Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-05-16
SHOCKING FIRE-300 LIVES LOST.

SHOCKING FIRE-300 LIVES LOST.
English papers bring US the following
account Of the burning of a Theatre at ST.
Petersburg, and an awful destruction Of
life:-
The fire broke out behind the scenes,
and the director Of the theatre ordered the
curtain at the back to be drawn up, that
every one might be aware Of the imrni-
hence of the danger. The Smoke and
flames poured out toward the body Of the
house. Laughter was suddenly turned in
20 palid fear, and shrieks Of horror burst
frorn the bosoms Of thousands, who but
now had been conyulSed with mirh.
Grasping what was dearest to tLem, all
rushed towards the outlets
These were too few for the magnitude
Of the theatre, and it was very slowly
that the foremost made way for those be-
hind them. So much the more rapidly did
the flames communicate TO the resnous fir
planks, and quickly advancing from scene
to scene, they soon penetrated into the body
Of the theatre; still swarming with people
As i'll luck would have it. one Of the fold
ing doors at the entrace, which opened in
ward, had, in the confusion, been aceiden-
tally pushed to, and resisted all efforts TO
open it. Thus only half Of the main en-
trance was available for escape in this
critical moment, and the retreat of the au-
dicnce was, Of course, roPogtionabIy de.
layed.
The police would not at first suffer pri.
vate individuals TO render assistance. that
they might keep the conduct OF the busi-
ness 10 themselves. 4 tradesman, never
;hoiess, contrived, with a spade, TO break
Gown a beard on one side Of the theatre.
and to drag sixty hai'-sufocated persons
out Of this harljquin's hell through the ap-
erture, with imminent peril Of his life.
The Emperor Nicholas rewarded the
worthy man with an order. and, al he was
poor, with a pension Of 5000 rlbles.
Meanwhile, the people in the street, as
may be supposed, became aware that the
matter was no joke. The fearful tidings
soon spread throughthe city that L.hmon's
Theatre was on fire, and that thousands Of
persons in it were likely to perish. 1t is
impossible to conceive the CONSERVATION
and despair that seized all PetersbIrgh.-
There was not a family one or more Of
whose members might be amongthe wretch
ed sufferers. When the Emperor. on the
first news of the fire, fastened from the
Winter Palace to the spot, woman run
up TO him and cried, "Save. save, save!-
My son is among them! and my husband
is therel My brother is not out yetr'-
"Children," replied the Emperor, :" | will
save all can"
When the fire was over, when the flames
and life were extinct, and all who were
within layburned and charred heap,
melancholy bust ness of removing the dead J
was commenced. The sight is said to be
beyond all idea narrowing and appalling
when on clearing away the timbers when
had fallen in,the mass Of bodies was gradu-
ally discovered. They were pulled out
once by one with hooks;some were carbon
lied, others roasted like chesnuts; many
had onle the hair Of the head singed ;manv |
with glazed eyes, burned hair, and charred |
faces had on their ho,yday clothes and
decorations which the flames had not reach
ed. on account of the close pressure Of the
throng.
These presented a far more rcpJlSIve spectacle !
than those which were entirely burned In that
part of the building which the flames bad spared,
were found dense masses of bodies still standing
upright like ghosts or shades from the neither
world. \ female was found with her head hang
ing over the gallery, and holding her hand and her
handkerchief before her face. A gentleman who
witnessed the operation of clearing away the bod
es told he could not touch food for three days,
30 trightful were the images that had necessarily
haunted him afterwards, and lady who had look
I'd in from distance, shocked that she be-
came delirious, and raved for several days both
sleeping and waking.
The number of the victims was subse-
}uentIy stated officially 10 be 800; bat a
person told me that he counted with his
own eyes 80 carts, each Of which contain
ID from 10 10 Is bodies. People who pre-
end to know from good authority. repre-
ented The number as so large that dare
lot repeat it last others might think the a
'mount too improbable.
Robert Dale Owen has been put in nom
nation for member of Congress, from the
irst Congressional District in Indiana.