# The Sunderland Calamity

This poem was written in memory of those who died in the Victoria Hall disaster of June 16, 1883.
'Twas in the town of Sunderland, and in the year of 1883, That about 200 children were launch'd into eternity While witnessing an entertainment in Victoria Hall, While they, poor little innocents, to God for help did call.
The entertainment consisted of conjuring, and the ghost illusion play, Also talking waxworks, and living marionettes, and given by Mr. Fay; And on this occasion, presents were to be given away, But in their anxiety of getting presents they wouldn't brook delay, And that is the reason why so many lives have been taken away; But I hope their precious souls are in heaven to-day.
As soon as the children began to suspect That they would lose their presents by neglect, They rush'd from the gallery, and ran down the stairs pell-mell, And trampled one another to death, according as they fell.
As soon as the catastrophe became known throughout the boro' The people's hearts were brim-full of sorrow, And parents rush'd to the Hall terror-stricken and wild, And each one was anxious to find their own child.
Oh! it must have been a most horrible sight To see the dear little children struggling with all their might To get out at the door at the foot of the stair, While one brave little boy did repeat the Lord's Prayer.
The innocent children were buried seven or eight layers deep, The sight was heart-rending and enough to make one weep; It was a most affecting spectacle and frightful to behold The corpse of a little boy not above four years old,
Who had on a top-coat much too big for him, And his little innocent face was white and grim, And appearing to be simply in a calm sleep- The sight was enough to make one's flesh to creep.
The scene in the Hall was heart-sickening to behold, And enough to make one's blood run cold. To see the children's faces, blackened, that were trampled to death, And their parents lamenting o'er them with bated breath.
Oh! it was most lamentable for to hear The cries of the mothers for their children dear; And many mothers swooned in grief away At the sight of their dead children in grim array.
There was a parent took home a boy by mistake, And after arriving there his heart was like to break When it was found to be the body of a neighbour's child; The parent stood aghast and was like to go wild.
A man and his wife rush'd madly in the Hall, And loudly in grief on their children they did call, And the man searched for his children among the dead Seemingly without the least fear or dread.
And with his finger pointing he cried. "That's one! two! Oh! heaven above, what shall I do;" And still he kept walking on and murmuring very low. Until he came to the last child in the row;
Then he cried, "Good God! all my family gone And now I am left to mourn alone;" And staggering back he cried, "Give me water, give me water!" While his heart was like to break and his teeth seem'd to chatter.
Oh, heaven! it must have been most pitiful to see Fathers with their dead children upon their knee While the blood ran copiously from their mouths and ears And their parents shedding o'er them hot burning tears.
I hope the Lord will comfort their parents by night and by day, For He gives us life and He takes it away, Therefore I hope their parents will put their trust in Him, Because to weep for the dead it is a sin.
Her Majesty's grief for the bereaved parents has been profound, And I'm glad to see that she has sent them £50; And I hope from all parts of the world will flow relief To aid and comfort the bereaved parents in their grief.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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