The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-20 00:00:00

S 11 N 9 FEBRUARY 20, 1849.

THE CATASTROPHE at GLASGOW.
LATEST PARTICULARS.
GLASGOW, SUNDAY.-We lament to announce one of
the most appalling events which ever took place in the
west of Scotland, and which occurred in the Theatre
Royal, Dunlop-street, last night.
About eight o'clock, while the company was concluding
the first act of the drama of the Surrender of Calais, the
alarm of fire was given from the upper gallery; and it
turned out in reality that a lighted paper (believed to
have been thrown down by a person after igniting his
pipe) had come in contact with an escape of gas, and pro-
duced a small flame; but it was so insignificant that it
was extinguished by the persons is the vicinity. At first
there was a slight commotion visible throughout the
house, and those in the boxes, pit, and lower gallery kept
their seats. Many in the gallery did not knew, apparently,
whether to treat the alarm of fire as a real or false one.
Several persons from the stage and other parts of the
house came forward and shouted at the top of their
voices-" Keep your seats-there is no danger;" and
a round or two of cheering was given. But in the midst
of this a frantic panic arose, and there was a general
and wild rush from the upper gallery towards the stair
which leads to the street. It may be: necessary here to
explain, that since the last " star" performed in the
house, viz., Mr. Mackay (Bailie Nicol Jerrie), a pan-
tomime has been brought out with great display, and, at
the same time, the prices of admission have been much
reduced. The entrance-money to this spacious cockloft
was only 3d.; the night eras Saturday, when the work-
ing classes are generally disengaged, and, in consequence,
the place was well filled, there being 500 in that part of
the house. The audience rushed downstairs in the terror
of some undefined calamity; but most lamentably they
were brought to a halt by some of them stumbling at the
first landing above the flight of stain from the street
door. They crushed upon each other so rapidly that
they soon formed a compact mass, and all chance of es-
cape was gone. Those behind, unaware of the nature
of this obstruction, and hearing the shrieks
from below, pressed on more furiously than ever,
only of course to augment the catastrophe. In-
dependently of the pressure the staircase soon be-
came a second Black Hole of Calcutta, from the in-
tensity of the heat and the want of fresh air. The weaker
were trampled down by others, who wore only to be
trampled down in turn by the fresh and furious in the
rear. The noise of the stifled cries and groans, and of
the struggle for bare life which came from this horrid
staircase, were most agonizing; and even those who
could not reach it, but were compelled to remain in the
spacious gallery, whereby their lives were saved, set up
dreadful yells. This shocking scene lasted several mi-
nutes, and many gentlemen in other parts of the house
made generous and noble efforts to reach the spot; but
they were unsuccessful, for the lower staircase was jammed
by the dead and the dying, and the entrance to the upper
gallery was crowded by the frantic crowd. The tire brigade
was early on the spot, but being informed that the accident
had been slight, and the flames extinguished, they quietly
returned with their butts and engines, quite unaware that
such an awful tragedy was acting near them. They were
coon recalled, however, and some time again elapsed, in
the confusion, before it could be decided where an en-
trance was to be effected. A kind of wooden partition
which separated a part of the lower gallery from the
stair above it, was hewn down by hatchets, and a fright-
ful scene presented itself. A mass of bodies were found
closely packed together, with the damp sweat of death
on many a face. With much difficulty some of these
bodies were dragged through the hole, and carried along
the lower gallery to the apartments behind the scenes,
with which there is a communication. At the same
time workmen procured ladders and mounted to the
window with which the stairs are lighted from the lane;
but, unfortunately, this was protected or shut in by
strong iron staucheons, and these had to be torn away
by crowbars, which smashed away the solid stonework
in which the stancheons rested. When once opened the
air was admitted, but the aperture was too small to
allow of any of the bodies being removed by it.
A third mode of relief was by driving down a kind
of bulkhead, which joins the main stairs, lead-
ing respectively to the street from the upper
and lower galleries. It is said that a money-
taker, who has his box at this spot, made some resis-
tance to a passage for safety being made through his
territory, which otherwise might have been used with
much advantage; but, where there is blame somewhere,
