Washington sentinel., 1854-03-10
The Accident and Loss of Life at thu
Opera House In New Orleans.-The tele

The Accident and Loss of Life at the
Opera House III New Orleans.-The tele-
graph has already briefly reported an account of
a terrible accident at the New Orleans French
Opera House, on Sunday night, the Goth ultimo.
The house, il appears. was crowded on the occa
sion, the performance being for the benefit of M.
Carrier, favorite actor in that city. The Delta
after stating that The third (wbere the accident
occurredD was occupied by colored persons, says !:
1.-The curtain was up. and the vaudeville OF
La Petite de Ia Grande Armee' was proceeding
the orchestra in full play, when cracking sound,
like that of the rapid fire Of musketry. was heard
| about the centre of the third tier As the vaude-
vile was military one, and the music of the or
chestra very loud, the majority of the people
thought these sounds were part of the perform
ance. They, however, increased, and spread
through the whole third tier the left Of the pros
cenum, until from teu de joie Of military the
noise appeared like that of battery Of cannon.
"A great part of the audience continued under
deception in regard to the causes Of these sounds
until the cry was raised, the galleries are fall
ingm Then scene Of indescrbable terror and
confusion arose in the crowded mass; ladies'
screaming, men following, crowds rushing to
every door and means Of exit many leapng on
the stage, others out of the windows and mixed
and struggling mass pouring down the main stair
way. High above all sounds, were the terrific
screams Of the negroes in the upper tier as in one
solid mass they came tumbling down distance
"The second tier fortunately fell within the boxes
extending in 'front.' on which several ladies' were
seated so that the edge OF the second tier grazed
the heads Of the ladies, and injured though not
seriously few of them. 1t was here two young
men who We're highly beloved were killed. Flo
rion Malus, young man, for many years deputy
of Lucien Hermann and John Claiborne, not aries,
had received not long since, commission as
notary from Gov Herbert, and had Just set up for
himself, with prospects ofa fine business, owing 10
lor Of hal
himself. He was sitting in the third box from the
stage when the gallery fell upon them. The two
friends with him received very slight contusons
in the head, but he, more unlucky than they, was
knocked senseless his head battered most horribly
and completely disfgnred by the mass of timber
which fell upon him.
THE name of the other young man who was
killed, was Fergus Toedarro II was thought at
first that scores were killed, and il is indeed won
derfu that the loss of life so limited. As
soon, however, as people gained their senses, ef
forts were made 10 relieve the sufferers, whose
cries were heart-rending. great many were
found dreadfully crushed. Mr.. Salvador Pratz
was found with his back broken. Messrs. Henry
Bouligny, VIM. Burbarin, E. Delerc M. Talarice
Charles Roman, Ernest Mitenberger Gustave
Blache, and several others were badly injured
Two colored persons are also reported 10 have
been killed, and child over years old badly
hurt, not expected TO live. Among those slightly
injured are Recorder Ramos Charles Blanc, E. A.
MICHEL, Ernest IOHOck ana george GOllOck, Ma
dame Lafou Ladbat, two Misses, Drouilhet, and
fifty or sixty others, mostly Creoles, The number
ofladies present was small, which is nearly always
the case on Sunday night at our theatre.
THE gas had been turned of few minutes after
the crash, and confagration thus prevented.
though the act added much to the confusion Of the
moment.
"The cause ofths disaster, of course, lies in the
imperfect manner of construction, but with whom
the fault rests il is yet difficult to decide.
"The scene outside the theatre few moments
after the disaster affecting. Many thousands
Of people, a large proportion Of whom had rela-
tives or friends within. gathered as if by magic
Bursts Of JOY, of grief of apprehension, were
heard on all sides father brother or sister
appeared in safety, was reported hurt, or of whom
nothing could be learned.
Madame Sontag was to have appeared in
opera, at the unfortunate house, the following
evening. but Of course the accident precudes the
idea OF an audience being obtained within its
walls at present"