The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-06-15

BURNING OF RUSSIAN THEATRE.-Recent
English papers give an account of the burning of
theatre at ST. Petersburgh which occasioned a
terrible destruction ofhuman life. The fire broke
out behind the scenes and the director of the the
atre ordered the curtain at the back of the stage
to be drawn up, that every one might be. aware
of the imminence OF the danger. Thick smoke
and flames poured out toward the body OF the
house. Laughter was suddenly turned into
pallid fear, and shrieks of horror burst from the
bosoms of thousands, who but now had been
convulsive with mirth. Grasping what was
dearest to them ,all rushed towards the outlets.
These were too few for the magnitude of the
theatre; and II was very slowly that the fore
most made way for those behind them. So
much the more rapidly did the fla mes commu-
ncate to the resinous Fir planks, and quickly
advancing from scene TO scene, they soon pen
etrated to the body of the theatre still swarm
ing with people. AS ill-luck would have it,
one of the large folding doors at the entrance,
which opened inwards, had in confusion been
accidently pushed to and resisted all efforts TO
force ii either from without or within. Thus
only half of the main entrance was available
for escape in this critical moment, and the
retreat of the audience was of course proper
tionally delayed. The police would not at
first suffer private individuals to render assis-
lance, that they might keep the conduct of the
business to themselves. A tradesman, never
theless, contriyed with a spade to break down
a board on one sida OF the theatre, and to drag
six half suffocated persons out of this hare-
GUMS hell, through the aperture, with i'm
minent peril of his own life. The Emper-
or rewarded the worthy man with an order,
and, as he was poor, with pension of 1000
rubles.i
Meanwhile the people in the street, as may
be supposed, became aware that the matter was
no joke. The fearful tidings soon spread through
the city that Lemaun's Theatre was OH fire and
that thousands of persons in it were likely 10
perish.
1t is impossible to conceive the consterna-
ton and despair that seized all st. Pelersburgh.
There was not a family, one or more whose
members among the wretched sufferers. When
the Emperor, on the first news of the fire, has
tened from the Winter Palace to the spot, wo-
men ran up to HIM and cried, "Sir, savel save!
My son is amongst them! My husband is there
My brother is not yet out"
Children, replied the Emperor, "Iwill save
all can"
When the fire was over-when the flames
and life Were extinct, and all lay within q
burning and charred heap-the melancholy
uuSiuCoo VI uCd0 dS
| The sight is said to have been beyond all idea
narrowing and appalling, when, on clearing
away the timbers which had fallen in, the
mass of bodies was gradually discovered. They
were pulled one by one with the hooks; some
were completely carbonized, Others roasted like
chesnuts; many with glazed eyes, burned hair
and charred faces, had on their holyday clothes
and decorations. which the flames had moi
reached, on account of the close pressure oil
the throng. These presented far more repul
sive spect acle than those which were entirely
burned. In one part of the building, which
the flames had spared were found dense masse.
of bodies, still standing upright, like host o.
shades from the neither world. A female wa.
\ found with her head hanging over the gallery
and holding her hand and handkerchief before
her face. A gentleman who witnessed toe
operation of clear ing away the bodies, told mt
! that he could not touch food for three days, SC