ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 86, 7 September 1914, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE .THEATRE.

'"The Wreck," an up-to-date Bonsational American railroad picture-drama by tile \ itagrap'h Company, was' rc-vun-s.ble for a crowded iioase-at Uie Fme.uc Theatre on .Saturday evening. ,'The. V'ltagraph (Wpany enjoys a reputation for enterprise wliicli is again cxeriiuiitied in "The Wreck." A collision between a runaway locomotive and a fast--moving express train provides the climax to an attractive, and well-conceived ,drama. The collision is real—of this Jljere is no room for doubt—and the terrific impact between ■the two monsters .•]".iliwes (hem to s;-ntp-iru;i. ' C'lny,,', the president of. the railway company, is grieved, over the failure, of his only child, a fiivolous ami dissipated ''young college man. "Carlyle vh-its an old fiicmh Hamilton, and is much impressed by the manliness and ability of Hamilton's son Richard. The railroad magnate offers Richard an opportunity to make a name for himself In , placing the young man iiuhis emploV. liiclufrd-is : kindly received by Mrs, Carlyle, an attractive young woman,.\ylio is Carlyie's second Wife. Herbert Carlyle, writes to his father for more money to pay | for his idle extravagances, but the par- j cut curtly refuses to remit any more ; funds. Driven to 'desperation by the I fact that he has niuiuiitted forgery, ' .Uerb'-rt writes tii his step-mother imploring her to aid him." Mrs.. Curlylo pays Richard;', bet-ret visit in order to seek his advice. Her husband becomes aware of the ~-unvptitioiH mor,Ui«,and is stung- with jealousy. .Subsequently Herbert steals'an interview with his stepmother and departs as his father arrives. Carlyle, not aware of the iden-" tity of the 'man who had just left the house, becomes maddened, witli jealousy. He sujpetts Richard, and,, linjliug him j waiting on the! river-bank, attacks tinsyoung man, who is Hung jnto the water iniil is drowned.: An engineer, son of Carlyle's secretary, who has been discharged for drunkenness, witnesses the struggle and continences ■to •blackmail Carlyle. To add to the horror of the, railroad, president's predicament,,.he is. told by his son that Richard was waiting to'give him money to save him from disgrace. The drunken"engineer uses his power over "Carlyle to secure rein-, statement in his employ. The president, broken in health and suffering keen mental torture, decides to make,a trip with his son. The drunken engineer is in charge of their train, and his evil disposition causes him to fight with the fireman. The,train rushes on rcgardiesj of sianals. A large ■locomotive run's away'.'from the yards, and once on the main line, attains a fearful speed. Fran-" li« effort* are made to sidetrack either the engine or the president's train, but the attempts fail. A,head-on mnash occurs, and amidst the ruins Carlyle finds hlie dead body of his son. Then the heart-broken father bows his head end realise-; that ret ributive pumshmeiil has decided "a life for a life." A firstclass supporting bill includes 'Tath.es Gazette," •'Algeria',, Acrobats,'' •• .Ulrica u War Picture:-,''" ".MentaicC Hia.': ' Farm," and' comic items. This programme will be s.iowii linaily to-night. Keserves as usual. .. .