The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-09
THE BIJOU
W AS CLOSED
Company Arrived. but They
Had No Costumes.
THEIR JOURNEY PERlLoUs
Great Floods Down South Made the
Trip from Atlanta Full Of Danger.
Their Baggage Was left
Behind
THEIR JOURNEY PERlLOUs

The Giffen Musical Comedy Company
arrived in Richmond last night. after
spending little over forty-five hours
on the train between Atlanta and this
city. Even when the company got here
they were without trunks, and conse-
quently without their costumes. and SO
they were unable to give the opening per-
Torrance at the Bjou last night. The
company's baggage and scenery was left
behind somewhere in South Carolina.
The managers expect, however, to have
the trunks here this morning, and the
engagement of the organization will open
this afternoon at the usual Tuesday matt
nee
The story OF the journey from Atlanta
to Richmond Is full Of interest. 1t was
full OF danger. too. and members OF the
organization declare that It has been the
experince of their lives.
EN- ROUTE HERE.
The company closed Its engagement In
Atlanta on Saturday night. There was a
hurried rush for the train after the per-
fGra.anca, and at - o'clock-a little more
than half an hour after the last curtain
was rung down in the Ponce de Leon
theatre-the company was snugly en-
sconced in the Richmond sleeper attached
t. the midnight train. with not thought
OF any trouble ahead. A call had been
Issued for a rehearsal In the Bijou on
the arrival OF the train at 6:25 o'clock on
Sunday evening. The baggage was to
follow on the next train with the scenery,
s,agily called the production" for
Nam zelle 'Awklns"
The company travelled over the South
ern Railway. and through the heart of
d 81 A <,,n . frvHa n
the train was three hundred miles on
the way to Richmond, the engineer re-
fused to go forward. He was urged to
do so with all the persuasive eloquence
OF manager. stage manager, nuslcal d.
rector and almost everyone on the train
who was unconscious Of the danger
which threatened. The engineer Refused
to bulge. He cared more for his life he
said than he did for his position, and he
saw only death and destruction ahead
He backed his engine towards Atlanta
and had run about fifty miles when the
conditions were found to be even worse
than they were ahead.
IN GREAT DANGER
The most thrilling experience was YET
to come. Mr.. de Lime. the musical d.
rector OF the company. gave very graph
ic account to a reporter of The Iimes-Dls-
patch last night. He was standing on the
rear platform OF the train with two other.
members OF the company when the tram
crossed trestle that Mr. de Lime de-
clares rocked like a cradle Everyone
was terrified. expecting every minute to
be dashed into the swirling flood. the
train was barely clear OF the bridge
when 1t crashed into the stream. In the
cars everyone was wrought TO the hlshest
pitch OF excitement.
"some Of them" said Mr.. de Lime,
were on their knees saying their pray
ers; others were crying, and there Were
moro hysterical women than ever saw
together In all my life.
''We were between two bridges. and the
engineer refused to go on and brought
the train to standstll. The stock OF
provisions gave out and we thought we
were in danger Of being starved to death
unless the flood subsidized. Finally, when
the waters seemed to have lost their force.
the engineer went ahead, and we crossed
the other bridge with our hearts In our
mouths"
The company went by some devious
way to make another connection. no one.
cared very much how, and It was almost
opening time at the Bi1ou when the &C
tors, worn out by their experiences. DRIFT
= - WAS NO SHOW.
They went almost at once to the the
atre to prepare for the night performance.
and as luck would have It the advance
sale was one OF the largest on record.
FIn6 mousse was pHdSllC<auS 5Vio OosbV nHo
the company was keyed to high pitch
of excitement Stage Manager Fitzgerald
declared that the company might follow
the established presidents and 90 on. In
their street costumes He declared that
they would give an excellent performance
and the novelty OF the situation would,
he thought, appeal to the audience.
Mr.. Wells, however, thought otherwise.
and said he would prefer that the show
should not be given unless It was given
with all the costumes. scenery and access
series, as ought to be given. and he de-
Icided to postpone the opening until the
arrival OF the costumes, which are ex-
pected this morning.
The production is one Of the heaviest
that Manager Giffen has attempted, and
will, 1t is said. be found to be the best
thing that the organization has yet done.
scenically and In every way 1t will be
found very elaborate and beautiful.
Manager Giffen. who was seen at his
residence on West Franklin Street late
last night, said that he had heard OF his
baggage car and expects to have 1t here
the Arst thing this morning.
RICHMOND HORSES