NARROW ESCAPE FROM ANOTHER THEATRE CATASTROPHE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3756, 30 July 1883, Page 4

NARROW ESCAPE FROM ANOTHER THEATRE CATASTROPHE.

The Paris correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald of July 2nd, says : -AVc have had another narrow escape of tho horrors of another lire in a theatre. At tno Ambigu on Wednesday, just as the musicians of the orchestra were tuning their instruments ready to begin the overture nt the new play, "The Ace of Spades a dud heavy sound was heard behind the scenes, and the stage manager came forward and informed tlie audience that, in consequence of the sudden illness of one of tho actors, there would ho no performance that evening, and that checks would be given at the door for the next night or their money returned, at tho option of the spectators. The people present thereupon quietly left tho house, not suspecting that there was any danger around them. On reaching the street thoy were surprised to find a great crowd assembled, and to learn that a gas explosion had occurred behind the scenes and that the theatre was on fire. The prudence ot the manager had allowed the audience to retire without alarm and consequently without danger, and the promptitude with which witter was employed soon extinguished tho lire But fourteen of tho actors and actresses were more or less injured by the explosion, which was produced by "the folly of ono of the servants, who, 011 smelling a strong odour of gas, persisted in striking a mutch " to see what was tho matter," notwithstanding the remonstrances of the others. The insensate act produced the explosion on the instant; the ceiling of the room (in the actors' quarters) was blown to atoms, aud all who had entered tho room whence the smell of gas had proceed were more or less burned about the face and hands Messengers were at once sent to the Porte St. Martin, Renaissance, and Folios Dramatiqucs Theatres, close by, to procure the assistance of their medical'staff, aud with the aid of tho doctors in attendance at the Ambigu, the injuries received wero attended to. Eight of them, however, had lo be removed to the St. Louis Hospital ; the fhreemost seriously burned being carried off on litters, for which purpose the litter used at tho Torte St. Martin Theatre to carry the actor Montal from tho stage, when ho hitd committed suicide in the "Pave do Pans," was brought into requisition.