The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21

OAKLAND, Cal, April 2o.-The members
Of the Metropolitan Opera Company OF
New York, all victims Of the San Francisco
disaster, left to -day for the East. A mum
Der Of principals. including Nine. Sem
birch. Sigs. Caruso, Campanari and Dippel,
Conductors Hertz and Bars, started at
II O'Clock this morning o N the Southern
Pacific overland train, via Ogden and
Chicago. The greater part Of the com
pany, including the chorus and musicians.
will travel by a special train via New
Orleans.
With this party are Scott, Miss Walker,
Nine. Rappold. Plancon, Reiss, Press Agent
Meltzer and Conductor Frankie. Conduc-
tor vigee left last night.Hand sone Of the
principals not named are travelling apart
from the company.
All of the splendid scenery, sta ge fittings,
costumes and musical instruments we're lost
in the fire, which destroyed the Grand Opera
House, where the company's season had
just opened to splendid audiences.
No one of the company was injured,
but nearly all Of them lost their personal
effects.
Mime, Sembrich places the loss by the
destruction Of her costumes at 500 600.
She was fortunate enough to save her
pearls. The total loss to the organization
may reach $50 900.
For two days the singers and musicians
have been living with friends or camping
out in the parks and on the hillsides OF
San Francisco. Some we're quartered at
the "Chutes."
When they were seen in their special
cars to-day the opera stars gave an in
teresting account Of their experiences.
On the morning of the earthquake the
members of the company were distributed
among the different hotels, most of them
being at the Palace, st. Francis and the
Oaks.
Caruso, Scott, Miss Walker, Miss ABBOTT.
Miss Jacobs and other principals we're
at the palace. Plancon and DIPPED and
Nine. Sembrich we're al the st. Francis.
The musicians and the chorus were at
the Oaks. Nine. Eames, Miss Fremstadt
and several others we're at private hotels
or residences.
The sudden shock brought all out of
their bedrooms in all kinds Of attire. The
women we're in their nightdresses, the men
in pajamas. No one paused to dress. All
were convinced 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 hurried TO open
squares or other places Of supposed safety.
Even then it was difficult to avoid the
debris falling from the crumbling walls.
A few had time and presence of mind to
pack up some necessary articles before the
-.l.-.l - Co.. - ali 1iract;ons ha rraH
them from returning to their rooms but
| the majority saved nothing except what
they had upon them.
Several of those stopping at the Oaks
we're awakened by plaster from the ceilings
falling on their beds and had barely time
to fee for their lives. One singer was
teen standing in the street in bare feet n
| clad only in his underwear but clutching a
f~svorite violin. which he had carried with
him in his flight.
The first impulse of many was to rush for
their trains. which. however, happened to
be across the bay.
Rossi. a ~favorite basso. though almost in
tears, was heard trying his voice at a corner
| near the Palace Hotel. Gradually calm
was restored and. taking a lesson from the
GOODNESS Of the Californians, the artists be-
gan TO regard their plight AS less senous
than it might have been.
Nearly all suffered more or less from the
sudden cutting off of the food supply. A
nlsh was made for the nearest grocery
store and baskets were quickly filed with
provisions and what wine could be gathered
before the closing of the liquor establish
ments. The next day many were reduced
| TO a diet of bread, chocolate and sardines.
Az an indication of the optimism OF Mr..
Goritz. general manager of the company,
it NAV be stated that until the Grand Opera
House was actually reached by the flames
he had hoped to give the proposed matinee
performance.
He and a few others thought the play
house was freproof, and not ten minutes
before the building went up in smoke some
of the musicians were dissuaded from
trying to save their instruments.
Alfred Hertz. the well known Wagnerian
conductor, was one of those quartered
at the "Chutes." He had a place to sleep
near the Zoo. He said to-day:
TO my dying day I will never forget
my experience when | was awakened by
! the roaring of lions. | knew not whether
7 was in a Jungle or den Of wild beasts"
Mr.. Campanari, the baritone, resembled
an emigrant when he boarded the over
land train. He carried his kit tied in a gay
colored blanket on his shoulder, but was
in good spirits. 1T is such a change"
was all he said.
Another one of the party wore the flowing
robes of an Arab chief, and all were more
or less picturesquely costumed.
A charming contralto had been COM
PEELED to don some necessary articles of
attire which originally had been designed
for a gentleman.
NJ. Paryis, NJ. Dufriche, the barytone
and stage manager, and Nine. Dufriche,
the harpist, narrowly escaped death when
the Oaks collapsed. Nine. Dufriche lost
her precious harp in rhe FIRE at the Opera
House.
Paroli, one Of the tenors, was missing
this morning, but no anxiety was felt re-
psrding his fate. He was seen after the
| earthquake, and it was supposed he be-
came confused to-day and failed to find
HE train