The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-05
SCHNEIDER.
Exciting Scene i'm u London Theatre -"Eury-
diCcss in FLAMES.


dicc'' in Flames.
Much CONSERVATION was created in ST. James
Theatre, LSndon, July 81, by an occurrence of
very alarming nature. Towards the close OF
Onenbach's Orphee dUC Enters, TO heighten the
effect of the scene, quantity of COlOred fire Is
burned on the stage. Madlle Schneider having
approached too near one OF the trays Of the
burning composition, her dress ignitcd, and In
an instant she was enveloped III flames. The
audience (says the StOr) rose in state of sud
den alarm, and several occupants of the stalls
and boxes leaped on to the stage and threw their
coats over the actress, who preserved the utmost
GOODNESS throughout the trying scene. The cur
tain fell but was raised shortly afterwards, in
compliance with the demand of the anxious
spectators, and it was then discovered that
though the slight dress worn on the occasion
had been completely destroyed, MadllC Schuci-
der had fortunately escaped without injury.
An eyewitness thus describes the painfully
thrilling scene:--
I'm the last scene of Orphee duG Enters occurs
the apotheosis of Eurydice.' With Jupiter on
one side and Pluto on the other, she standing
on pedestal, is ascending to the clouds, sur
rounded by flames and lightning. In an instant
one of these flashes set fire to the back of the
skirts of Madlle Schneider dress. 4 spasm of
horror shot through the house. The tarlntan
blaZed so suddenly that her companions on the
pedestal had scarcely realized what had hap
pencd, when with a shrek she sprang from be-
tween them on to the stage. The leap must have
been at least II feet. The actors closed round
her, but she broke from them. Jupiter caught
her, and with his mantle, which he had torn
from his shoulders attempted to stile the flames.
As an opening occurred in the crowd, | could
see the prjhtG donna struggling on the ground
on fire, and almost without any dress left.
"Some gentlemen sprang from the pit boxes
and assisted in throwing coats whatever
came to hand about her. just then the curtain
was dropped out 1t seemed an age before it
rose again 1t was pushed about by the assist
ants in the exciting scene behind it, while noise
and screams were heard \ few of the actors
came before it and tried to calm the public, to
satisfy whose anxiety the curtain was again
drawn up, and Mile. Schneider was seen sup
ported by the manager and others, half fainting,
and recumbent in their arms. She had yet sut-
ticient presence of mind To bow with the sweet
est and most tremulous smile | ever beheld, To
reassure the audience, who, standing up, burst
into thunders Of cOngratulatOry applause. Mcdi
cal assistance was present, remedies were in
stantly applied, and so successfully that | was
informed Mdlle Schneider would be able to play
tomorrow night. The prin,G DONNA left the
theatre in about an hour after the accident for
her residence in ST. Johns Wood. The escape
is most wonderful. The Bacchante's dress was
quite burned away; the mdiLOt even was almost
destroyed. Yet fortunately Mile. Schneider has
received only some Scorches which give no ap-
prehension of any dangerous consequence