| Citation |
NJG-T.781.022
19 Sep 1781:13,21 (4/195)
Extract of a private letter, dated Paris, June 9.
Last night a fire broke out at the Opera-House in this city,
and totally destroyed that magnificent structure; it is now
ten in the morning, and the fire has not yet subsided,
notwithstanding the speedy assistance of five engines. I
was for some time in the greatest apprehension, as I live
nearly opposite to the Theatre; luckily, however, the wind
gave a contrary direction to the destructive flames. Above
40 people have perished in this dreadful conflagration, all
of them either performers or dancers, as the house was
cleared of the audience before the fire broke out. It is as
yet difficult to assert who are the unfortunate victims; but
I am sorry to acquaint you, that the celebrated dancer
D'Auberval, is supposed to be one of them. Some of the
bodies have been taken out, but so disfigured and miserably
burnt, that it is impossible to ascertain whether they are
men or women.
The violence and rapidity of the late fire at the Opera-
House at Paris, baffled every endeavour to extinguish or
stop its progress; it is impossible to describe the
consternation of the populace, when it approached the palace
of Mons. le Duc d'Orleans, which adjoined the Opera, and to
which, in spite of every effort; the flames at last
communicated, beginning at the apartments of Mons. le Duc de
Chartres, which were intirely consumed with every part of
the superb furniture of that quarter of the palace. Happily,
however, the flames were extinguished before the whole of
the magnificent pile was destroyed.
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