Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-21
Noted Grand Opera Singers Lose
Personal Effects, But Escape
With Their Lives
MANY WE'RE GIVE FRIGHT
caruso, Sembrich, Campanari and
Other Noted Singers Were at Palace
Hotel When Earthquake Occurred
Interesting Accounts Given of Their
Experiences.

bers of the Metropolitan Opera Com
rany, of New York. all victims of the
great disaster, are leaving for the east.
A number of principals. including Nine.
sembrich, Sig. Caruso, Campanari,
Dipple, Conductor Hertz and Bars.
| ing on the Southern Pacific overland
train via ogden and Chicago. The
greater part of the company. including
the chorus and musicians will travel
| by a special train via New Orleans.
| With this party are Scott, Miss Wal
| ker, Nine. Rappold. Plancon, Relss
| Press Representative Meltzer and Con-
ductor Frankie. Conductor Vigna left
Thursday night and some of the prn-
from the company. All the splendid
scenery, stage fittings. costumes and
musical instruments We're lost In the
| disaster which destroyed the Grand
| opera House, where their season had
just opened to splendid audiences. No
one of the company was injured. but
| nearly all of them lost their personal eff
fects. Mime. Sembrich placed the loss
by the destruction of all their elegant
costumes at $4,000. She was fortu-
nate enough TO save her valuable
pearls. The total loss to the organ
ization may reach $150,000.
For the past two days the singers
and musicians have been living with
f,in do N,,t 49,
and on the hillsides of San Francisco.
Some were quartered at the Chutes.
When they were seen by an Assoc
ciated Press representative in their
special cars the operate stars gave
an interesting account of their experi-
enceS.
On the morning of the earthquake
the members of the party were dis
trbuted among the different hotels,
most of them being at the Palace. ST.
Francis, and at The Cakes. Caruso,
Scott, Miss Walker, Miss Abbott and
Miss jacob and other principals were
at the Palace. Plancon and DIPPED and
Nine. Sembrich were at the st. Francis
and the musicians and choruSeS at the
Oakes. Mime. Games Miss Fremstadt
and several others We're at private ho-
tells or residences. The sudden shock
brought all out of their bed rooms in
all kinds of attire. The women were
in their night dresses, the men in pa
jamas, none pausing to dress, all con-
WINGED that their last hour had come.
Ten minutes later Caruso was seen
seated on his valise in the middle of
the street. Many OF the others had
rushed to open squares or other places
of supposed safety. Even then it was
difficult to avoid the debris and crumb-
ling walls.
Few Saved Anything.
few had time and presence of
mind to pack up some necessary arti
cles before the outbreak of fires in all
directions barred them from returning
to their rooms, but very few saved any-
thing except what they. had stood in.
Several of those stopping at The Oaks
were awakened by plaster from the
ceiling falling on their beds and had
barely time to flee for their lives. One
singer was seen standing in the street
barefooted and clad only in his under
wear, but clutching a favorite violin
which he had carried with him in his
to rush for their trains, which, how
ever happened to be across the bay.
Rossi, a favorite basso, tho almost in
tears, was heard trying his voice at
corner near the Palace hotel Gradu-
ally calm was restored and taking
lesson from the GOODNESS of the Cali
fornians, the artists began to regard
their plight as less serious than it
might have been.
Nearly all suffered more or less
from the sudden cutting off of the food
supply, rush was made for the near
est grocery stores and baskets were
quickly filled with provisions and
whatever wine could be secured before
the closing of the liquor establishments.
The next day many We're reduced to
diet of bread, chocolate and sardines.
AS an indication of the optimism of
Mr.. Gorlitz, general manager of the
company, it may be stated that until
the Grand opera house was actually
reached by the flames he had hoped
to give the proposed matinee perform
ance of "The Marriage Of Figaro" He
and few others thought the play
house was fireproof and not ten min
utes before the building went I'D in
smoke, some of the musicians were
dissuaded from trying to save their
instruments.
Among the Artists.
Mr.. Alfred Hertz, the we'll known
Wagnerian conductor, was one of those
quartered at the Chutes. He was given
a place to sleep near the ZOO He said
today:
ITO my dying day I will never for
get my experience when was awaken
ed by the roaring of lions. I knew
not that 1 was in jungle or den of
wild beasts"
Mr. Campanari. the baritone, re-
sembled an emigrant when he boarded
the overland train. He carried his kit
in a gay colored blanket on his should
er, but was in good spirits.
"It is such a change" was all he
said.
Another one of the party Wore the
flowing burnos of an Arab chief and
all were more or less picturesque cos
tuned 1t was at this period that
charming contralto had been compelled
to don some very necessary articles of
attire, which had originally been des-
ignated for a gentleman.
Beatrice Sacchi. professor at Man