The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-08
Exciting Scene In a Theatre.

Fitzgcralds Philadelphia City Itcm," Of the
18th, gives the following account of an incl
dent that occurred one eve ing lately at the
| Providence or. ~ Theatre on the occasion of
the performance Of "Romco and Juliet, 1t
took placs in the fifth act. The piece, says the
account, had been caritully played, and re-
ceived by the audience with great npproba.
ton
The last scene commcnced-thcrc was dis.
covered the tomb Of the Capulcts enclosing the
sleeping Juliet. Romeo advanced with bar in
in hand to wrench apart the marble jaws that
! hid his beloved one from his gaze he struck
| the door. Both Romeo and the audience were
Mortified at the cries of Juliet wi,hn-"save
Inc save me y The door flew open and the
most fearful sight presented itself; Juliet was
seen lying on the bier enveloped in flames
| The whole assembly was in const crnat ton,
though but few left the theatre. In less time
we take to write the circumstances, the tomb
| was leveled to the stage Juliet sprang boldly
! from the bier became one OF. the most cncgctc
in cxtinguishing the namcs--Thc curtain fell
at this point Mrs. ". G. Forbes was the Ju-
lict Of the night, and throughout this fearful
situation acted in the most courageous and s,,r,
! tied manner. Many Of her sex would have
tainted or have been so terribly frightened rs
! t" have increased the danger, but Mrs. Forbes
| displayed great presence Of mind. She saw
that she could not open the door without
reaching her arm across the edge of the bier,
and in that case would have inevitably igni-
ted the sleeve Of her dress MS the flames were
raging on bo tn sides of the bier making her
appear cngullhe'l in liquid fire: 50 she gath
cred the dress closely about her and waited as
quietly as was possible, under the circumstan
! ces for an opportunity to escape.
In springing from the bier her garments
caught, but she raridly cxtingnished them will,
| the assistance of the gentlemen present The
! danger being passed, the fact was communicated
to the audience, who received the announce
t mcnt with every demonstration of delight. The
scene was Immediately rcset-thc curtain rose.
and Juliet was received with tremendous ap
! rlarsr, and was loudly called for at the ter
inlna;i"n of the glad'lenrl ass.mLagc. 1t an.
pears that the jarring Of the tomb by the blows
of the bar in the hands of Romeo, (Mr. Frank
llardcnburg) had discngagcd n lamp, filled
with some very inaamable fluid, that was sus-
pended from the roof Of the tomb, and whcl,
IN falling had rolled under the bed, spiliine it,
contents in every direction. In n moment, of
course, the whole mass was igntcl 1t was q
most miraculous escape, for the lamp was hang
| ing directly over the middle of the bier, and
had 1t fallen on Mr.. Forbes, nothing could have
saved her from 81 horrd death. Mr. i. Harden.
burg behave in the most noble manner, riskine
his person Mt every Step; and so active wns he
that he did not discover, till the excitement
was entirely over, that one of his shoes had
been burned from his foot. lie played the par
OF Romeo beautifully, nor was his acting in the
i"trot"rcd scene any the less splendidly man
! aged