Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-01-13
THIRTY PEOPLE HURT
Ieident at the Metropolitan Opera
House.
MUSIC WAS DROWNED BY SHRIEKS.
Panic In the Vast Audience Prevented by
Presence Of Mind Of the Chorus ana
the Earnest Persuas Of Heinrich Couried
Bridge Used 10 the First Act Of "Carmen"
Collapsex

New York (SpeciaD BY the break
ing of a bridge over the stage in the
Metropolitan Opera House, at fortieth
street and Broadway, during perform
ance of Carmen" nine persons who
were beneath it were injured, few OF
them seriously.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
accident occurred in full view OF an
audience that filled every seat in the
vast auditorium, there was not the slight
est semblance of panic. and after
few minutes delay the performance was
continued minus the bridge and the in
jured people.
Ambulances responded to hurry calls
from the New York, Bellevue and
Roosevelt hospitals and the injured were
taken to those institutions for treatment
Frank Palmer the stage carpenter,
was arrested, charged with negligence,
but at the request of the management
of the opera house he was permitted to
return to the theater until the conclu-
sion of the performance.
The accident occurred ten minutes
after the curtain had been rung up on
the opening act. The act was at that
time we'll filled with chorus girls and
several of the principals. Everything
was proceeding along smoothly, when
suddenly a creaking noise was heard,
instantly followed by crash.
The bridge upon which were stand
inc seven men, participants i'll the scene,
had broken i'll the middle and the dis
A;ointed ends smashed into the chorus
the stage below, piling i'll heap
on each side of them.
was confusion on the stage; but
for a moment. The great asbestos
tain was hurriedly rung down, shut
he everything from the view OF the
|Adience. Herr Conried. the director OF
1.-The Opera House, was in his box wit
Messing the performance. He Jumped
On the stage in front of the firepropi
curtain, and moving over to the center
raised his hand in warning and shouted
'My friends, we have had an accident
here, but il is not serious. A few have
been injured. but none very badly. Per
haps some of them are more scared thar
hurt. The foztnancewill be resumed
in a few Ithnutes."
Mr.. Zonried's reassurlng words were
hardlX necessary for, with the exception
OF ~ few nervous women, the audience
[eeinained perfectly calm.
In fact, it appeared as though many
Of those who were present considered
the breaking of the bridge as an lnnova
ton included in the presentation OF TIM
opera. A few minutes later the maJo
part of the male portion OF the ?. dlenc'
was gathered in the lobby discussing TIT
accident over cigars and cigarettes, whit
the feminine portion was betting POKE!
of candy with each other as to the length
OF time that it would take to clear tn
stage.
After delay of about half all hour
during which period the broken brid1g
was torn down and the injured carried
away. the curtain went up again and tn
performance proceeded.
One OF the peculiar loatuiN' VI
accident was that the seven men on tn
bridge when it collapsed were absolutel,
unhurt, although somewhat shaken up
When seen shortly after the acciden
Herr Conreid said
81 have made a hasty examination o
the bridge, and, while my conclusions ar
not definite, | am of the opinion tina
there was flaw in the iron bar that wa
placed on the balloon of the bridge II
strengthen it. In addition to the iro'
bar there was thick scantling, but whei
the bar gave way the scantling was no
strong enough, apparently, to sustain tn
weight of the bridge and those upon II
The bridge was practically new an'
thoroughly tested shortly before the per
Torrance. This test consisted of severa
men jumping on it. 1t was all rignf
when the curtain went up and flaw II
the supporting bar is the only reason
80, o.e;o,, for If cO11aOSi1P