Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11
FALLING OF THE GALLERIES OF A THEATRE.

The New Orleans papers have full accounts Of the
ghfu casualty the French Opera House in that city
the night OF Sunday the 26th ulimo. The loss of
life it is gratifying to state is much less than was re-
ported by Telegraph, nor the accident startling
and terrific Fortunately for those who below as
well for those in the galleries. the gallery did fan
once but gradually the upper part forcing down the
latter until all the supports sundered when both
parts gave way with crash and fell into the dress circle
and over into the parquet We copy the following
count Of it from the Picayune:
The accident originated in the giving away the third
gallery to the left of the stage This gallery is occupied
colored people, and attached the raers of the
ceiling by iron bars 1t also connected with the
second gallery by slight iron columns The second gall
lery before this season. supported by iron columns
resting the first tier dress circle This year, how
ever, they removed and the dress circle extended
distance out over the parquet and pit Behind the
dress circle open boxes the sides is passage
ridor generally occupied by gentlemen standing.
The theatre crowded for the benefit of favorie
performer Mr. Carrier The second of the first piece
was drawing its close when sharp report, like
of musket, startled the audience. Many thought it
some incident of the play itself. But in another
| moment universal cry of alarm, general rising, q
rush. the cracking and crashing of timber the
of and shouts of men, told too plainly another
tale The terrible struggle and confusion of such crowd
endeavorng each to escape from what threatened
be of general destruction scarcely be realized
Several persons who witnessed the gradual fall Of the
galleries. the efforts Of the struggling and appalled,
of human beings in them escape and the appearance
of the of the theatre at the moment described
it something utterly paralyzing and horrifying;
ceedng any steamboat explosion or confagraton,
| railroad catastrophe they ever witnessed.
The general giving way of the two galleries newt
able the second attached to the third by the iron
columns already mentioned and not itself supported
underneath by the oiss 1t well that the fabric
strong, although unfortunately not strong enough
else instead Of slowly settling down like the leaves Of
table, both galleries would have gone straght down on
the dress circle and parque crushing all in them.
The second gallery came down to at wide
angle against the wall and the back row of boxes of the
dress circle low roof thus left the passage
way behind the boxes which afforded path of safety to
many.
Fortunately but few ladies present the thea
tire Sundays and but few were there last evening.
Some half dszen in the boxes the side where the
accident occurred but they ALL except escaped with
| out serious injury. ~aH . a.g
The news spread like wildre through the city and the
streets in the vicinity speedily blocked up with spec
tators peled by motives Of curiosity only others
seeking for relatives and friends The Of recogni
escapes the groups of alatentve listeners the sad
counts Of injuries and DEATH made this assembage
Of deep and dramatic interest. s.
To the horrors Of the first catastrophe came being
added others terrible st-those Of fire. The lamp
lighter Of the theatre the danger and turned off the
gas the side threatened in time.
Florian Malus, notary about q years DID, killed
Fergus Toledano about Is years old, was killed Mr.
Salvador Prats residing in Bourbon street. reported to
be dangerously wounded; DR.. Charles Deery, badly
wounded Charles Roman, Of the firm of Roman s. Kerr
non reported severely injured Henry Bouligny,
injury; b. A. Michel eIsergeant of the general coun-
Gill severe injury; Nine Lafont, severely hurt hair
dresser, living St. Charles street. severely injured
Some fifteen twenty others burnt, but not Sc
verely.