Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-09
FROM PAGE SK----BERK
THEATRE BURNED.
HOME OF CoMEDIE FRANCHISE IN
RUINS.
(By Telegraph to virginian- Pllot)

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot.)
Paris. March Sill D. m.-The Thea
ire. Francois. the historical playhouse
of Paris and the home OF the world
famed Coincide Franchise, 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 CELL
ing bearing the allegorical painting by
Mnzerolle. and other Very valuable
works of art. together with Il portion of
the invaluable library of manuscript,
persisted in the flames
Practically all the sculpture, however
was saved.
Inc only victim of the fire, so far ns
KNOWN. was Mile Merriet, u beauti-
iul young actress of 10. She came Of
a theatrical family and her mother I'm :
Deen iillinE an important role az ths
Theatre Antoine.
was, however, only q matter of
an nour that saved Paris n repetition
Oh me opera Comique catastrophe. ms
q crowd OF women and children had
aiready gathered at the doors nw,it-
ing the opening of the matinee whn,
me alarm was raised and few pro5a
olE would have escaped had the per-
iornmnce begun. When the cenrr.l
scramble of employees for the doors
occurred, following the alarm. several
persons in the upper stories. including
Niies 1enriot and Dudlay, were for
gotten. When three-ouartcrs of nm
hour later water was poured into thn
burning building the structure was nc
You'd help.
An Immense concourse soon assem-
pied at every point from which a view
OF the fire could be obtained. Irons
aaa 10 De summoned 10 keep the
crowds back and TO assist in the work
oil saving the art works.
During the confusion thieves ont SOW
erai paintings out of the frames and
got clear away. In one case the no
nee actually assisted them. under The
imnression that the thieves wera
caise.
The actual cause of the outbreak has
not been determined. as; the alarm came
from the outside. but the back of tho
stage was first consumed, the scenery
burning like finder. Owing to n do
| fahSement of machinery the iron cur
tam could not be lowered. and the au-
ditorium was quickly involved
Miles Dudlay and Henriot. with their
dressers, were on the sixth floor. pre-
| pairing for the matinee. The former
was rescued by fireman, who mount
cd ladder. tied n rope around her. and
lowered her to the ground
Mile Hcnriot's dresser relates that
she left the dressing room with her
mistress. but that the latter complete
~ lost her head, and instead of de-
scending. ran up stairs and sought re-
huge in another room, where. presuma
bly,, she was asphyxiated. The iiremer
found Mile TIcnriot lying on the floor
only her face had been burned. Tho
body was carried out and placed in an
| ambulance car. Il dozen of which were
drawn in front of the door.
| As her face was so much burned flat
she was unrecognizable, the body was
taken to the mor~ue. where it was
Identified by NJ. CoQuelin and other
members OF the Coincide Francalse ny
| the clothing.
Meanwhile the mother OF Mile. Hen
riot had hurried to the scene bare
headed and crying wildly for her
daughter. She was distracted with
grief.
Mile. Henriot's dresser was badly
burned, but not dangerously A num-
Der of the hremeu were slightly in
1ured chiefly by the sitting fumes.