The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-10
GREAT LAFAYETTE
PER|sHES IN FIRE
Performing Lion Is Responsible for
at Least Eight Other Deaths in
Edinburg Theater.

EDINBURGH, May 10.-A perform
ing lion, maddened by burns and III
fear OF death, was directly respon.
sible for the loss OF at least nine
lives In a fire that destroyed the EN-
pire Music Hall last night. The ami
mails master. The Great Lafayette"
and two OF his assistants are among
the victims. They lost their lives
trying to control the terrified animal
which had blocked the main exit
from the dressing rooms in which
many of the artists were penned.
Up TO noon today nine bodies had
been recovered and the firemen were
searching for additional victims That
hundreds were not killed in the fire
and resultant panic among the audi
ence was due 10 the asbestos curtain
and the heroism of the orchestra, the
members of which sat In their pit,
playing, God Save the King" as
loudly as possible while the smoke
and flames, belching out from under
the fire curtain, scorched their cloth
ing and burned the hair from the
leaders head. Ushers and the thea
tre manager, aided by stage hands
who had jumped into the auditorium
compelled the men to permit the wo
men and children to hurry out first
and, although there was a wild rush
when the fire was discovered, 1t was
hurriedly checked.
The fire started while the Lafay.
ette act was on. The elaborate scenic
setting burned like tinder. At the
first puff of smoke and flame the as
bestos curtain was sent down and
the orchestra swung into the national
anthem.
AS the audience started out there
was rush OF stage hands and per-
formers for the exits. Lafayettes big
lion, in flimsy cage in the center
of the burning flames, made a wild
spring against the wooden bars and
they parted before him. Then, with
his shaggy coat on fire, he started
up the narrow flight of stairs, leading
to dressing rooms. Seemingly blind
ed by the flames he stood still, emit
ting terrific roars. Lafayette, who
had rushed out Of the building, ran
back through the flames, accompani-
ed by Alice Dale, who played the
Teddy Bear In his company, and Joe
Coates, the midget and tried to get
the lion and performing horse out.
They. cleared the stairway, but all
were overcome and their burned
bodies were found today by the fire
men beside the charred remains OF
the big lion.
The blockading OF the stairway
threw FIVE other performers. two OF
whom were women, into a panic and
In trying to find another exit they
lost their way and perished. All OF
the other performers who escaped
reached the street in their stage
clothing.
The Empire Music hall was the
finest in Scotland King George had
already commanded" a special per-
formance for his stay in the city af-
ter the coronation.
NEW YORK, May 10.-The real
name of The Great Lafayette, who lost
his life trying TO save his trained lion
from a fire in Scotland. was Sigmund
Neuberger. He was born in Germany
40 years ago and for the last twenty
years has been a great drawing card
in this country. In 1905 he persuaded
Justice Mccarthy in the city court
here to legalize his stage name. His
impersonations of John Philip Sousa
in the act Of leading Silent brass
band" have been characterized by
that bandmaster as wonderful
The Great Lafayette had appeared
in Detroit, several times, in the Tenn
pie theater His act included illu-
sions. juggling tricks OF all kinds.
protean work and impersonations. He
was considered one OF the leading
headliners in vaudeville.