public opinion may be suspended until there is time
fully to inquire into this sad business. Few of these
were saved on the lower staircase, but, a vast number
were restored by Mr. Alexander, the manager, and
others, entering the gallery from the side doors and
dragging the people up stairs and back again, into the
place they had left. All those who remained were safely
passed to the street by these stage modes of exit.
The tidings flew through the city, and, as the streets
are crowded at this hour, principally by working
people, all the avenues to Dunlop-street were stopped
up. Several of the magistrates, with Dr. Easton and
many medical gentlemen, were soon on the spot, and
witnessed horrors of which no one could have formed a
conception. All the rooms of the Garrick Hotel, opposite
the theatre, were by this time filled with the dead and
the wounded. The pie-shop below was similarly occu-
pied; and some of the rooms in the house of Mr. Grey,
goldbeater, adjoining, were given up for the same pur-
pose. There were also many dead and hurt behind the
scenes of the theatre. As soon as possible, every cab
which could be procured was pressed into the service,
and all those who had been wounded and were alive were
sent to the Infirmary. Then came the sad task of re-
moving the dead, of which there were now sixty-one in
the various places already mentioned. From the ar-
rangement made by Carrick, Superintendent of Streets
and Buildings, accommodation was provided at the
Clyde-street Hospital, in which the bodies were laid out
until claimed by their:friends. They were accordingly
removed, first, by means of omnibuses, and then by
means of hearses, until all had been carried away. The
bodies were placed in these vehicles uncovered and un-
coffined, in parties of from five to eight at a tine; for
the greatness of the calamity did not permit of the ordi-
nary observance being paid to the dead.
LIST OF PERSONS RILLIdD AND INJURED.
Catherine Hannigan, aged 16, 63, Clydeestreet.
Catherine Buike, aged 20, Castle-street, Blind Asylum.
John Emerson, aged 15, George-street, Mile-end.
Peter Ferguson, aged 13, Muse-lane.
John Hannan, aged 20, Broad-street, Milo-end.
Matthew Maitland, aged 10, 1, Oxford-lane.
John Forbes, aged 16, St. Enoch's-wind.
John M`Aulley, aged 12, 27, Clyde-street, Port
Dundee.
Charles Templeton, Wallace-street, Tradeston.
David Cameron, aged 18, 31, Bell-street, Calton.
Arthur Mullin, 2, Warwick-street.
Edward O'Neil, aged 14, Bridgegate.
Malcolm Russell, aged 12, 1, Oxford-lane.
Robert Forrest, aged 21, Garscube-lane.
John Anderson, aged 15, 76, Cowcadden-street.
John Brodie, aged 16, 133, New Vennel.
John Bruce, aged 17, 73, 'Nelson-street.
Patrick Mullen, aged 16, 34, Dale-street, Tradeston.
William King, aged 17, Somer-street, Mile-end.
Alexander M'Farlane, aged 12, 104, Dele-street,
Tradeston.
William Dawson, 32, Prince's-street.
Angus M`Lean, aged 16, 10, Nicholson-street.
Henry M'Ewan, aged 14, 48, Portland street.
James Kean, aged 16, 119, Main-street.
William Paterson, aged 17, 61, Dale-street, Tradeston.
Archibald Doyle, aged 17, 65, Main-street, Gerbals.
David M‘Analty, aged 22, Sweet's-court, Great Ha•
milton-street.
A female child, aged 4.
Thomas Brady, aged 16, Cowcaddens.
Alexander Kirkwood, aged 17, Scotland-street.
John M`Aulley, aged 17, Bishop-street, Port Dundas.
Lindsay Tonnach, aged 17, North Portland-street.
James Jamieson, aged 13, 16, St. Enoch's-square.
Robert Galloway, aged 15, 15, Nicholson-street.
William Lee, aged 14, 31, Nelson-street.
James Stevens, aged 11, 67, Stewart-street, Cow-
caddens.
Duncan Clarke, aged 18, 148, High-street.
demos Stewart, aged 12, Stewart-street, Cowcaddens.
James 15PLachlan, aged 15, 15, Catherine-street, An-
derston.
Elizabeth M`Pherson, aged 16, Parliamentary-road.
Andrew Fleming, aged 17, 46, New Wynd.
James Kennedy, aged 16, 106, Stolecross-street,
Robert Clarke, aged 16, 74 Clyde-street, Anderston.
James Clarke, aged 17, 30, Scotland-street.
Robert Rough, aged 18, Finniston-square.
Alexander ISPAdam, aged 15, 70, Stockwell-street.
John Caulder; aged 12, 3 Saracen-lane.
Charles Milarkey, aged 12, New Vennel.
Andrew Donachy, aged 12, 9, Galloway-street.
Alexander M'Quigan, aged 42, East Clyde-street.
John Cunningham, aged 17, Clyde-street.
Robert May, aged 13, 15, Sidney-street.
John Lindsay, aged 16, 48, South Cuburg• street,
Lauricatou.
John Watson, aged 14, Crown-point, Mile-end.
Frederick Fraser, aged 12, 21, St. Enoch Wynd.
James M'Cowan, aged 16, 48, Portugal-street.
Mary Donachie, aged 17, East Clyde-street.
Thomas Lindsay, aged 18, 25, Main-street, Anderston.
James Wilson, aged 15, 36, Rose-street, Gorbals.
- Mitchell, King-street, Glasgow,
James M‘Donald, aged 17, 72, Bridgegate.
(All claimed.)
Died in or on the way to the Royal Infirmary ;-
Robert M'Ewan.
Alexander Morrison.
Name unknown. A young man.
(All claimed.)

