Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-15
A disaster AYERTED.

The Theatre Francois Burned just DsA"f'
Matinee.
Paris, France, March 8, l.5o p. M.
The famous Theatre Francois has peen
destroyed by fire.
Paris, France, March 8.--The fire IN
the Theatre Francois broke ONT NJ
ahuut noon, but was not discovered
Immediately, with the result that tne
theatre was burning furiously before
the fire brigade got to work. Even
then, the appliances were quite ihnde.
ounte Ia cone with the confagratlon,
and by 1.30 p. m. the interior OF the
building was rearing furnace. Ihe
dense column of smoke rising from the
fire attracted crowds from all parts Of
Paris. especially wher the news spread
hat IL WAS the Theatre Francois that
Vas on fire, it Icing regarded as
uational institution. ,,,
The theatre stands almost isolated,
with q square in front and the gardens
of the pnluis Royal behind. Both OF
rhese snaces we're thronged with people,
who, as this dispatch is sent, 20
o'clock, are eagerly watching the
operat,ons of the fremen,. who are
crawling about the roof. The firemen
are engaged in saving as much OF tine
r,operties as possible, and the square
in front of the theatre is Uttered with
\ suites of furniture, &c. -,
The theatre, which is the home OF
the Comedie Francois, was only re-
oneped fortnight ago, after having
been renovated for the exposition
thronps expected to visit Paris during
the wear, with Dumas fills drama
"Diane de Lys,' for which special
set of scenery and costumes had been
proyided. 1t is fortunate that the IRE
broke out SO early, as an hour or SC
later the building would have beer
filled with matinee audience. and 2
disaster would probably have resulted
Thus far, only few personal injuries
have been reported, and they are mostl.
slight. 4 am,
zett, which was billed for the matinee
was held this morning, and had JUS
concluded when the fire broke out
Indeed, two of the actresses, Mines
Dudlay and Henriot, we're still on tn
, stage when an electric wire fused, and
! a spark catching the scenery, the Who'll
stage was soon in flames. The actresse
4 barely had time to escape Mime
q Dudlay had to be rescued in costume
, and let down from u window. MINE
/ Henriot fled in terror, and 1t wa
a rumored she was overcome by the fianle
and persisted, but, according to late
advices, she succeeded in escaping.
M. Sardou, a playwright, arrived
the scene about l O'Clock, and burs
|, into tears when he saw the buildin
O was doomed. A part of the dome CO
n lapsed at 2.30 p. m. 'N
4 The Theatre Francois, or Coined
Francois. was situated en- the Plat
du Theatre Francois, near the Pala
Royal, and occupied the highest rar
among the theatres of France. 1t wi
!. built in 1882, but was much altered
Il later years, the facades being moder
. The Dorie vestibule contained staff
10 of Talma, the tragedian, by Dav
J, dangers, and figures of Tragedy al
u Comedy. by Duret, bearing, respect,vel
:, the features Of the celebrated actress
~ Mile. Rachel and Mile. Mars. III
- foyer du public was adorned with
10 statue of Voitaire, by Houdin; a chii
= ney piece with relief representa-
~, comedians browning the tgu-e
~ Moliere, by LeQuesne; busts and seen
~ from the writings of celebrated Fren
:" dramatists, and new ceiling paintin
by Dubufe, the younger, of ''Tru
Enlightening the World" At the o
of the corridor leading out of the foyt
, was a statue of George Sand,
D; Clesinger. The ceiling of the inter-
90 represented France distributing laur
80 to her three great dramatists, Moliel
ns Corneille and Racine.
IN sWhnt is the strenuous Life. anYWa