EDINBURGH FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 5

EDINBURGH FIRE.

BURIAL OF MR. LAFAYETTE. By Telegraph—Press Assodation-Ooryriebt (Rec. May 15, 10.50 p.m.) London, M,iy 15. There was an unprecedented demonstration in Edinburgh at tho burial nf Mr. Lafayette, the illusionist, who perished in the Empire Theatre fire. Mr. Lafayette's remains, which had been cremated. were- placed in an urn, and then enclosed in a casket containing Ihe embalmed remains of his favourite dog, Beauty. MEMORIES OF LAFAYETTE, A MARVELLOUS ILLUSIONIST. (By TcJegraph.-SDecial Correspondent.) Christchurch, Mav 15. Mr. Chas. Daly and Miss Kitty O'Brien, vaudeville artists, at present appearing in the Puller circuit, at the Opera House, were very well acquainted with Lafayette, the great illusionist, who lost his' life this week in the Edinburgh Theatre fire. His illusions, said Mr. Daly, were wonderful, and he thought out'and arranged them all himself. As an example: Lafayette would be on the stage impersonating a bandmaster, he would bo so humorous that a lady in the body of the house would become hysterical, ' the attendants would rush to her with a glass of water, and she would recover slowly. Suddenly she would stand up, remove some of her garments, and there would be Lafayette himself. Mr. Daly imagined that the act was worked with doubles, but he did not know any more about it than the spectators, who were always mystified. Mention was made in tho cable messages of a negro—a member of Lafayetto s company, who was found roaming about terror-stricken. Mr. Daly said that, most likely, this would be a negro who had been with Lafayette for a number of years, being used in several of his illusions. In one of these Lafayette would take a pot. of paint and a brush, and paint the negro's head vcllow. Then he would put a wig, a false beard, and garb on him, and he would bo the late. King Edward. All this was done in tho sight of the audience. Suddenly the negro would tear off the disguise, and it would bo Lafayette himself.

In "Tho Lion's Bvide"-the elaborate illusion which was in progress when tho fire occurred—the lion is in one cage, and a lady (the "Bride") in another. In a Hash they change from cage to cage, always being in sight of tho audience. Besides being the originator of this act, Laiayctte was probably the only illusionist performing it. It will ho remembered tiittt either tho act itself (or a variant of it) was attempted in Melbourne a few months ago. The attempt ended in failure, for the lion broke loose, aud wandered harmlessly at large. Regarding the Empire Theatre-owned by bir Edward Moss-where the fire fork place Mr. Daly had little favourable to say It was a 'Tire trap," and he named another Scottish theatre where the conditions were even' worse, tho drcsin"roorus for the artists being underneath the stage. Tho English wero careless where precautious against fire wero concerned, but it was different in America there, since the Iroquois fire, nil scenery had to be fire-proofed" before it was used Commissioners made inspections at frequent intervals, aud their orders had to bo complied with.