The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-26
WILKE SINGS AT FAIR BANK.
Talks Aftcrward of Great Theater
Fire in Vienna.

Hubert Wilke. late of 1.-The Princess
Chic" opera company. began a weeks en-
gagement at Fair Bank last evening Mr..
Wilke was suffering with a severe cold, but
his voice, a rich baritone. was powerful
and could be heard in all parts of the
park. Mr.. Wilkes first song was Oar
ling" his own composition. He then sang
Soldiers" a stirring selection. His third
selection was Sunshine of Love-" also
his own composition. Encored frequently,
he sang Shades of the Palms"
Mr.. Wilke has been heard in Indianapolis
several times. He was with the original
Jack and the Beanstalk'' company, which
opened the new English Opera House, with
Jefferson De Angels in THE Jolly Mus
keteers" and later with Marguerite Sylvia
in ''The Princess Chic" He was also here
last season with Miss Berri in 1.-The Prin-
cess Chic" After his concert last evening
Mr.. Wilke; who was with a party Of
friends, grew reminiscent 81 first started
my stage career" he said, "by playing jul
venile characters in Breslau, Germany, and
later Juvenile leads. The following season,
although engaged by the manager of the
theater in Leipsic as leading juvenile man.
l was persuaded by him to sing in opera,
whereupon / accepted an engagement for
leading baritone parts in grand opera at
the Court Theater in Altenburg. After
Milling short engagement in Berlin
wandered to Dresden, where 1 was heard
by the then most famous German TRACE
dienne, Marie Seebach. She engaged me
TO play with her at the Court Theater in
st. Petersburg as her leading man. Di-
rectly afterwards Director Jauner. of the
Court Theater in Vienna, arrived in Ores
den and invited me to open his new Ring
Theater in Vienna After the refusal of
the St Petersburg management to release
me he, through his influence as a court
favorite, was enabled TO effect my release
through the embassy in Vienna. So / went
TO the EldoradO of German art and opened
his theater for him with success in The
Rat Catcher of Hamelin.' which play 1
afterwards produced in this country under
the management of Kiralfy brothers. My
second appearance in Vienna was in a
triple-character part in Offenbach's last
opera, The Tales of Hoffman, Ten min
utes before the performance, on the second
night of the engagement, fire started that
consumed the whole place in a half hour,
leaving only the bare walls. Six hundred
lives were lost in that fire. 1 had just COM
pleted dressing for the first act of the per-
Torrance when the fire broke out. l ran
toward the dressing room to get my street
clothes and as l tried to turn TO the right
and reach the stage entrance the fire came
from the stage and cut off the passage.
then turned and started toward the balcony
and gallery exits. Running down a flight
OF stairs | met dozen members of the
company in a small hallway trying to make
their escape, but the door was locked.
Shortly the treasurer of the house appeared
with key and in his struggle to open the
door the key broke and we all thought
we were surely doomed when suddenly in
some mysterious way, which up to to-day
has not been clear to me. the door opened
and we gained our freedom. 1t was the
most exciting time 1 ever had in my life.
We acted like madmen trying to force the
| door OPEN"