215

DRAMATIC.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT. - The Buffalo Bill Combination
gave an extra matinee in Wood's Theatre,
Cincinnati, O., March 21, when "The Red Right
Hand" was preceded by a farce. The curtain had
just been raised for the commencement of the
perfomances, when it suddenly descended, the
roller striking the stage with tremendous force,
and after a rebound descended upon the foot and
ankle of Harry Mehen, who was in the act of advancing
to speak the opening lines of the farce.
Mr Mehen was removed to his dressing-room, and
a physician summoned. The accident resulted
more seriously to the men in the flies, William
Miller and Harry Whitehouse being seriously
hurt. Mr. Miller, who had charge of the curtain,
had his arm broken at the wrist by the handle of
the windlass, which turned with fearful velocity
as the curtain fell. He was attended by a physician,
and removed to his home. Mr. Whitehouse,
who as a volunteer was assisting Mr. Miller, was
struck by the revolving windlass in the face, and
later, as he fell in the ankle, causing a serious
fracture. He was taken to the Cincinnati Hospital.
The cause of the accident was that the curtain
had been raised some two feet higher than
usual, and the ropes supporting the counterweights
were pulled from the staples. The
weights, descending, left the curtain without a
counter-balance, and it fell to the stage.