he should have a share in the
fund, his bravery eliciting not a few high encomiums.
Mr. Terry proposed that £250 should be voted
from the Old Alhambra Fire Fund to the present
one, but it was ultimately agreed to give the
entire £550 over, subject to the condition that if
there should be any surplus left in the hands of the
committee it should be restored. The lists of sub-
scriptions were read over by the treasurers, and
showed a total of nearly £7OO. It is computed
roughly that at least £3009 is needed to allay the
wants of the employ6s, while the loss of Mr.
Wilmot is over another £6OOO. Mr. Abud stated that
Miss Anderson had instructed him to do everything
in his power to make the benefit at the Lyceum a
success, and a vote of thanks was cordially passed
to that lady for her kindness. An Entertainment
Committee was appointed to consider the details and
fix a date.

In the majority of the churches and chapels through.
aut London, and all the provincial cities and towns on
Saturday, special midnight services were held to see
"the old year out and the new year in." As a rule the
services consisted of hymns' prayers, and an address,
but the distinguishing feature was a short period of
silent prayer just before and during the stroke of the
midnight hour. In several instances the congregations
were very large.
The Board of Trade have intimated to the pro-
moters of the Channel Tunnel that if the bill, which
has been recently deposited by them in the Private
Bill Office, is persevered with, it will be the duty of
the Government to oppose it in Parliament.
On Saturday the private views of the " Old
Masters," at the Royal Academy, and of the " Cen-
tury of British Art, at the Grosvenor Gallery, were
largely attended.