SINGER PREVENTS PANIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 8

SINGER PREVENTS PANIC

EARTHQUAKE IN THEATRE. YOUNG WOMAN'S CALMNESS. v

FEAR OF AUDIENCE ALLAYED

[by telegraph.—own correspondent 1 WELLINGTON. Tuesday^; While numbers of women fainted, both in public and private, during the 'i$ cent earthquake here, Miss O'Brien, a : singer at Palmerston North, by her courage and coolness, appears to have pre. vented what might have ended in panic on the part of a section of the audience. Miss O'Brien was singing "The tart Rose of Summer" when the first earth tremor was noticed, and. she had hardlv finished the second verse when the buildint began rocking violently. The huge gag chandeliers swayed perceptibly. (V. woman in the dress circle fainted and there were signs of general commotion people beginning to make for the doors! A man requested everyone to "keep calm " but this seemed of no avail, and Jfj M O'Brien, who had stopped singing, went forward again to the footlights and con tinued the strains of "The Last Rose of Summer." When the audience saw the calmness of the performer they decided to remain and vociferously applauded her for her prej. ence of mind.