The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-17
Singular Accident in a French
Theatre.

The PA1r1 Dc Ia Loire OF Nantes gives the fol-
lowing account of a singular accident and
lucky escape:
equence Of which might have bsen deplcra.
bic, has ssnsibly affected the numerous spec
ta;Ors attracted to the Sale 0raslin by the
third performance Of an unpublished play,
entitled tn. "Ohateau de Ciisson.' About
the end of the second act, youth Of II, dress
cd in blouse and trousers, BY trade a cur
rier, Rene Tessier by name, living ut Nantes,
Place du Port Com muneau, with his father,
having gone out, returned, and wanted to re-
| sumo his former seat In the front row Of the
fourth gallery on the right side and facing the
stage. Bat instead of placing his leg cautious
IL over the upper bench he lent abruptly for
wards towards the railing, which he thought
he should lay hold of. This support he miss
Cd, his hands slipped along the velvet OF the
rim, aud the poor fellow found himself pitch
cd forward by his own impetus.
Tho reader knows the usual construction
Of q theatre tho projections of tho galleries
recede from the base to the summit, so that
any heavy object In falling from the fourth
could hardly reach the pit. The best chance
for Tessier would have been, owing to this
ARRANGEMENT, to make q perpendicular fa2
and alight on some padded rim below, 40 as
to remain within ths enclosed tier This,
perhaps, would have happened if there had
bssn more empty seats In the sallie than was
the case. -
In his fall, Tester did in fact hit against
the snperNumerary company OF the 18th,
who was seated in the third gallery then he
fell against the head Of woman in the
second, the wife Of NJ. HORTON, carpenter;
then he brushed past the officer on duty,
who was seated beneath In the last arm
chaired bench to the right of the front boxes
a distance OF several metres. by an extra.
ordinary chance, Tessier, whose arms and
legs were stretched ont, and who al persons
wh o saw him during his frightful fall say,
p@vrav H.,
through space. found himself quickly satsd
on one Of the front benches OF the pit, nser
the orchestra, exactly On spot which had
been vacated between the acts, and in which
he made his appearance like q messenger
from the sky, having merely grazed the foot
OF the person sitting next to him. The general
satisfaction may be easily imagined; it be-
came yet greater when II w,ss ascertaiIed
that the young workman had sus tain Cd Z o
fracture.
Eeing carried out to the cafe OF the theatre,
Tessier was able to sit upon q stool, his arms
crossed on a table, and his head resting upon
his arms. Doctors 'Charvau and Htgnard
came and exe mined him; they only found a
bruise about the size OF a form. Being asked
how he was, Tessier said that all tho pain he
fslt was in his thighs. When they talked Of
removing him to the hospital, he had the
strength to rise by himself, bat soon fell
back. and he had to be placed on stretcher.
The soldier Brstel was in the meantime
bro ought INTO the cafe he was stlll quite stun
ned by the shock he had received, and was
very pale and hagGard. As he at lrst spit q
little blood. it was thought there was some
internal injury. such was, however, not the
case. He lad merely bitten hts own tongue,
snd his state was not Of a nature to cause
anxiety.
Madame HORTON escaped with a confusion
on the back OF her neck and a bump upon her
head.
Accidents are by no means confined to
French theatres. Hefs In Richmond, last
Friday night, while the play Of Richard III.
was progressing at the "Varisties," the ira .
monarch threw his trunchson beyond the
wings. where 1t unfortunately came in con.
tact with lady's head, and in flictsd quite a
severe wound. The circumstance occnsioned
sons oonamotion behind the scenes, OF which,
however, the audience was not aware.