Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-08
Historic House Of Amusement In
Paris Swept by Flames
WAS A ROARING FURNACE.
Theater Francois Burned-Fire broke
Out an Hour Before Matinee Time
An Actress Ineinersied.
Afternoon Dispatched

Paris. March S, 1850 p. m.-The famous
theater Francois has been destroyed by
fire. The fire broke out about noon,
but was not discovered Immediately
and the theater was burning furiously
before the brigade got TO work. Even
then the appliances were quite made.
quate TO cope with the connagraion,and
by 1880 p. M the interior Of the build
ing was roaring furnace,
1880 p. m.-The dense column Of smoke
rising from the fire attracted crowds
from all parts Of Paris, the Theater
Francois being regarded as a national
institution.
The theater stands almost isolated
with a square in front and the gardens
Of the Palais Royal behind.
Both OF these spaces were throngeG
with people who as this dispatch is
sent, at 2;3O p. m, are eagerly watching
the operations Of the firemen, who are
crawling about the roof.
The fremen were engaged In saving
as MUCH Of the properties as possible
and the quare In front Of the theater
was Uttered with furniture, etc.
The theater which is the home OF
the Coincide Francois, was only re,
opened a fortnight ago after having
been renovated for the exposition
throngs expected TO visit Paris during
the year, with Dumas Fitz drama,
Driane Lys, FOR which a special set OF
scenery and costumes had been pro-
vided.
II is fortunate that the fire broke out
so early, as one hour later the building
would have been filled with a matinee
audience and a disaster would probably
have resulted. Thus far only a few
personal injuries have been reported,
and they are mostly slight with the
exception Of a woman who was fright
fully burned about the face and who
may die as a result Of her injuries.
The thester contained many fine pieces
OF sculptures representing dramatists
and also some beautiful mural paintings
which doubtless were ruined
A rehearsal Of the comedy Bajasett,"
which was billed for the matinee. had
just concluded when the FIRE broke out.
Indeed. .wo actresses. NSdames pud-
lay and Hcnryot were stih on the stage
when an electric wire fused. and a
spark catching the scenery, the whole
stage was soon in flames. One,
Madame Dudley. had 10 be rescued In
costume and let down from a window.
Madame Henryot fed in terror and was
overcome by the flames and persisted
NJ. Sardou, the playwright. arrived on
the scene at about l o'clock and burst
into tears when he saw the building
was doomed. A part Of the dome col
lapsed at 2;30 p. m.
The Theater Francois or Coincide
Franchise was situated on the Place du
1heater-Franoais near the Palais Roy
al, and occupied the highest rank
among the theaters Of France. Ii was
built in lls2 but was much altered
In later years, the facades being mod
ern. The dorlc yestibule contained q
statue Of Talma. the tragedian, by
David Dangers and figures OF tragedy
and comedy by Duret, bearing res
pectively the features OF the celebrated
actress Mile. Rachel and Mile. Mars
The "Foyerdu Public" was adorned
with the statue Of Yoltaire by Houdin
chimney piece with relief represent
ing comedians GROWING the figure OF
Moliere by Lequesne. busts and scenes
from the writings Of celebrated French
dramatists and a new ceiling painting
by DeBufe. the younger, Of Truth en-.
Tightening the world.
At the end OF the corridor leading out
OF the foyer was a statue Of George
Sand by Clessinger. The ceiling OF the
interior represented France distributing
laurels TO her three great dramatists
Moliere, Corneile and Racine.
The fire is under control but still
burning. Only shell Of the building
remains
The eharred corpse Of a woman was
found In the ruins II was identified
as that OF Mademoisele mot Madame)
Henryot, who was promising youns
actress.
The face was so burned that II was
difficult to identify her.
After examination. belief is expressed
that the fire was OF incendiary origin.