The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-27
Terrible Accident at a PHILADELPHIA
Theatre.
FOURTEEN BALLET GIRLS BURNED--SIY
DEATHS

DEATHS
FIR ON the Philadelphia Press of Monday.
Anacccident of frightiul fatality occurred
at the Continental Theatre, in Walnut
strent, on Saturday night. Since the de-
struction and accompanying casualties of
the National Theatre, some years ago, we
have had no theatrical matters 50 terrible to
recount. A few weeks ago Mr.. William
Wheatley, an old and favorite actor and
manager, leased and re6tted the place. AT
grent expense, he produced the stage edition
of Shakspeare'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
glariDg over the top of the rear scene. Be-
fore they had time to speculate upon it,
number of men in shirt sleeves (stage car.
penters) ran upon the stage, and, while the
confusion grew momentarily,a sharp scream
rang upon the ears of the people, and a wo-
man in ballet costume, with her dress on
fire, emerged from the side scenes, waving
her arms above her head. In moment
she fell into the abyss where the. ship was
riding. AT the same time succession OF
screams ensued. TriDculo suddenly ceased
to joke, and dropped into the waters, while
Stepbano forgot to be drunk, end became
as sober as judge.
The girls were dressing for the ballet.
The dressing rooms adjoin SAMSON street,
and, in dressing room at the northwest
corner of the building the Misses Gale were
adjusting themselves for the ballet for Act
III. Miss leila Gale, one of the sisters,
stood upon a settee to reach her dress, and,
when in the act of handing it down, the
fame of gas from an adjacent tube set it on
fire; the fame communicated to her under
clothes, and she was all ablaze in an instant
Her sisters rushed up to extinguish the fire,
aud they, too, were ignted. The fire
mounted to their arms and breasts, inhicting
terrible burns. Panic stricken, they ran
from the room, through narrow passage.
way, into the next dressing room, filled with
ballet ladies. The light gauze dresses OF
these blazed up directly, and screaming,
struggling, wrestling, the poor creatures
either turned and leaped from the windows
into Sansom street, or ran hither and thith.
er, calling for assistance.
Miss leila Gale, with her clothing on fire
ard uttering loud screams, ran down stairs
and upon the stage, behind the scenes, fall
ing below the stage level, where she was
caught 10 the arms Of Mr.. Thomas Bayard,
the carpenter of the theatre. Mr.. Bayard,
in attempting TO extnguish the fire with
" sea CLOTH" was himself burned acout 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 ire.
Miss Hannah Gale did not jump from the
window until she was badly burned, and
when she fell to the ground upon her back,
and sustained severe injuries from her TALL
as well as from her burns. She was car
red into Greer's tavern, near by, where she
lay 10 an almost hopeless condition at late
hour. On Sunday, at ten O'Clock, she ex>
pired at the hospital, in great agony.
Miss Anna Nichols in her fright jumped
from platform to the stage, distance of
about ten feet. She will not recover.
Miss ABBY Carr was burned about the
breast and waist. Pbebe Forbes died in
the morning at nine o'clock. Miss Anna
Mcbride died at six o'clock in the morning.
Misses Adeline Gale and Ruth Gale are
badly burned. Their cases are not hope.
less. Mrs. Mary f. Hermon will not i've
Her husband watched her up to a late hour
last night. Miss Anna Phillips died during
Sunday afternoon. Kate Harris was burn
ed slightly.
The Misses Gale were young ladies of
progressing appearance. They were ex>
celent dancers, were English by birth, and
they first appeared professionally in this
city in the Ronzani troupe, at the time
Faust" WAS brought out as ballet at
the Academy of Music.
Six of these burned women had died up
to midnight last night, and four more are
not expected to survive the next twenty
four hours. All of them suffered terribly,
calling for water most piteousIy, and main
tanning their senses unimpaired to the last.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley were in the hospi-
tai throughout, ministering to their neces.
sites, and doing all in their power to make
their last moments peaceful. The matter
was purely accidental, and no stigma can
in any way be cast upon the management.