New-York tribune., 1906-04-21
OPERA STARS ESCAPE.
CLAD IN NIGHT CLOTHES.
Ca'TtSo Sits on Valise IN Middle of
Wrecked Street.

Oakland. April 20.-The members Of the Met
ropolitan Opera Company, of New York all of
whom suffered from the great disaster. are
starting to-day for the East. Several Of the
principals including Nine. Serbrich. Caruso.
Campanar. Dippel and Bars. and Conductor
Hertz. started at IL o'clock this morning on the
Southern Pacific Overland train. by way of Og-
den and Chicago. The greater part of the COM
pany, including the chorus and musicians VIII
travel on a special train by way Of New Orleans.
With the party Signor Scotti Miss Walker
Madame Rappold. NJ. Plancon, Charles H.
Meltzer and Nahan Frankie. Signor Vigna left
last night and some of the principals are travel
ling apart from the company.
All the scenery, stage fittings. costumes and
musical instruments We're lost in the fire which
destroyed the Grand Opera House. where the
season had just opened. Not one Of the company
was injured but nearly all of them lost their
personal effects. Nine. Sembrich placed her
loss by the destruction OF her costumes at SO
900. She was fortunate enough 10 save her val
liable pearls The total loss TO the organization
may reach S15o.000.
For the last two days the singers and musi-
clans have been living with friends camping
out in the parks and the hilsides of San
Francisco. Some were quartered at the Chutes.
When seen in their special cars to-day the
operatic stars gave an interesting account OF
their experiences. On the morning OF the earth
quake the members Of the company were distrib-
uted among the different hotels caruso. Scotti
Miss Walker, Miss ABBOTT, Miss Jacoby and
other principals wers at the Palace Plancon.
Dippel and Nine. Sembrich were at the St
Francis. and the musicians and the chorus at
the Oaks Nine. Eames. Miss Fremstad and
several others at private hotels or homes
The shock brought all out of their bedrooms In
all kinds of attire. None paused to dress Ten
minutes later Caruso was seen seated on his
valise in the middle of the street. Many of the
others had rushed 10 open squares or other
places Of supposed safety. Even then 1t was diff
fcult to avoid the debris falling from crumbling
walls. few had time and presence of mind to
pack up some necessary articles before the out
break Of fires in all directions barred them from
returning to their rooms but very few saved
anything except what they stood in.
Several Of those stopping in the Oaks were
awakened by plaster from the ceiling falling on
their beds and had barely time to fee for their
lives One man was seen standing in the
street barefooted, clad only IN his underwear
but clutching a favorite violin. which he had
carried with him in his fight.
The first impulse Of many was TO rush for
their trains, which, however, happened to be
across the bay. Signor Rossi. the basso. though
almost IN tears was heard trying his voice
near the Palace Hotel.
Gradually
lesson from the GOODNESS OF the Californians, the
artists began TO regard their plight as less
serious than It might have been. Nearly all suf-
fered more or less from the sudden cutting of
OF the food supply. A rush made for
the nearest grocery stores and baskets were
quickly filled with provisions and what wine
could be obtained before the closing OF the liquor
establishments The next day many were re-
duced to a diet OF bread. chocolate and sar-
dimes.
Alfred Hertz, the conductor. was one Of those
ouartered at the Chutes- He slept near the zoo.
He said to-day:
ITO my dying day will never forget my ex-
perience when I was awakened by the roaring
OF lions. knew not that was IN jungle or
den Of wild beasts"
Signor Campanari. the barytone resembled an
emigrant when he boarded the Overland train.
He carried his kit tied in a gay coored blanket
on his shoulder. but in good spirits
''It is such a change" was all he said
Another one OF the party wore the flowing garb
of Arab chief. and all were more or less
picturesquely costumed. contralto was COM
PEELED to don some necessary articles of attire
which originally had been designed for man.
NJ Parvis and NJ. Dufrche and Nine. Dufriche
narrowly escaped death when the Oaks collapsed,
Nine Dufriche lost her Erard harp in the fire
at the opera House.
Paron. one Of the tenors missing this
morning, but no anxiety was felt regarding his
fate. He seen after the earthquake and it
supposed he became confused to-day and
failed 10 find his train.
The courage displayed by some OF the artists
notably Miss Walker and Miss Bessie Abott
helped largely 10 quiet the fears OF their COM
rades. and their kindness 10 the chorus was
highly appreciated.
After the earthquake Nine Eames and Nine.
Sembrich found refuge at the home OF Dr.
Harry Tevis. but this later burned and they
were then cared for by other friends.
Miss Fremstad. who had apartments at the
St Dunstan, fortunate TO escape with her
life, the building being badly shattered by the
earthquake. The guests at the Palace Hotel.
among them being Miss Walker and Miss
ABBOTT, who were the top floor when the great
shock occurred. thought death was inevitable
The regular swaying OF the walls and the pitch
ing of the floor they compared TO the motion OF
steamer in storm Yet, until de-
stroyed by fire the big hotel stood firmly on it's
tempt to do anything 10 avert their fate that
with the exception OF a few timid ones all re-
manned quiet.
Speaking OF the disaster. Signor Caruso said:
1T instantly recalled the horrors in my native
Naples. of which I have been reading l have
| no doubt that the earthquake here has some
relation TO the eruption of Vesuvius"
Miss Walker said:
We are too happy to have saved our lives 10
think of our dresses
Dppel spoke i'm the same strain though he
lost costumes valued at $4,000.