PERSONS TAKEN TO THE INFIRMARY ALIVE.
Hugh M'Cready. William Tait.
William Kemp. James Hammond.
Alexander Strutt. Robert Montgomery.
J umes Gilchrist. Livingston.
James Getting. WCulluen.
John M'Lachlen.
Of these 11 persons, 8 were found to be little injured
and left, leaving three in the Infirmary.
JAMES SMART,
Superintendent of Police.
Scarcely any of these bodies—and the writer saw
nearly 30—presented external wounds. Some of them
had lost shoes and stockings, and all of them their caps,
in the struggle; but the bodies presented s. placid though
blue appearance, such as is seen in the corpses of those
who die from suffocation. The dead almost all helot%

[PRICE SD.

to the working classes, and last night was perhaps tha
r2ddest everknown to that class in Glasgow. All who bad
a relation missing hurried to the Town's Hospital, to make
their inspection, between fear and hope, but were in-
formed that they could not be admitted till this morning.
The frequent shrieks told how often a bereaved mother
or father had recognised their dead child, or when a
tister had seen the corpse of a brother with whom she
had parted not long before in health and gladness.
By one o'clock this forenoon all the bodies of the
Clyde.street Hospital, viz., 61 in number, had been
claimed by their friends.
Of those sent to the Infirmary, three have died, and
one woman also died this afternoon at the hospital.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Conanotie.)

MONDAY, YEB. 19.
SOUTHAMPTON SMALL TENEMENTS RATING

BILL.

Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the Bill be
now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave
out the word " now," and at the end of the Question to add
the words " upon this day six months. Question put, " That
the word' now' stand part of the question." The House
divided :

MI 'ORITY-AYES, 64.
Arundel, Earl of Ellice, Edward Packe, C. W.
Bagshaw, John Fuller, A. E. Renton, John C.
Bathes, M. T. Godson, Richard Rufford, Francis
Bennet, Philip Greene Thomas Scott, Francis
Blair, Stephen Heneage, G. IL.W. Seymer, H. K.
Bowles, Admiral Heyworth, L. Slaney, Robert A.
Bramston, T. W. Ilildyard, R C. Smith, R. V.
Brown, W. Hodgson, W. N. Spooner, R.
Bruce, Lord E. Rope, Sir J. : Stanley, E.
Bruce, C. L. Hornby John Thicknesse, R. A.
Buxton, Sir E. . Reward, Lord E. Tyrrell, Sir J. T.
Carter, John R. Jackson, 'William Vane, Lord.H.
Clerk Sir G. Lacy, H. C. Waddington, David
Clive, Henry B. Langston, J. IL: Walter. John
Cobbold, John C. Lemon, Sir Charles Wellesley, Lord C,
Coles, 11. B. Lewis,:Sir T. Wilson, James
Cubitt, William Lewis, G. C. Wrightson, W. B.
Currie, Henry Mahon, O'Gorman Young, Sir John
Dod, J. W. Westerman, John
Douro, Marquis e( Miles, Philip W. S. TELLERS.
Duncembe, 0. Miles,lWilliam Mackinnon, W.
Ebrington, Viscount Neeld, Joseph Cempten, H. C.
Egerton, Sir P. Newport, Visct.

