Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-21
ACTORS TELL OF
NIGHT OF TERROR
HOW GRAND OPERA STARS
FARED FOLLOWING QUAKE
Famous VloIlnlst Appears In Street in
UndercIothes, Carefully Hugging
Valuable "Fiddle" to His
Bosom
Ry Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
OAKLAND, Cal, April 2o.-The
members of the Metropolitan Opera
company of New York, all victims of
the great disaster, are leaving today
for the east.
A number of the principals, including
Madame Sembrich, Signor Caruso,
Campanari, DippeL Conductors Hertz
and Bars, started at IL o'clock this
morning on the Southern Pacific over
land train via Odgen and Chicago.
The greater part Of the company, in
cluding the chorus and musicians, will
travel by special train via New Or
leans.
With this party are Scotti, Miss
Walker, Madame Rappold, Plancon,
Reiss, Press Representative Meltzer
and Conductor Franko.
Conductor Vigna left last night and
some of the principals not named are
travelling apart from the company.
All of the splendid scenery, stage fit
tings, costumes and musical instru-
ments were lost in the fire which de-
stroyed the Grand opera house, where
their season had Just opened to splen-
did audiences.
No One Injured
No one of the company was injured,
but nearly all lost most of their per-
sonal effects. Madame Sembrich
placed the loss by the destruction of
her elegant costumes at $4,000. She
was fortunate enough to save her val
ri a
organization may reach $150,000.
For the past two da.-s the singers
and musicians have been living with
friends or camping out in the parks
and on the hillsides of San Francisco.
Some were quartered at the Chutes.
When seen by an Associated Press
representative in their special cars to-
day the operatic stars gave an inter-
esting account of their experiences
Many Were at the Palace
On the morning of the earthquake
the members of the company were dis
tributed among the different hotels,
most of them being at the Palace, st.
Francis and the Oaks. Caruso, Scott,
Miss Walker, Miss Abbott, Miss
Jacoby and other principals were at
the Palace.
Plancon and Dippel and Madame
Sembrich were at the st. Francis and
the musicians and chorus at the Oaks.
Madame Eames, Miss Fremstad and
several others were at private hotels
or residences.
The sudden shock brought all out of
their bedrooms in all kinds of attire.
The women were in their night dresses,
the men in pajamas, none paustng to
dress, all convinced that their last
hour had come. Ten minutes later Car
uso was seen seated on his valise in the
middle of the street.
Many others had rushed to open
squares or other places of supposed
safety.
Even then it was difficult to avoid
the debris falling from the crumbling
walls.
Falling Plaster Awakens Them
A few had time and the presence OF
mind to pack up some necessary arti-
cles before the outbreak of fires in al
directions barred them from returning
to their rooms, but very few saved any
thing except what they stood in.
Several of those stopping at the Oaks
were awakened by plaster from the
ceilings falling on their beds and hac
barely time to flee for their lives.
One singer was seen standing in the
street barefooted and clad only in his
underwear, but clutching favorite
violin which he had carried with him III
his flight.
The first impulse of many was tc
rush for their trains. which, however
happened to be across the bay.
Rossi, a favorite basso, though al
most in tears, was heard trying his
voice at a corner near the Palace hotel
Gradually calm was restored and TAX
ing a lesson from the GOODNESS of the
Californians, the artists began to re-
gard their plight as less serious than
it might have been.
Many Went Hungry
Nearly all suffered more or less from
the sudden cutting off of the food sup
ply. A rush was made for the nearest
grocery stores and baskets were quick
ly filled with provisions and what wine
could be secured before the closing OF
the liquor establishments.
The next day many were reduced
to a diet of bread, chocolate and sar-
dimes.
AS an indication of the optimism OF
Mr.. GoerletZ, general manager OF the
company, it may be stated that until
the grand opera house was actually
reached by the flames he had hoped tc
give the proposed performance of 1.-THE
Marriage of Figaro"
Thought Playhouse Fireproof
He and a few others thought the
playhouse was fireproof, and not ten
minutes before the building went ur
in smoke some of the musicians were
6lssuaded from trying to save their
Instruments.
Alfred Hertz, the well-knowu Weg-
Ierian conductor, was one of those
quartered at the Chutes. Ec was given
d Place to sleep near the zoo. He said
today:
Slept Near Lions
'To my dying day I will never for
get my experience when 1 was awak-
ened by the roaring of lions. I knew
not that ] was in jungle or den Of
wild beasts"
Mr. Campaneri, the baritone, re-
sembled an emigrant when he am
barked on the overland train. He car
RED his kit tied in gay colored
blanket, on his shoulder, but was in
good spirits.