Stage Fire.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6694, 6 November 1889, Page 4

Stage Fire.

{Nev;avTc Standard.) How huge billows o_ flame, rising Bix or eight feet, can be fooled with without sotting tho theatre on firo is a thorn© of wonder to the average spectator. Charleß M'Carthy, who took the leading part in One of the Bravest, performing prodigies of valour in rescuing the unfortunate inmate 3 of the burning building, once stowed a "Standard" reporter safely out of sight behind the doomed structure to witness the inside workings of the holocaust. The reporter had about two feet of room to crouch in, and the Manager of the Company cautioned him not to get scared when the flames came his way, but to remain perfectly motionless, else he might kick one side of the house over upon the valiant firemen in front and spoil the whole business. What appeared to be solid brick wall was a thin' partition covered with '• some substance that renders it perfectly fireproof. Behind this wall there were two ■ lofts reached by a staircase, and the rear j view suggested anything but the stately structure seen by tho axidience. I>h.& windows were cased with tin, and the j window sashes were fixed so as to be easily ' kicked in from the side. While the heavy villain was getting in hia five Italian work in the scone preceding the fire, the girls and women who were to be rescued tripped up the staircase in their long, whito nightgowns, and huddlc-d together in the upper loft. Two gentlemen arranged cups of. Greek fivo on the floor, and stood ready themselves with torches containing lycopodium. The Greek fire throws a lurid cast over the whole scene, and the torches of lycopodium make tho billows of flame. This chemical is not ignited by a match/ but by the current of air generated when the torch is violently waved. In the wings stood groups of red-shirted firemen waiting to do their duty. The lights were ail turned down, of course, to give an appearance of night, and while the reporter was trying to peer up into the top storey of the building, with its white robed maidens squatting on the floor, there camß a sudden command, "Now, hollo firo!" Everybody yelled Jike mad, and one gentleman began to pound an alarm gong with savage industry. The red fire blazed up, and the gentlemen with the torches began to sock it to them. Twenty or thirty yards of fire rolled out and darted all over. It began to grow very hot, and the reporter began to think that he had got to the unmentionable placo before his time. When the windows caved in the torches increased their spued and power and the din became terrific. The girls could be seen gathering their nightgowns about them ready to jump into the blanket held by tho firemen bolow. The two gentlemen engaged in manipulating the torches redoubled their exertions, and it grew so hot that the unfortunate inmates passed a wet spongo around. They leaped one after another, all but Mlsb Thorp, the soubrette, who waited until her stage lover, Mr M'Carthy,- climbed up on hi 3 ! scaling ladders in genuine New York style, i fastened hia rope properly, caught the girl ! around the waist, and descended to tho ; Stage to the music of the greatly excited ' gallery gods. Mr M'Carthy, the Larry of the i play, giveß all the orders during the scene, and no step is taken until he has given the word. He told the torch bearers to put on an extra quantity of fire for the reporter's benefit, and the reporter waa with difficulty i restrained from madly jumping through a j window like the others. The imitation of a fire is vivid and well done.