PICTURE PALACE PANIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 20 November 1926, Page 9

PICTURE PALACE PANIC.

FIRE IN OPERATOR'S CABIN. MANY NARROW ESCAPES. ADELAIDE, November 12. A fire broke out i n a picture hall at Milhcent, near Mt. Gamhill, and the 300 people in the audience became panicstricken. Seats were carried along with the crowd and prevented a hasty exit. Women fainted, children screamed, and men, losing their heads, pushed their way to the doors. While a comedian was on the stage, Mr. C. Willshire was winding films '"in I the operating room, in readiness for the I second part of the programme. The I room was only Sft x Bft, and situated jat the rear of the main building. 1 The cause of the fire is believed to ] have been 'a spark falling from an arc | lamp on the film below. Immediately the | whole cabin burst into flames. The pro- ] jecting machine was between Mr. Will■- ■ shire and the small door, but with difficulty he reached it and scrambled to the 'ground. His clothes were ablaze and badly burned, and he collapsed. , Meanwhile indoors an alarm had heen I raised, and though the fire was confined jto the little ante-room, a wild dash for the doors began. The comedian tried in vain to quieten the crowd. Policemen stood at the doors, but were unable to I stop the rush. j A few seconds after the hall was j cleared the fire burnt the electric wires, and the lights went out. Many narrow I escapes were reported. I Fifteen thousand feet of film was j destroyed. The main hall was not j damaged.