The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-09
SAVED BY DYNAMITE "A THEATRE IN ASHES:
The Famous Theatre Francais
of Paris Burned.
The Body of Mile. Henroit, a Young Ac-
tress, Taken Prom the Ruins. The
Only Life Lost.
(By The Associated Press }

Paris, March S.-U1 p. m)-The The
atrc Francaise, the historical playhouse
of Paris, and the home of the world
famed Comedie Francaise, is tonight a
mass of smoking ruins. Only the mere
outside shell remains standing. The
dome has collapsed and the interior is
an utter wreck. The magnificent ceiling.
bearing the allegorical painting by
Mazerolle, and other very valuable works
invaluable library of manuscript, perish
ed in the flames.
Practically all the sculpture, however,
was saved
The only victim of the fire so far as is
known, was Mile, Henriot beautiful
young actress of 10. She came of a
theatrical family and her mother has
been filling an important role at the
Theatre Antoine.
1t was, however, only a matter of an
hour that saved Paris repetition of the
Opera Comique catastrophe, as a crowd
of women and children had already gath
cred at the doors, awaiting the opening
of the matinee, when the alarm was
raised and few probably would have es-
capped had the performance begun. When
the general scramble of employees Cor
the doors occurred following the alarm
several persons in the upper stories, in
Guiding Mile. Henriot and Dudley, were
forgotten. When three quarters Of an
hour later water was poured into the
burning building the structure was be-
yond help.
An immense concourse soon assembled
at every point from which a view of the
fire could be obtained. Troops had 10
be summoned TO keep the crowds back
and to assist in the work of saving the
art works.
During the confusion thieves cut sew
eral paintings out of the frames and got
clear away In one case the police ac-
tually assisted them, under the impress
sica thpt the thieves were workmen from
the Comedie Franeaise. st
The actual cause of the outbreak has
not been determined, as the alarm came
from the outside, but the back of the
stage was first consumed. the scenery
burning like tinder. Owing to derango
ment of machinery the iron curtain could
not be lowered and the auditorium was
quickly involved.
Miles. Dudley ana Henrlot- with lneil
dressers, were on the sixth floor, prepar-
ing for the matinee. The former was
rescued by a fireman who mounted a lad
der, tied a rope around her and lowered
her to the ground.
Mile. Henriot's dresser relates that she
left the dressing room with her mistress
but that the latter completely lost hel
head and instead of descending, ran III
stairs and sought refuge in another room
where, presumably she was asphyxated
The firemen found Mile. Henriot lying on
the floor. Only her face had been burn
ed. The body was carried out and placed
in an ambulance car, dozen of which
were drawn up in front of the door
AS her face was so much burned that
she was unrecognizable, the body was
taken to the morgue where it was iden-
tilted by NJ Coquelin and other members
of the Comedie Francase by the clothing
Meanwhile the mother of Mile. Henriot
had hurried to the scene bare headed and
crying wildly for her daughter She was
distracted with grief.
Mile. HenriotS dresser was badly
burned but not dangerously. number
of the fremen were slightly injured,
chiefly by the sitting flames,