Terrible accident at the Opera (Newspaper engraving) 21 May 1896

Front page of the newspaper "The Progres Illustre" (literary supplement of Progres de Lyon no 285 21 May 1896: Terrible accident at the Opera (a woman killed by the fall of a counter-weight of the great chandelier) - explanatory text from the engraving on the inside page: "A frightful accident took place at the Opera on Wednesday, May 20. Helle's first act was about to end when a noise comparable to an explosion was heard in the hall, which at the same time filled with a dust comparable to smoke, one of the counterweights supporting the central chandelier had detached itself from its support, had burst from the ceiling and had fallen on the fourth gallery, and a lady, Mrs. Chaumet, was Literally flattened by the enormous mass, which still wounded several people, the incident was very quick, and besides, the great majority of the spectators feeling safe and sound, each one remained in his place, and it was only with a slight hesitation that the room was emptied without jostling and without Picnic. It is thanks to this cold blood of the spectators that we have not had more serious misfortunes to deplore. "