Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-09
Falls and Injuries Twenty Mem.
bers Of the Chorus.
Panic Averted and Play Resumed
Master Mechanic Arrested.

Al inc 'front.' CI the StlSe 6nd sang OF
in an attempt to prevent the public
from learning what had happened. The
curtain was ruEg down as soon az pos
sible and Heinrich Conrad. the impress
sarfo. prevented a panic ~ urging the
great audience to remain seated and
not be frightened.
The injured removed to hospitals
were:
Giovanni Rossi, two fractured ribs
Wanda Adamsky. fractured ribs.
Natalie Cornollie. both legs fractured
Katherine Hahn, lief, hip injured and
ribs bruised.
Ida Eobenstein. internal injuries and
shock.
Itallio I.angogari. .iislocation of right
ghoulder.
Deasadoria Paccetti, right leg frac-
tured.
Vincenzo Raysaro. fractured ribs.
Giovanni Maino. fractured ribs.
All have residence in this city.
In addition 20 these 20 or 30 more
ln.mbers OF the chorus were painfully
hurt.
Ali Of the exits Of the theatre werc.
opened Immediately after the accit.1-t
but scarcely half a dozen OF the HI, i
somely dressed audience left their seats.
Within IS minutes after the crash the
performance was resumed and few per
sons in the big theatre realized how
serious the accident had been.
The bridge fell ten minutes after thu
first curtain was runs up and while
people were still crowding down the
aisles to their seats.
Many were standing. Nine. Arnaud
vas to sing Carmen, with a cast includ-
ing Madame Ackt. Madame Jacob.
Dippel Gourmet and Dufrche. The op
era had attracted the usual big Satur-
day night crowd.
Vigna was conducting. y The scene
represented a street in Seville. with a
bridge stretching from the guard
house and the cigarette factory at tn"
right Of the stage OYER to the stairs
leading up to the castle ut the left. The
structure had done service many times
1t was a massive affair. built of heavy
timbers reinforced with steel beams
Most OF the l2c members CT the chorus
We're off the bridge at tn" time il COL
lapsed, but there were 20 or 80 men and
women dancing up and down on the
structure. awaiting The entree Of Car
men.
without the slightest warning the
bridge at the center of the arch gave
way and the grinding ana crun"hing
Of tsmbers being torn away AMI the
cries OF the women drowned the glad
song OF the chorus and the accomDani-
ment Of the orchestra Women in the
audience jumped to thei" feet scream
ing and endeavOring to make tn. il way
out of their seats. Tho members of the
chorus not on the bridge at the time Of
the accident, did not lose their heads,
and Immediately came closer together
to screen the scene from the frightened
audience.
Yet the cries Of the stricken women
and the groans II tn" nen buried in
the debris Of the bridge and almost
smothered by the bodies of their fellows
who had been thrown on top Of them
were heard throughout the house.
Then Mr.. Conricd and his stage d.
rectors ordered 4 quick curtain. While
it was descending the men and women
IF the chorus turned their backs on the
audience and plunged into the wreck
age to rescue their friends. Most Of
them had sung together for years and
many OF them were relatives. For the
ten or fifteen seconds necessary for the
descent OF the curtain the audience had
opportunity to see Somthing Of what
had happened. The entire house was in
an uproar. fishers made every effort to
fe-aSSure the people In the floor and
balcony seats.
Scarcely had the curtain reached the
stage than Mr.. Conried went to the
front OF the stage and raising his hand
begged the audience to keep their
places.
We have met with an accident"
said the imprcssario with all the cool
ness that he could Summon. Thank
God none Of us is seriously injured.
beg Of you to keep your seats. Every
thing will be all right in a minute and
the performance will be resumed"
Mr.. Conried remained AZ the front of
the stage until he was convinced that
the ushers and the police had the audi
ence well in iland. Not more than %
Of the men and women in the house re-
treated from the doors after the s., ~,
Of the impressar;o. Scores, how Yer,
had left their seats and crowdea he
aisles. pushing their way out. The po-
lice. ushers and the other attaches OF
the house succeeded in calming their
fears somewhat and most Of them re-
turned. While something approaching
order was being restored IN orcaestrl
and gallery. a far different scene was
being enacted behind the curtain. When
the curtain dropped those members OF
TIE chorus who had displayed such
splendid control OF their Etrves in the
moment Of trial. gave way to their feel
ings and became as Eysterical as the
persons who had been injured in the
fall of the scenery.
At the close CT the performance
Frank II. Palmer. master mechanic Of
The Metropolitan, was arrested, charg-
ed with criminal negligence. Palmer
who refused to MAXI any statement
will be arraiSned in court. this morn.
ing.
All the injured Are Recovering.
New York, Jan. S-The members OF