THE BURNING OF THE NICE OPERA-HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3382, 30 May 1881, Page 3

THE BURNING OF THE NICE OPERA-HOUSE.

Three Members of the Kenned}/

Family Killed.

Widespread regret will he felt at the announcement that Mr David Kennedy, ot Edinburgh, the well-known Scottish vocalist, has lost three members of his family by the burning of the .Nice OperaHouse. They are—Mr James Kennedy, 23 years of age ; Miss Kate Kennedy, 19 ; and Miss Lizzie Kennedy, 17. At the close of the season's engagements, which terminated in the end of January with a Herie^ of most successful concerts in Edinburgh, Mr James Kennedy, in company with his two sisters, started for Nice to resume his studies for the third year under Signer Laniperti, a famous Italian teacher of music, tho young ladies accompanying their brother for the first time. They left Edinburgh about three weeks ago, and on Wednesday morning a letter wan received by Mr Kennedy from his son, in the course of wbich it was mentioned that he and hi 3 sisters proposed availing themselves of the opportunity of hearing the opera on the evening of the 23rd March. About ten o'clock on the following night a telegram from Mr Robert Kennedy, another member of the family who was studying at Milan, and had hastened to Nice on learning of the disaster. "It must be told—they are all dead. The theatre blew up, aud fell in suddetly; death was instantaneous." The lives which have thus suddenly been cut off were of great promise—Mr James Kennedy giving evidence of turning out an excellent baritone, Miss Kate proving herself a no less proficient contralto, and Miss Lizzie an equally satisfactory soprano. During the last season all three accompanied Mr Kennedy in his tour in the north and west of Scotland, finishing up, as already mentioned, with a series of concerts in Edinburgh, at the whole of which they acquitted themselves with distinction, alike in solo and pirt singing. The bodies of the two young ladies have been recovered, and the death of the young gentleman has been confirmed by his watch being found among the debris.