The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-06
ACCIDENT AT The NEW ORLEANS OPERA
HOUSE.
New Scene In ''The Husuenots''--D ela-
branche shot and Severely Wounded.

branche shot and Severely w Wounded.
From the New Orleans Times, Jan. IL
The closing scene OF the opera OF "The Huguc-
nots,h on Saturday night AT the Opera House, came
near Deing as tragical as tho massacre which 1t LIS
contemplated TO represent aud In It's results it Is
regretabe to state viii probably deprive the public
OF me splendid voice OF the iavorlte tenor Della
braiche for at least q fortnight come. White
the last notes OF the celebrated trio unale Of The
NTH act were still lingering tue the enrap-
tured audience, and as eyery shot fired on the stage
increased the infensitv Of the exc rement which the
massacre scene " ALWAYS certain to create Mr. Deta.
branche was MOI iced 10 suddenly bring MS hands TO
ms face several times bnt perslstently refuse to
lull as required by the situation; and the curtain
fell. To those unacquainied with the scene the
delinquency offered no suggestion that something
was wrong, but The close observer concluded at
once that Mr.. Delabranche had met with a serious
acciden. This conclusion eventually proved too
true. and the assistance OF Dr. Formento was I'M
medately called III at the dressing room OF Mr..
Delaoranche VINO was suffering terribly from tue
elects OF the discharge or a musket in his face.
The medical examination exhibited a miraculous
escape from blindness, only lew grains or gun-
powder having entered the lett eye OF Mr.. Della
branche. The forehead. cheeks ami the lett corner
OF the right eve OF this gentleman were also nie-
necessarily the whole 'front.' face from inc mouth 10
the hair Of the fOlehead was severely burned. Ihe
lie lett eve the right one being uninjured. was per-
formed by Dr. FOrmentO, VINO also mad TO remove
the larger grains imneided IN The hesh In other
surrounded the little dressing room was one OF great
soiciiude for the welfare OF the esteemed tenor who
thought and spoke CT naugh but his poor wife,
during the operation, while TINS lady sat near by OH
a door step. weeping mournfully AT the untoward
misfortune. q il .l.. ..ff
The cause OF the accident can hardly he ascrihed
to carecssness. since the gun with which the wOund
was nlictcd was IN the hnnds OF one OF the Oldest
employees at the theatre, Octave, prudent r1an OF
mature age, and who has been q chOrister ut the
opera or nearly twenty years. The accident Is due
to the premature discharge OF The musket, which
occurred as Mr.. Octave Was IN the act OF raising IL
to re II overhead. Fortunately Tor Mr.. Delaranche,
the load was O small q ne Had 1t been Otherwise,
considering THAT the discharge occurred within q
couple Of feet from his head, ut least OF his eyes
might have been blinded, anu hts 5unerIngs cOmmen
surately Increased. .f
Last night nt late hour Mr.. Delabranche was
doing considerably better. The pun In hts lett eye
which mad been excrucatiny during the previous
night, had subsidized as well Us the high lever
which followed the accident. '
DE- FormentO during the day made a critical ex-
animation OF the eyes or Mr.. DelaDranche, both or
which lie found To have received Injuries. The LEFT
eye evinces slight abrasion OF the cornea, imme-
dately over the lower portion of the IRIS. hut no
peroraton OF the tender envelope could DC dis
Cerned. r-t
No opinion can yet be given as to even the posi-
BILE result OF the accidcut. The inuries may provo
very slight: aud again. shon'd excessive infiamnia-
lion set IN In The eyes Lie consequences win be very
grave. Therc IS also some apprehension entertained
that the abrasion 10 TIC LETT eye may produce IN -
thalna ana the loss * sght but THIS apr ,ons,on
Is not OF such naidrc as 10 cause he ~sndnn,,err
o. me hope tnat within the ~" 81 twenty daysD,r.
"cunli,, that has learned ,aniS" IL aPpear . I
ami viii ON that Ocrs-. - appreciate nus
to winch n'- SION express their sympathy,
, - --....4s ACCIDENT has entitled hin.