Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-31
NOT IN THE BILLS.
THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDAY IN A
FRENCH THEATRE.
Hundreds OF People Crushed aud
Buraed TO Death.

! Hundreds OF People Crushed aud
Burasd TO Death.
NICE. March As A. NJ Up To this
hour 80 bodies have been recovered from
the ruins Of the Italian Opera House. de
stroyed by fire last night. IL is feared
that many more lives are lost. The fire
commenced soon after the curtain had
risen for the performance Of Lucia de
Lammermoor." The subscribers for the
orchester stalls and boxes of tine grand
tier had mostly not arrived. A majority
Of the victims belong tn the working
class.
Shortly after the fire began the gas ex-
ploded, and the house was plunged into
complete darkness A scene of terror and
dismay ensued which beggars descrip.
ton. A detachment of sailors from the
squadron in the harbor arrived on the
scene and displayed great gallantry in
rescuing people and combating the fire,
which was subdued toward 10 o'clock.
Strakosch, the impressario. was slightly
hurt. Signora Blanca Di Donald, one of
the leading artists. made her way from
the stage tn the street in safety. One
entire family of five persons aud another
family of three persons are known to
have perished. Relief subscription for
the sufferers have been opened through
out Nice. The regatta here has been
countermanded and the value of the
prizes to have been contested for will be
contributed towards the relief of the dis
tressed.
New YORK, March PA dispatch
from Nice says: The holocaust at the
opera houe last evening was caused by a
gas explosion at the back of the stage,
which set fire to the scenery. The flames
spread with alarming rapidity and sUon
enveloped the gas metre. The supply of
gas being cut off the body Of the house
was soon plunged in darkness. The crowd
pressed madiy toward the limited means
of kit. The audince was large, and in the
panic hundreds were thrown and
TRoDDEN UNDER-FooT.
Those who endeavored to extricate the
people hopelessly jammed between the
doorway and passages describe the scene
as terrible. The shrieks of the wounded,
mingled with the cries of those in the
gal cries whose every means of escape
was cut off. Nine Donadio, the prima
donna, was saved, but the tenor. basso,
baritone, and a number of chorus singers
were burned. Up to midnight $50 bodies
were eXtricated from the ruins A man
who escaped from the upper gallery by
jumping, declares that, with perhaps a
dozen exceptions, every person in this
part of the house burned. Some sailors
were lost. A number of American and
English vistorors rendered general asst
anCe in saving lives.
THE SCENE IN TOWN
is indescribable: One lady whose hus-
band was burned to death committed
suicide. AS usual complaints respecting
the defective means of escape and the
water SUPPLY. Although the Medi-
terranean washes the shore at the foot of
the walls of the theatre no water could
be obtained when wanted and the beauti-
full Opera House was complete wreck.
AT NEW YORK.
Col. Mapeson, Sgnor Arditi, Signor
Monti and Nine. Gerster's husband at
the rehearsal to-day, in the Academy of
Music in this city, were much depressed
by the news of the terrible calmity at
Nice. Donadio sang in New York with
Albani some years ago. The tenor was
known to be Devilliers, Frenchman, 35
years of age and not remarkable for any
excellence on the lyric stage. The bari
tome was Carbone, and the bassa Pole
named Miller, who had enjoyed a con-
tinental reputation for many years. He
was an old man, over 60perhaps. Signor
Monti knew him well and was much af
fected by the report of the injuries he had
sustained. Ferdinand Strakosh is be!ived
to have been the impressario of the troup;
Signor Bolognini, manager of the theatre
THE THEATER.
Charles Mapleson said the theater cost
in the neighborhood of $35O,000, and
vas built without architectural design.
Outside the walls were brick chiefly,
blocks of stone interlarded, for no seem
ing purpose futher than to make the
structure appear unsightly. The interior
looked very pretty, with its ornamented
walls and ceilings of dazzling glided
work but it was all 'grimcrack."
| The star there this season was Miss
Rosino lsdore, who last year made sig
nal success in London. She is a protege
of the Baroness Rothschild. Her parents
reside in st. Louis. No.
Origin of the Bang.
America has 80 seldom given Europe a
new fashion in return for the many it
has received, that great deal of quiet
comfort has been taken out of the suppo-
sition that the feminine custom of bang
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