The Nevada Democrat., 1861-10-12
Merada aemutrat.
Terrible Scene Ia Philadelphia Thea
ter~-Ten Lives Lost.

A shocking calamity occurred at the Con.
tinental Theater. Philadelphia, about the
middle of September. VIM. Wheatley. an
old actor, had reopened the theater, and
produced Shakspeare's Tempest, in spectac-
ular style. A London macbinest was
brought over to furnish georgeous scenic
and mechanical fittings for the piece, and a
numerous ballet corps was engaged. Says
the Philadelphia Press:
During the week the houses were excel
lent, and on Saturday night about 1900
persons were assembled to enjoy the enter
tainment. The play had proceeded as far
as the close of the first act. Prospero had
related his misiOrtunes, and the pretty
Ariel had been instructed as to his MASTER 8
behests ; had stirred up the elements, and
the lightning exhibited TO the delighted
people the tattered sh.Ouds and torn sDars
of a doomed ship. The waves we're rolling,
and the vessel began TO sway. All eyes
watched the assumed terror of those on
board the jester Trinculo (Chapman) who
found time for joking in the pauses of the
storm, and StephanO, the drunken Butler
who swore and rolicked with death in his
face.
All at once, those accustomed to Witness
ing show pieces saw an unnecessary light
glaring over the top OF the rear scene. Be-
fore they had time to speculate upon il,
number of men 10 shirt sleeves (stage car
penters) ran upon the stage, and while the
confusion grew mOmentarily, a sharp
scream, that seemed to pearce the heart,
rang upon the ears of the people; and a
woman in ballet costume with her dress
all on fire, emerged from the side scenes
waving her arms above her head. In a mo.
ment size fell into the abyss where the ship
was riding. At the same time succession
of screams ensued. Trinculo suddenly
ceased to joke and dropped into the waves,
while Stephano forgot to be drunk, and be-
came as sober as a judge.
The young woman who had fallen into
the waves suddenly reappeared, and the
waves all at once assumed the guise Of BIZ
Of green cloth that was folded around the
young woman, and while the screams went
on faster and faster, the curtain had drop
ped upon the stage and hid the scene from
the audience. Some symptoms of alarm
had appeared by this time, and one lad in
the gallery cried "hre," whereupOn he was
choked by q big-fsted man beside him.
Two or three women said 20, Lord ~ and
endeavored to edge their way out of the
house, but these slight manifestations were
quelled by Manager Wheatley, who appear
ed in front of the curtain and said
Ladies' aud gentlemen, be kind enough
10 retain your seats, and make no unneces-
sary disturbance. If anything has gone
wrong will return in o moment and state
the occurrences"
The screams were prolonged and thrill
ling in the interim. but directly Mr. Wheat
ley reappeared and said
Ladies' and gentlemen. the performers
are somewhat excited, and we cannot go
on with the play until we discover the ex-
tent of the accident. You will therefore
go out quietly"
A voice-''Was the young lady whom we
saw just now, mach burned"
Mr.. Wheatley-"I cannot tell. There is
a great deal of confusion behind the cur
tain. Please 90 outl"
The people disbanded quietly. Some one
described their orderly dismissal as resem.
bling funeral. But scene far otherwise
went on upon the stage.
The girls were dressing for the ballet.
The dressing-rooms adjOin SAMSON street,
and 10 a dressing-room at the northwest
corner of the building the Misses Gale, dan
seuses, we're adjusting themselves for the
ballet of Act II. Miss Zelia Gale, on of
the sisters, stood upon settee to reach
dress, and when in the act OF handing it
down the fame of gas from an adjacent
tube set it on fire the flame cOmmunica-
ted to her underclothes, and che was all
ablsze in an instant. Her sisters rushed
up to extinguish the fire, and they too
we're ignhed. The fire mounted TO their
arms and breasts, inflicting terrible burns,
and, panic-stricken, they ran from the
room, through a narrow passage-way into
the next dressing.room, filed with ballet
ladies. The gauze dresses Of these blazed
up directly, and screaming, struggling,
wrestling, the poor creatures either turned
and leaped from the windows into SAMSON
street, or ran hther and tAither calling
for assistance.
. Miss Zelia Gale, with her clothing on
fire and uttering loud screams, ran down
stairs aud upon the stage, falling below
the stage level, where ahe was caught ia
the arms of Mr.. Thomas Bayard, the car
penter of the theater. Mr.. Bayard, 10 at
tempting to extinguish the fire with "sea.
cloth" was himself burned about the hands
and arms