Evening journal., 1901-01-23
SAVES
FLIVES OF MANY
|aFkable Behavior Of
| Theatre Audience
IIERN WAS PLAYING HAMLET
/ Fire Broke Out, Big Audience
lpersed Quietly and No One
4 Was Injured
gERN WAS PLAYING HAMLET

- NNN 'N
Vas Injured
innai, Jan. 23.-The Gran
House is a total ruin except for
.uach outer walls. A display Of
ss. perhaps never witnessed be-
nder such trying conditions. pre-
| its loss from being attended by
full catastrophe. The play set for
light was Hamlet by the f. H.
m company. The house was
d by a brilliant audience. many
without escorts being present.
rst act had been finished. and in
econd Mr.. Sothern. acting the
# Hamlet, had spoken but a few
when a slight disturbance was
red in the fourth row Of seats
the orchestra. near the center
1t was caused by a slight issue
bike at that point An usher went
the aisle and quietly asked the
3 to be seated, saying there was
lg wrong. Mr.. Sothern at this
stepped to the front Of the stage
lsO assured the audience that ev-
ing was right. To further remove
hension Mr.. Sothern resumed his
BUT before he had spoken two
smoke issued in such vol
there was a spontaneous
bf the people in its vicinity.
Further order or suggestion
me of the most remarkable
+ Witnessed in. a crowded
bk place. II was as though
ituation had been revealed
son in the house. and with
shout or anything else in
eader, the dispersal Of the
/. agan and was carried ont
most order and composure.
er part Of the house the
hssage to Vine street gave
less to the greater part OF
e. A large number of per-
near the orchestra were
1.-THE actors and actresses 10
stage and TO make their
stage door on Longworth
Is assistance by the com
lendered az the cost Of an
4 ct Of their own personal
"a han who was seated in the
1from the orchestra i'm de-
exit of the audience saiC
many women rear him
brts. who exhibited the ut
fsure and took the best ant
10 reach place of safety
indicate the possibility OF
nrred.
y, the gallery, which ha.
mmodious means Of exit
wded. and those who were
l t of the theater escaped
Fere accidents. Here anC
n one stumbled on a steer
II II ready help was rendered
Ehs no one trampled or hur
.careering Of panic strickeI
Nsame calmucss marked ih'
the people In the balconies
emptied as quietly as
] been ended
= the most danger was ex
y the occupants Of thl
They We're in a remote
of the building. far re
the origin of the fire. an,
Ians of quick communica
he theater proper Man.
gh. WDers were engaged in exer
VIII all of them We're in thei
Mrs costumes. There was NOR
rs. \ : in this part of the build
ted ~ c alarm reached the gym
5und my Of the members rushe,
stairway half clad. whil
CD rescued by fire ladders.
lnding the combustible ma
lss interior. the FIRE was a lOnl
n Il Wning out. AS late as II
rs. M upper part Of the Vim
is vi was still burning. Thi
d Chahe building was Occupie,
artin innati gymnasium, whicl
erday equipment. Adjoining th
Opera House, separated b.
rrnmthe large Butler building
lNDIltered this at the uppe
he roof and the two uppe
Uaat building were PRACTICAL!
Nrhe upper portion of tn
house. which adjoins tn
a. ng, was seriously damagei
pears TO have started from
- underneath the orchestra
- municated to the stage
~ act is owing the losses o
WoTportion Of the property o
'n company Mr.. Sothern es
"a !. oss a. $4,000. His com
le ompelled 10 reach tn
1eu' in their costumes and Il
Ton, tier portion OF their per
which were loft in tn
= 10 the theater building. oi
cuOI is no insurance. is esti
ns 10000. while other losse
etarl
Shallcross died in Galena