CHAPTER VII.

THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE--THE ASBESTOS CURTAIN AND THE LIGHTS 105

ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE'S ORIGIN--WERE ELECTRIC LIGHTS TURNED OUT?--STATEMENT OF MESSRS. DAVIS AND POWERS, MANAGERS OF THE THEATER--FIRST RELIABLE STATEMENT AS TO WHY THE CURTAIN DID NOT COME DOWN--ANOTHER STORY AS TO WHY THE CURTAIN DID NOT LOWER--THE THEATER FIREMAN'S NARRATIVE--THE STAGE CARPENTER--THE CHIEF ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR'S TALE--ONE OF THE COMEDIANS SPEAKS--ABOUT THE LIGHTS.