The sun., 1861-09-17
Frightful Catastrophe in Phila-
delphia,


We gave yesterday morning tho trsgical re-
suit OF tho accident in the Continental Theatre,
Philadelphia. The Gdsete brings the following
particulars
On one side Of the dressing room, occupied by
the four principal dancers hung mirror with
a gas bracket bcsid" il. The girls stand upon
chairs before IT, and arrange their drapery.
Upon nail nearest 10 the right Of tho mirror,
Miss Ruth Gale had hung a tarletan dress that
she now desired to wear. She is short in stature,
and was obliged TO reach far to take il down.
In doing this the airy dnpery was ignitod by
the gas bracket, was consumed like cObweb
and, in second, the garments upon the persor
| OF tho unfortunate girl were wrapped in lire
| Shrieking with dismay and terror she ra I
into the outer dressing room, communicat.
| ing flame as she passed TO tho crowd Of pani,
stricken girls, and To the garments that plenti
fully Uttered tho tables and chairs. Her sister
Zela first ran To her, and was in turn wrapped Ia
flames she then ran precipitately down stairs Il
{ 10 stage, where she was caught up by tho stage
oupenter, Thomas Blyard, at the moment tho
lrtain dropped, aud wrenching up the ''sea
9TH ho rolled .her in il, extinguishing the
Il mos.
Miss Hannah Gale leaped from a Sc ,ond story
window into San on street She was lrenLicd
by pain, and entirely unaware Of the peril she
was encountering. Sho descended upon her
back and suil red more from the conclusion
than from her burns.
The lives of five of the young ladies, in the
opinion # the physicians, wcro saved by Mr..
James Milliken, who CHANGED 90 bc among the
audience, and occupied AN orchestra scat. d.
yning the cause Of the panic behind the scenes,
lac sprang upon the stage, and in space of time
Incredibly brief he had procured quantity Of
raw cotton, limo water and insccd oil, and had
cnvclOped in the soothing application the fright
iul injuries scared into the flesh Of the poor girls
Al. 4. a
istering 10 the sixth girl when medical aid ar
rived, ard the application was then continued to
them all.
Several Of tho girls were taken to the house
Of Zacharah G. Robbins, in Sansom street, op-
posite the rear Of the theatre. At Grear's IA
loon every bed in the house was given up to the
sufferers. How badly the poor girls suffered
cutting away tho tights and corsets from sever
al Of them the crisped skim like the she'll of the
lobster came with their garments. The names
Of all are HI follows
Hannah Gale, aged twenty, dead.
Ruth Gale, aged fourtoen, burned, but not
dangerously.
Adelne Galo, aged eighteen, dead.
Iela Gale, aged sixteen, badly burned.
Anna Mcbride, dead.
Mrs. Herman, dead
Anna Nichols, slightly burned.
Anna Phillips, dead.
Kate Harrison, slightly burned.
Phubc Foilen, aged twenty, dead.
Abby Carr, badly burned.
Two young ladies belonging 20 the ballet were
burned, but not seriously.
By morning all the victims Of the tragedy
were removed TO the hospital. Hannah Gale
had lain at Grcar's saloon. Soon after she was
brought there her pain ceased-the result OF in
ward modification. She was entirely tranquil,
and calmly asked those present to read the Bible
TO her. An init mate friend, Miss Annie Wilks,
spent some time with her reading the sacred
book. For herself she had no approhensons,
but for her sisters and her mother she felt keen
anxiety. Anna Mcbride died first. Her mind
wandered shortly after her reception at the hos
pital and at sG o'clock death removed her 70
the land Of spirits. Miss Phillips was the next
to 90. At one o'clock the messenger camo and
she expired, in the full possession Of her iacul-
tics, glad to be released from suilerngs which
worls utterly tail to give description Of
llann,h Gale died at three o'clock. \ death
bed moe solemn yet less mOumlul, Is seldom
zen. The Gale sisters have liyed--so say
everybody who know them-a blameless life.
l.uss selhshness In circle OF sisters, perhaps,
was never known. Hannah during her last m =
mcnts manifested degree Of resignation tCO
sublime 10 result from anything but sustaining
grace. She declared the lie who had been her
strength in life, was now supporting her as the
veil hetween liie and eternity grew thin. The
dying girl coIveIsed rs few people would sup
pose her capable OF conyersing, and as the last
bTeath1 flutteTed upon her lips, the name oi
her Saviour was pronounced with II, Ihc
Misses Gale were the sole support ol theiI
mother.
Mrs. Herman, who appeared in the ordinary
ballet. expired about four O'Clock. She came
from Richmond but a few weeks ago, and leaves
a Young babo 70 the tender mercies OF the
world. ,.,.,,..
a. =