FATAL EDINBURGH THEATRE FIRE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10764, 11 May 1911, Page 4

FATAL EDINBURGH THEATRE FIRE.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) Received May 11, at 0.27 a.m. London. May 10. During the last act of a performance in the Empire Palace Theatre, Edinburgh, .which the King intended to visit, as cabled on March 30t.1i, the stage properties caught life. The screen was instantly dropped. The house was emptied in admirable order. Many of the performers were in their rooms, and some fainted. The majority escaped safely, but Lafayette and several members of his company were overwhelmed. Seven bodies, including those of the Lafavettes, were recovered in the ruins of the stage. The lire was confined to the back of the theatre, which collapsed. LION GOES MAD: Received May 11, at' 8.50 aim. London, May 10. An eighth body has been found and the search continues., -"-• -V . Lafayette' was a well-known American illusionist.. His body, was found beside the charred'- remains'tif a favorite horse, which .lie .-wate apparently endeavoring'to rescue when the stage was ''% lion went mad and blocked the The stage liands state that Lafayette ■ killed while making an attempt to remove the, lion. ; CP.OL;BRA¥ERY. ■'■ kßeeeived M'iiy i: - . '-ri"-'-si'-:.-' .-':■'.;■; ,'-.,,'.':'> -London, xMayXUK: •'"•": It is known: that ..nine Vpeqplo were killed in the Edinburgh Music Hall fire and it is feared.that there were

EMPIRE PALACE DESTROYED.

more fatalities. The fire arosb tliroughj a paper lantern falling from into a fernery during an elaborate illusion called ''The Lion's Bride.";.ending in a harem scene. This caused a shower of sparks, and the whole scene was intensely elaborate. The audience, at first believed that it was part pf Lafayette's design of bombs ..and fireworks, hence there was little paiidc.i ■'"- The manager ran "before the curtain and asked the orchestra to play the National Anthem, the leader conducting from the stage. He afterwards was killed.

The theatre was emptied in four minutes. The actors and- stagehands fought the flames, but wei ; e;'iinped,ed by a maddened lion and other animals, until the whole place was like a furnace, when the safety curtain fell in■wards, demolishing the stage. Hundreds of Territorials, leaving an alarm parade, assisted the. police,.-and firemen, and thus prevented :vthe'.- &r<& .from spreading to the thickly-ppp'ulated tenements around the theatre^?"■/' PATHETIC INCIDENTS.

Lafayette "was seen outside the stage door, but returned to save his animals. ; The dead include a 17-year-old girl. •A little' boy, playing the part of a, "Teddy bear," was found enclosed in a scorched bear skin.

Lafayette's, company numbered 60, many of whom ran into the streets in stage dress. A negro was found wandering about terror-stricken. ; Strenuous efforts will be made to rebuild* the theatre in time for the ■command performance. London, May 10. The King and Queen condoled with the families of the Edinburgh fire" victims and those injured*