The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-30
THE FIRE FIEND.
Further Particulars of the Terrible Loss of
Life Mt Nice.

THE FIRE FIEND.
Further Particulars of the Terrible Loss of
Life Mt Nice.
NICE, March "a, a. NIP TO this hour fifty
nine bodies have been recovered from the ruins
OF the Italian Opera House, destroyed by fire last
night. 1t Is feared that many more lost their
lives. The fire commenced soon after the curtain
had risen for the performance of Lucia Di Lam
mermoor." The subscribers for orchestra stalls
and boxes OF the rand tier had mostly not ar
rived. A majority OF the victims belong to the
working class. Shortly after the fire began the
gas exploded. and the house was plunged into
ensued which beggars description. A detachment
of sailors from the squadron in the harbOr arrived
on the ground and displayed great gallsntry in
rescuing the people and combating the flames
which were subdued toward 10 O'Clock. Strakosch
Blanca Donald, one of the leading artists made
her way from the stage to the street safely One
whole family of five persons, and another family
of three persons are known to have persisted.
Relief subscriptions for the sufferers have been
opened throughout Nice. The approaching
regatta here has been countermanded and the
value of the prizes which were to have been con-
tested for will be contributed toward the relief of
the distress.
LATER AccoUNT-150 BODIES FOUND.
NEW YORK, March PA dispatch from Nice
The holocaust at the Opera House last evening,
was caused by gas.explosion at the back off the
stage which set fire to the scenery. The flames
spread with alarming rapidly, and enveloped the
gas meter. The supply of gas being cut of, the
house was soon plunged in darkness The crowd
pressed madly toward the limited means OF exit.
The audience was large, and in a panic,
hundreds were thrown down and trod,
to extricate people hopelessly jammed between
the doorway and passes, describe the scene ter
rible. The shrieks of the wounded, mingled with
the cries OF those in the galleries, whose every
means of escape was cut off. Nine. Donaldo, the
prima donna, was saved, but the tenor, basso,
baritone and a number of the chorus singers were
burned. Up to midnight $50 bodies had been ex-
extricated from the ruins. man who escaped
from the upper gallery by jumping declares that.
in his part of the house was burned Some
sailors were lost. A number of American
and English visitors rendered general assistance
in saving lives. The scene in town is indescrib-
able. One lady whose husband was burned to
cath committed suicide. The usual complaints
Eere made respecting the defective means of es-
terranean shore was almost at the foot of the
Theater, no water could be obtained when want
ed, and the beautiful Opera House was a complete
wreck.
Colonel Mapleson, Signor Ardetti, Signor Mento
and Nine Gerster's husband were at rehearsal to-
day at the Academy OF Music, this city, and were
much depressed by the news of the terrible ca
lamity at Nice.
Donald sang in New York with Albani some
years years ago: The tenor was the wellknown De,
and not remarkable for any excellence on the
lyric stage. The baritone was Carbone, and the
basso q Pole named Miller, who has enjoyed a
continental reputation for many years. He was
an old man, over sixty. perhaps SignOr Monti
knew him well, and was much affected by the
Strakosch is believed to have been the mpreSsario
OF the troupe and Signor Colognini Manager OF the
Theater Charles MsPleson said the Theater cost in
the neighbOrhood of $3.50 900. 1t was built without
regard to architectural design. The OUTSIDE walls
were brick chiefly, with blocks of stone inter
larded for no seeming purpose further than to
nngiOhflV "a m
terror looked very pretty with its ornamented
walls and ceilings and dazzling gilded work. but
1t was all ''gim crack" have heard professional
people who are accustomed to strongly built and
handsome Theaters of America say: what
magnificent structure for bonfire" 1t re-
semoled great many OF the lightly built Thea
tiers found in South of France. Like all Theaters
established at watering places, its season was
short never extending over three months in the
Isadore, who last year made a signal success in
London. She is the protege of the Baroness
Rothschild. Her parents reside in ST. Louis, Mo.
LATEST FROM NICE
1t is now thought that seventy persons have
pershed. Nothing remains OF the Theater but
four walls. 1t Is uncertain whether any singers
were killed, but several were injured.
Additional Particulars of the Burning of
the Theater.
NEW YORK, March Pa telegram from Nice
says: mo list OF the victims of the Opera House
fire has yet been published. The bodies in most
cases are calcined and disfgured beyond recog-
milton. The Strakosch injured is Ferdinand.
During the fire several people, frantic with terror
threw themselves from the roof of the Theater
and were dashed to pieces 1t is clear the calamity
was the result of objectionable negligence. The
gas pipes behind the curtain had not been re-
paired or renewed for the last eleven years and
the escape of gas which occurred four months ago
was temporarily stopped with cement. The day
before the fire another escape OF gas was discOy
cred during rehearsal Two Inexperienced
did their work imperfectly, and consequently the
escaping gas concentrated behind the drops, and
as soon as the burners were lighted behind the
wings the explosion occurred.
THE meter, which was the property of the town.
and which did duty for both stage and audito-
/ rum, was instantly turned of, and the Theater
thereby turned into darkness Hence the panic
and stampede, which lost many unfortunate peo
| pie their lives. Very few persons were injured
but the number of deaths remarkably large.
Ten hundred and fifty people were crowded into
a small gallery with only one narrow door which
opened inward as u means of egress On stout
oak door in the passage were the words Door in
case OF fire" but ii had not been opened for years.
and 1t was impossible to break through ii. A
majority of the victims were Niceis or Italians
There was public interment to-day OF eighty five
of the victims"
The American Consul at Nice telegraphs as fol-
lows: "Sixty-nine lives were lost by the Opera
House fire. No Americans or English are among
| the victims. public interment will take place
to-day. All shops are closed"
NICE, March pa newspaper states the direc-
tor of the Theater has informed the Magistrate
that there strong smell of gas in the Theater
/ on Wednesday He communicated with the
authorities and wished TO postpone the perform
ance until an examination of the gas apparatus
was made but received orders to give the opera as
The subscription for the friends of the sufferers
has reached 100000 francs. The funeral OF the