Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-03
A "REMINISCENCES.
History OF an Incident In Wallis Opera
House Years Ago.

Looking at Erminie' last night" said an
old theater-goer to q STAR reporter, drought
to my mind an incident that happened in what
was then Wallis 0pera-house several years
ago."
walls Opera-house?" queried the reporter,
''where was that?'
1T was on the site of what is now Harris
Bijou. That has been a place of amusement
ever since came to this city during the war.
When first knew it, it was a variety tbeater,
and George Kunkel, George Thatcher, Sam
Sanford and others who afterward became
famous In the minstrel line used to play there.
Then it was remodeled and nicely fitted up by
Mr.. Wall and called Wallis Opera-house"
Did Mr.. Wall own it?"
Il think he did. He was an aucrioneer, who
mad his place of business where the Marble
building now stands, at the corner of 9th street
and pennsylvania avenue, and believe owned
the Opera-House building. Well, as I started
10 say, there was an occurrence there one night
which was brought very forcibly to my memory
last night as ! sat listening to the pleasing
music OF 'Erminie' and laughing at the funny
business OF Francis Wilson. 'Erminie,' as you
know, Is the old drama of Robert Macaire'
made into an opera, and on the night to which
refer Robert Macaire' was being played at
Waus. Laura Keene and her company were
playing an engagement, and for Saturday night
Robert Macaire.' Frank Mordaunt was Mdcaire,
and I've forgotten who the comedian was but
just as the piece was well under way some one
cried out fire from the rear of the house.
! There was big audience present, and Of course
| two-thirds of the people jumped to their feet
and every one turned to the back part of the
house. Sure enough, up in the gallery, in
one corner, smoke was seen coming out in con-
| siderable quantity, and for moment it seemed
as II the cry OF fire was justified. There was
a general rush for the doors. There were
exits on the sides of the building then as there
are now, and people tried to get at those doors
to open them. For few minutes there was
great confusion. Then Frank Mordaunt came
to the footlights. and in his stentorian voice
begged the people to be seated, assuring them
that there was not the slightest bit of danger
He said he couldn't explain the cause of the
smoke just then, but he was satisfied there was
| no ire in the gallery, for there was no way in
which one could be ignited. His appeal had
the effect OF quieting the fears of most of the
audience, and they resumed their seats. Many
OIL the ladies, however. were very much upset
| and one lady, who sat in the same row with
| me, tainted dead away. Of course that raised
more commotion in our vicinity, but / forum
ately had bottle of ammonia in my pocket, ant
she was quickly revived. Then Mordaunt TOLD
the story of the smoke. Some man had thrown
the corner on the lower floor. 1t was summer
time and the stove had not been used fol
months except as receptacle for waste paper
This paper caught fire from the cigar and com
menced to burn. The upper section Of stove.
pipe had been taken out Of the chimney and
SO the smoke poured out into the gallery. There
wasn't any danger from fire, but there came
very near being first-class panic, and it was
only the GOODNESS displayed by the people OF
| the stage and few sensible persons in the au.
dience that prevented serious disaster. have
never seen 'Ermnie' without thinking of thai
Robert Macaire' night, and / will tell you
| frankly that was then as near as ever care to
be to a theater on fire."