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Show U - n ' " -4 P:nic Narrowly Averted at Grand Vfccn Gallery .:. Steps Garc Vay. A panlo was narrowly averted at the Grand Thursday night at the opening performance of the "Little Outcast," by the giving way of the gallery stairs. Several hundred people were waiting for the doors to open, and when the crowd was admitted there was a big rush for the choice seats. The crowd swarmed up the steps, which were soon Jammed with humanity, when there was a jar, and the sound of splintering wood, and the steps began to settle. There was a wild rush for the open air by those on the stairs, but the crowd behind Interfered. For a moment a panic was threatened, but cooler heads soon quieted the crowd and the scare t was over. No one was injured. ' The support of the steps,- weakened ! by constant use, had split and allowed the stairs to settle at least six Inches, before they caught on the old nails and held again. Carpenters were busy all day Friday replacing the old supports with new timbers, and - the house management said Saturday that the steps were nosy stronger than ever. |