The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-04 00:00:00

THE TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE

PHILADELPHIA THEATRE.

The Philadelphia Press, describing more fully the acci-
dent, of which an account has already appeared, says
" An accident of frightful fatality occurred at tho
Conti-
nental Theatre, in Walnut-street, on Saturday night.
Since the destruction and accompanying casualties of the
National Theatre, some years ago, we have had no
theatrical matters so terrible to recount. A few weeks
ago, Mr. William Wheatley, an old and favourite actor
and manager, leased and refitted the place. At great
expense he produced the stage edition of Shakespeare's
Tempest,' and devoted unusual means to perfecting the
scenic and mechanical arrangements. The ballet corps
was numerous. All at once those accustomed to witness-
ing show pieces saw an unnecessary light glaring over the
top of the rear scene. Before they had time to speculate
upon it, a number of men iu shirt sleeves (stage carpen-
ters) made their appearance, and, while the confasioa
grew momentarily, a sharp scream rang upon the ears cf
the people, and a woman in ballet costume, with her dress;
on fire, emerged from the side scenes, waving her arcs
above her head. In a moment she fell into the abyes
where the ship was riding. At the same time a suc-
cession of screams ensued. Trinculo suddenly ceased is
joke, and dropped into the water, while Stephen° forgot to
be drunk, and became as sober as a judge. The girls were
dressing for the ballet. Tho dressing-rooms adjoin Samsun
street, and in one at the north-west corner of the building
the Misses Gale were adjusting themselves for the balks
for Act 11. Miss Zelia Gale, one of the sisters, stood upon
a settee to reach her dress, and when in the act of handinc
it down, the flame of gas from an adjoining tube set it oz
fire. The flames communicated to her under-clothes, and
she was all ablaze in au instant. Her sisters rushed up tc
extinguish the fire, and they, too, were ignited. The fire
mounted to their arms and breasts, inflicting terrible burns,
Panic-stricken, they ran from the room, through a narrow
passage way, into the next dressing-room filled with ballet
ladies. Tho gauze dresses of these blazed up directly, and,
screaming, struggling, wrestling, the poor creatures either
turned and leaped from the windows into Samson-street, or
ran hither and thither calling for assistance. Miss Zelia Gale
with her clothing on fire, and uttering loud screams,ran down.
stairs and upon the stage, behind the scenes, falling below the
stage level, where she was caught in the arms of Mr. Thos.
Bayard, the capenter of the theatre. Mr. Bayard, in at-
tempting to extinguish the fire with a ' sea cloth,' was him-
self burned about the hands and arms. Miss Clara Clifton
was caught in the arms of the bystanders, having leaped
down and escaped unhurt, her clothing not having taken
fire. Miss Hannah Gale did not jump from the window
until she was badly burned, and when she leaped she fell to
the ground upon her back, and sustained severe injuries
from the fall as well as from her burns. She was carried
into Greer's tavern, near by, where she lay in an almost
hopeless condition at a late hour. On Sunday, at 10 o'clock,
she expired at the hospital, in great agony. Miss Anna
Nicholls, in her fright, jumped from a platform to the stage,
a distance of about 10 feet. She will not recover. Miss
Abby Carr was burned about the breast and waist. Phebe
Forbes died in the morning at nine o'clock ; Miss Anna
M'Bride died at six o'clock in the morning. Misses Ade-
line Gale and Ruth Gale are badly burned ; their cases are
not hopeless. Mrs. Mary E. Hermon will not live. Her
husband watched her up to a late hour last night. Mrs.
Anna Phillips died during Sunday afternoon. Kate Harris
was burned slightly. The Misses Gale were young ladies
of prepossessing appearance. They were excellent dancers.
They were English by birth, and they first appeared pro-
fessionally in this city in the Romani troupe at the time
Faust' was brought out as a ballet at the Academy of
Music. Six of these burned women had died up to mid
hour last night, and four more are not expected to survive
the next 21 hours. All of them suffered terribly, calling
for water most piteously, and maintaining their senses
unimpaired to the last. Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley were in
the hospital throughout, ministering to their necessities,
and doing all in their power to make their last moments
peaceful. The matter was purely accidental, and no
stigma can in any way bo cast upon the management."
The following additional particulars are from the Phila-
delphia North Anterican :—" Hannah Gale had lain in
Greer's saloon. Soon after she was brought there her pain
increased, the result of inward mortification. She was en-
tirely tranquil, and calmly asked those present to read the
Bible to her. An intimate friend, Miss Annie Wilkes, spent
some time with her reading the sacred book. For herself
she had no apprehensions, but for her sisters and her
mother she felt keen anxiety. Anna M'Bride died first.
Her mind wandered shortly after reception at the hospital,
and at, 6 o'clock death removed her to the land of spirits.
Miss Phelps was the next to go. At one o'clock the mes-
senger came, and she expired in the full possession of her
faculties, glad to be relieved from sufferings which words
utterly fail to give a description of. Hannah Gale died at
3 o'clock. A deathbed more solemn, yet less mournful, is
seldom seed. The Gale sisters have lived—so says every-
body who knew them—a blamelss life. Less selfishness in.
a circle of sisters, perhaps, was never known. Hannah,
during her last moments manifested a degree of resignation
too sublime to result from avthing but sustaining grace.
She had lived a blameless life, and dying, she declared that
He who had been her strength in life was now supporting
her as the veil between life and eternity grew thin. The
dying girl conversed as few people would suppose her cap-
able of conversing, and as the last breaths fluttered upon
her lips, the name of her Saviour was pronounced with it."

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