The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-11-19

open carriage and taken for an hour
or two through the city, or the neigh
boring country. My legs-well. there is
no necessity 10 speak OF them: one of
my arms was still able To move. and
thanks TO il, could still eat alone. But
my eyes We're good, and my hearing
was acute.
one day. when the time was extreme
~ dull. j fancied that / would regain
complete calmness if / could hear an
opera. My friends remonstra but
| insisted. | cannot tell how happy
was-l was going TO be filled with mu-
sic, good music. BY ali unexpected
chance they played "Le Prophete." one
OF the works that 7 had always pre-
ferred.
At last the hour came. My niece of
sixteen was TO accompany me. Two
strong men carried me in my chair.
Fortunately. we did not live very far
from the theatre.
My nephew had thoughtlessly secured
seats in the first circle. No matter.
my two bearers installed me there. me
and my armchair. | was directly in the
center just opposite the stage. and I
saw admirably all the theatre. from the
pit and the orchestra chairs to the
boxes of the fourth circle. that legend
airy place where you are not inconlmod-
ed by the chandelier-you see over it.
remained alone with my niece, who was
as much enchanted as I was.
they played the first act ! do not
remember ever to have enjoyed in my
LIE happiness so complete. so heavenly.
me second, third and fourth acts were
rendered in manner that /, thought
perfect.
During the intermission ! noticed be-
tween two violoncellos an odd little
creature. i'm whom ] felt unaceountably
interested. He was a poor. miserable
fellow. shockingly deformed. but his
FEATURES were quite regular When he
played all his body moved and appear
ed to wrap itself around the violoncello
IN fantastic and loving manner; form
ing a singular contrast. his face as
stunned serious and almost austere ex-
preston. and the light of enthusiasm
illumined his eyes
| unused in silence until the moment
when Jean of Leyden thinks that he
should reveal to his accomplices that
they must die with him. Then white
smoke arose on the scene through the
cracks in the floor. 1t excited no at
tention and was only thicker than the
smoke usually employed: but suddenly
| there was an explosion and a flash
that dimmed the lights I'm the auditor
iun: then all the dancers rushed to-
ward the wings: the tenor lifted his
white robe and literally took flight, and
all the other singers and choristers dis
appeared one after another.
What does this nean?" demanded
some Of the audience. already alarmed.
Here young woman appeared on
the stage, running. The most frightfuI
terror was expressed in her face The
poor girl. distracted. spTang into the
orchestra screaming in choking
voice: Fire.
The audience started with one sound.
Oh, | remember all as if it were still
passing before my eyes. The musicians
| stopped suddenly, but not all together.
for some random notes broke forth.
here and there on the air. Frantic
with fear, they rushed toward the door
of the orchestra, but quickly returned
The retreat was cut off. They must
escape by the auditorium.
The auditorium All. there every
thing was frightful, horrible incon-
ceivable. 1t was a battlefield. At first
] did not appreciate the danger, and
then / trembled and shook with an I'M
natural fear. Alone with Jeanne-alone
with that child who could do nothing
I fer me, and who remained calms I re-
allied that | must remain where ! was.
without being able to stir, at the mercy
of the fire, which would slowly advance
to lick me up. to burn me alive TO con-
sumo me. Nevertheless, did not lose
my presence of mind.
Quick said / to little Jeanne; ''fly,
my child. and hasten to find some one
who viii take me away, if there is
time"
A young man who had noticed my
niece hurried toward her.
Come little one" said he to the
child. Without ceremony he pulled her
along by the hand
But my uncle my unclev cried the
girl.
"Oh, let him come" sharply answered
two or three voices from the crowd
who were crushing themselves without
mercy at the narrow door. They left
me there.
During this time the struggle was des-
perate in the orchestra chains, stalls
and pit. There were only four doors,
each three feet wide, for this torrent
that wanted to rush out in two seconds.
The terrified people used all their efforts
To reach these doors. Each wished to
pass those who were in advance. They
pushed. cried. shrieked and fought with
fury.
Two strong men braced themselves
back to back near an opening that they
intended to pass before any one else,
anu uuiiiiS Atidl TIME, no one, DeilltE
they nor the others, could escape. Be
hind them were sobs and imprecations,
and the crowd pushed with blind fury.
L saw some young men who had al
ready felt the neat OF the flames jump
on the seats and then on the shoulders
of those nearest the door. Thus they
crawled along on their fellow sufferers.
Meanwhile the scenery was burning.
The flames were rapidly approaching
| the auditorium. The heat had become
more intense. l was perspiring freely,
but it was more from fear than from
heat. Already the spectacle was sub
lime-sublime and grand. In spite of
the anguish which chilled my heart. /
found something violently gay in those
enormous tongues of fire, frisking be-
fore me and caressing the front of the
stage.
At the doors the contest was becom-
ing more violent, more compact, more
frantic Oh. woe to the weak. Woe 10
the kind Woe TO all those who had NOT
yet consented to become ferocious
| beasts.
| saw a great demon, his eyes dis
| tended with fear, stretch out his hand
He seized by the shoulders a young
woman in front of him, and dragged