Today in History - May 9: Two identical bodies found in search for world-famous magician
Perhaps the world's most famous magician of his time, Sigmund Neuberger was killed in a theatre fire on May 9, 1911.
Better known as the Great Lafayette, Neuberger was performing at the Empire Palace Theatre in Edinburgh when a fire broke out during his signature act.
But when a lantern sparked a fire on the set, the audience thought it was part of the act.
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Sigmund Neuberger was immensely famous at the time. Public Domain
The crowd was evacuated safely, but many of his team of performers were trapped on stage by a safety curtain.
Rather than stopping the spread of the fire, the curtain jammed, leaving a gap that allowed for a strong draught to spread the flames.
The side stage doors had been locked to stop his lion escaping during the act.
Neuberger escaped the blaze but ran back in to save his horse.
His body was found and cremated.
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The fire killed 11 people, including Neuberger himself. Public Domain
Two days later another body was found in the theatre, dressed identically to Neuberger.
It transpired the first body that was found was actually Neuberger's body double, who had been hiding backstage. The second body found was the real Neuberger.
Also killed was a small teenage girl, still dressed in costume as a mechanical teddy bear, as well as eight others.
As part of the act, Neuberger had presented the mechanical teddy bear as a marvel of technology. The audience did not know there was a girl inside.
At the time of his death, Neuberger had been grieving the loss of his famous dog Beauty.
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Sigmund Neuberger, better known as the Great Lafayette, with his beloved dog Beauty. Public Domain
Beauty was a major part of his act and the subject of his lavish affection. The dog wore a diamond-studded collar, ate five-course dinners and had its own rooms while the magician was on tour.
Four days before the fire, Beauty had died.
Neuberger arranged for Beauty to be buried at Piershill Cemetery in Edinburgh, but only on the condition the magician would also be buried there when he died.
A quarter of a million people turned out for Neuberger's funeral procession.
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