MAJORITY-NOES, 106.
Abdy, T. N. Gaskell, J. M. Ord, W.
Adair, R. Shafto Gibson, T. 31. Osborne, Ralph
Adderley, C. B. Grattan, Henry Palmerston, Vis.
Aglionby, 11. A. Greene, John Pendarves, E. W.
Anderson, Arthur Grenfell, Charles W. Pilkington, James
Armstrong, Sir A. Grey, Ralph W. Raphael, Alexander
Baillie, H. J. Hallyburton, Lord Repton, G. W. J.
Baring, Renry Ilardcastle, J. ♦. Reynolds, John
Berkeley, C. L. G. Muria, Captain Ricardo, J. L.
Illackall, S. W. Hastie, Alexander Rich, Henry
Blewitt,:Reginald Heat!moat, John Russell, F. C.
Bouverie, E. P. Henley, J. W. Scholefleld, William
Boyle, Colonei Hill, Lord Marcus Scropo, G. P.
Brocklehurst, John Hindley, C. Simeon, John
Brotherton, Joseph Hobhouse, Sir John smith, J. Benjamin
Busfelld, W. Horsman, E. Somerville, Sir W.
Childers, J. W. Hume, J. Stansfleld, W. R.
Cobden, Richard Keppel, G. T. Staunton,;Sir G.
Cochrane, A. Kershaw, James Sullivan, Michael
Colebrooke, Sir T. Kildare ;Marquis of Tenison, E. K.
Cowan, Charles King, P. J. Thompson, Colonel
Crawford, W. S. Lascelles, W. S. Thompson, George
Davie, Sir Henry Lindsay, Colonel Thornely, T.
Dawson, T. V. Lushington, Charles Townshend, Captain
Deedes, W. Maitland, Thomas Tillhell, H.
Douglas, Sir C. Matheson, Colonel Villiers, Charles
Duncan, George 3laule, Fox Wall, C. B.
Duncuft, John Mihies, R. Monckton Williams, John
Dundas, Admiral Moffatt, George Willyams, 11.
Dunne, F. P. 3lonsell, William Willoughby, Sir U.
Ellice, Edward Morris, David Wilson, Matthew
Ellis, John Muutz, G. F. Wood, W. P.
Evans, Sir De Lacy Napier,
.Joseph
Ewart, William Norreys, Lord TELLERS.
Forster, Mathew Nugent, Lord Cockburn, Alex.
Fox, Richard M. Nugent, Sir;Percy Wilcox, Brodie
Fox, W. J. O'Connor, Feargus

lI.ABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION (IRELAND) BILL.
Order for Third Reading read; Motion made, and Ques-
tion proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time :"
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at
the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day
six months :"—Question put, " That the word ' now' stand
part of the Question." The house divided :

MAJORITY-AYES, 117.

MINORITY-NOES, 23.

Anstey, Thomas Moore, G. H. Reynolds, Jouh
Barren, Sir 11. Morgan, H. K. Roche, E. B.
Devereux, John T. Nugent, Sir Percy Scully :Francis
Fagan, William O'Brien, J. Sullivan, Michael
Grattan, Henry O'Brien, T. Williams, John
Greene, John O'Connell, J.
Kershaw, James O'Flaherty, Anthony TELLIZI.
M`Cullagh, W. T. Osborne, Ralph O'Connor, Foargus
Meagher, Thomas Pilkington, James Crawford, W. S.

Amendment proposed, in :page 2, line 8, to leave out the
word " September," in order to insert the word June,"
instead thereof : Question put, " That the word ' Septem-
ber' stand part of the Bill." The House divided :