Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-26
A Theatre Burned--Destructio of
the Malta Opera House.

Writing from Valleta on May 81, the
London Times correspondent says: ''The
telegram dispatches early on the morn
ing Of the Goth of May, will have in
formed your readers of the destruction
the previous evening of the Royal
Opera-house at Malta, a splendid struc-
ture, built only few years ago by the
local Government at a cost OF nearly
half a years revenue of the island. The
building unfortunately was not insured.
1t appears that at about 1910 o'clock,
while rehearsal was going on in the
new opera, 'ELa Vergine del CASTILLO" in
the presence of about two hundred per-
sons in the stalls and pit, naked gas-jet
set fire to some very light scenery on
the stage, and the flames spread in such
a rapid manner as to cause the greatest
panic among the singers, orchestra, and
| audience, who sought to effect their exit
by the only door which was open at the
time. Some had to break through the
windows and jump into the street to es-
cape from the flames, which in a few
| minutes envelOped the whole of the in
terror of the building, few receiving
Commissions and larcerations, but, FORUM
atelv. none of a serious nature. Within
a quarter of an hour from the first alarm
being given, the roof fell in with most
terrific crash, sending up such an i'm
| mense volume of flame as to light the
surrounding country for several miles
! The Royal Artillery, Royal Malta Fenci-
! BILE Artillery, and Royal Engineers, as
we'll as a large body of police, were also
promptly brought on the scene, and
fears being entertained of the fire com
municating with the surrounding build
ings, and large depots of powder in close
| proximity, efforts were chiefly directed
| to keep the fronts of these houses cool
by pouring and pumping water on them,
! and. as an additional security, placing
wet blankets over the magazines and
closing the ventilators Parties of blue
/ Jackets and marines from her Majesty
ships, Hibernia, Cruiser, and Helicon,
under the respective commands of Com
mander Roche, Commander Dale, and
Lieut. Commander ROngemeHt and other
officers of the aforementioned ships,
likewise did great service in throwing
water on the tops of the neighborlng
| houses. 1t was evident from the first
that nothing could be done to save the
opera house, of which, in a few hours,
nothing remained but the bare walls and
! pillars. ana JDGSts IL - lGdICu, dLC ~
calcined by the intense heat that the
greater part of them will have to be re.
moved. Among the first who appeared
to render assistance were the officers and
men of the Austrian frigate DandolO, in
port, one of whom, regret to say, was
rather severely hurt Excellent order
was maintained by the military and po'
lice, which enabled the Governors in
structions to be efficiently carried out
Fears of the depot magazines, in close
vicinity to the conflagration exploding
created a great panic among the pOpula-
ton of the town and suburbs, and thon,
sands of persons, suddenly aroused
from their sleep, fled with their families
many with scarcely any covering, in al
directions in the country, some extending
their flight as far as the centre of The
island. Fortunately, there was no wine
to carry the flames to the adjacen
houses, or the results would have beer
much more deplorable than the mere de
struction of this magnificent building.