The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-31
5ST'AG REALISM
MAKES 4: AN ACTOR I !. Or
MT. Lamp, Of Giffen Company,
Severely Injured.
MISS ELLINGTON. HAS A FAINT
Bursting Bottle Of Champagne Sever
Mr. Lamps Thumb in Audi
ence Was Narrowly Averted.
Display Of Goodness.
MISS ELLINGTON HAS A. FAINT

Realism upon the stage has placed
scar upon Mr.. William Lamp that he will
carry to the grave.
Mr.. Lamp is the clever juvenile of the
Giffen Stock Company and he has be-
come equally as great a matinee idol
as Mr.. Bennett, who plays the leads"
In the performance of eat the White
Horse Tavern the course of events
brought out by the plot leads to the
serving of bottle of champagne on the
stage in the third act. Mr.. Lamp, who
plays the part Of Arthur Sutro." has to
oren the bottle and drink to the health
of his prospective bride. Ordinarily the
bottle of champagne would be soda water
in a prop Pomeroy Sec" bottle. but MIR.
Giffen dotes upon everything he has upon
the stage being the real thing. so the
bottle that pops each night is genuine
"Pomeroy Sec Champagne is treach-
erous liquor. Not only does it make aw-
full headaches. but 1t is inclined to be
explosive in the operation CT opening
unless care is taken.
HE WAS CARELESS.
Mr.. Lamp had, at the other PERFORM
ances. with little difficulty, opened the bot
ties and it is probable that his success
tended to make him careless. At any
rate, last night when he srasped the
reck of "Pomeroy Sec" a wire that lie.d
the cork scratched his hand and becom-
ing a little exasperated, he gave the cork
a sudden jerk. Immediately, the neck
burst from the bowl of the bottle. The
pieces of glass were hurled with much
force against Mr.. Lamps hand. One
piece penetrated the thumb of his right,
near the ball, and pierced so deep that
the finger was nearly severed. There
were other cuts. but they We're not
serious. The blood gushed from the
wound and at once there was panic
in the large audience, which imagined
the actor was dangerously wounded Mr..
Lamp retained his presence of mind and
left the stage before scene could be
made by the adies in the audience. AS
he left the stage he passed Miss Hing
ton. who was standing in the entrance
The pallid face of the actor and the
blood trickling from his hand was too
severe test of her womanly traits
and she tainted. The progress of the play
was thus altogether stopped, and the cur
tail, fell until Mr.. Giffen could organize
a finale, which he shortly did and the
play ran its course. but without two low
ing couples and the juvenile and the
leading lady in state of collapse
Dr. Lewis Bosher had in the mean
time been sent for, and when he arrived
he had Mr.. Lamp sent to his office. where
the wound was sewed, the cut requiring
seven stitches. Miss Ellington was re-
VlVed and. taken TO neT nome Hedi eiie
Academy of Music.
NOT SERIOUSLY HURT.
While the injury received by Mr.. Lamp
is painful. and he suffers from the loss
of blood, it will not necessitate his re-
tirement from the cast OF AT the
White Horse Tavern" and he will ap-
pear at the matinee this afternoon. Miss
Illingtons illness was quickly forgotten.
and she will be as gay as ever as the
widow Josepha, hostess of the tavern.
This is the first accident that has mar
red a performance of the Giffen Com
pany. The colnesS of Mr.. Lamp and the
other members of the cast on the stage
at the time prevented a panic that only
needed a snap to start the audience.
Miss Ellington received painful bruises in
a fall last week. but it did not stop the
performance nor was the audience aware
of it, as she was not required to appear
upon the stage again during the per-
Torrance.