St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-13
FRIGHTENED BY FIRE.
Lily Langtry Cuts One Act Of
Gas In a Looking
Glass"
She Had to Do Some Sprinting
to Escape Icinera-
tiOn.
Cool-Headed Oswegoans Man.
age to Halt a Stamped
ing Audience.
Chieago's Finest Play House
Gutted by a Blaze After
the Performance.
Spacial to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
OswEGo, N. Y, Dec. 12, "A large au-
dlence, comprising the most prominent
people Of the city, gathered at the Acad-
emy of Music tonight to hear Mrs.
Langtry in "As In Looking GLASS;"
AS the curtain was about to ascend on
the last act there was an alarm of fire
from the rear of the hall, and almost
Immediately thick clouds OF smoke
puffed up through large register i'll
panic-stricken and Surged toward the
exits. People began climbing over seats
and pressing toward the alSles, and
frightful crush seemed imminent. At
the first alarm the orchestra began play
inc, land several coOl-headed men sprung
upon the stage, shouted that there was
no danger, and called upon the people
to pass out quietly. Dozens of others
mounted chairs i'll various parts OF the
room and urged the people to keep cool.
This had wonderful effect. The eX-
cited throng stopped and turned back
for their wraps and rubbers. In two
minutes the theater was cleared with
out accident, Just as flames sprung up
through the floor directly in front of the
main entrance. The people who first
rushed out sent in an alarm from the
nearest box, and the speedy arrival of
the firemen. and of many friends of the
people in the audience, added greatly to
the excitement. The fire was soon eX-
tinguiShed. 1t originated in an over
heated furnace under the center aisle
near the main entrance. Mrs. Langtry
retained her presence of mind. ordered
the removal of her wardrobe and left by
way of a rear entrance. taking refuge
in an adjacent restaurant.
The flames burned large hole in the
floor, and the building was badly dam
aged by smoke and water. No one was
Injured so far as can be aScertained. A
number of women descended from the
gallery by ladders. The smoke was
first seen by Usher George Chetney,
who showed good Judgment in opening
the doors and getting people in the
vicinity to go out quietly, thus help
ing to avert the serious cOnse-
quences of a panic. When the alarm
was given. Mrs. Langtry was just going
upon the stage. The smoke had not got
behind the curtain, and the actress
walked out in front of it. At the sight
of the confusion and smoke she rushed
from the stage, snatching mantle from
an attendant in her flight and throwing
it over her shoulders. When she
reached the rear of the stage she found
the hall fullOf thick smoke, which came
from under the stage. Without entering
her dressing room, she hurried
through the stage exit and into
the street, and was soon joined by
other members of the company. Mrs.
Langtry was greatly agitated and urged
that the theater be searched for any
one who might be left behind. A fire
man was assigned to the duty, but the
only living thing he found was pug
dog belonging to one OF the actresses,
and which was locked up in one of the
dressing rooms. A trunk filled with
costumes used by Mrs. Langtry was
broken and the contents were badly
damaged by water.