Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-28

TERRIBLE yIRF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FOURTEEN BALLET GIRLS sHoCKTNeLY BURN.
E0-NANEs OF TIE DEAD FRiGHIPUL SCENE
IN TIE AUDITORY-THE "TENPE3T" &c;
PHILAprIpHIA Sept l8-An unfortunate accident oc'
CURED the Continental Tbeatre 10 Walnut street, on
Saturday night by which the building for time vas Inn
peried, and number Of darcng girls % bscly blurred
that some have since died WhestJ leased and rshtted
the Continental" formerly General welchs National
Crcus,) and produced the Tempest" on Monday Eight
n splendid style.
On Saturday night more than fffen hundred PEOPLE
were present The first set had gone forward unin,er.
rup edy and the dancers were bufy preparing in the
drsssn groom appear in the ballet the opening OF
&C. second Prospero Wnese abou. retiring from
the stage when the audietc, perceived several men,
p.renty stage carpenters, running backward and fer
ward 10 their ehir sleeves Directly those a6jscent to
the ptage saw young lady all on hre run hurriedy to
the side scenes and az the same lime succession OF
piercing tcresms from imperceptle localities disturb.
ed the rspose Of the audience ard brought half the pee
MA 10 their fett The CRY Of f:e" was started from
the g.lerfs, and the fitting lights and confusion upon
the stage left doubt that s,me awful actusly was
trsnspiring Manager Wbeaey directed ths people TO
be queted while be retired learn the extent Of the
accident.
Il appears that Mics Cecilia one Of four talented and
handsome sister, was about robing hsrss in ballet cos.
tune She stood upon settse TO re,cb her dress aud
SOMEHOW rted IL into st Of gus when IL was Instant
ly gnited. Bfore the young lady could recover from
her fright her clothing was all absze, and her sisters
and several Of the ballet girls from an dressing
ROOM rushing up to assist her, in turn set on h'e
About dozen OF these helpless girls we're thus burning
at once and the fire over their gsur, and among
their underclothss king fast 70 their cos higgins or
"ights" and literally buroing to the bone. Their
screams were thrilling and scene Of horrors that The
stage ever witnessed may be compared 10 the terrible
picture behind the scenes where the ire rem the burn
ing dresses blaze TO the ceiling, and nged the shes
snr hair Of the afrigh'ed women.
Nss Cecilia Gale, srithing and still In himes, darted
down the stairs stated and caught by Mr. Bsyard
stage carpenter who at once tore IN the sea cloth,
ss5t of canvass used 10 mske waves, a"o wrapped IL
around her. He was much buried While doirg tht
TIE young lady was removed to the hopsl coon stei
aar.s
Several girls lesped into the street. through the second
story windows, and Mise Hannah Gale, already badly
burned fill upon the pavemes, bruising her back and
mead 90 that her case is c,nsdered hopeless.
Mss p ODE Eorden, Of Bristol, P hnsy!vania, Inhaled
the flames and fhockugly burned. She was at the
pon. Of death last evening.
Miss Annie Philips dad on Sunday morning.
Miss Anna Mob -ide was burned in he bresst, aims
and legs and tsken to the Pennsylvania Hospital She
suf re1 the excrutiatnc pain during Saturday, nights
but towards morning her dehrium abied, and sne oed
in the arms ef MIs. Whearey.
Miss Annie Nicholas somewba, burned, bu. In the
panic which epsued after the accident che ped from
tie head Of the fes to the ssge-twentyhSe f"e-apd
breaking through lot OF mir ors and plate glass USED 70
rep esen, lake. her hands and cheeks we're lsceratsd
Ruth and Adeline Gale we're burnsd In the hanes and
breast
Ms Mary z. Herman Suffered exceedingly.
Abby Care, Margaret Conway, Thoms Biysrd, Kste
Harrison, ard young nan. name unknown, we're mere
or less badly burned The LAST nsmed inhaled the fire
and bis lungs have since been bleeding.
Toe audience meanwhile IVES addressed by Mr. Wheat-
lev and told TO vscste the houss without unnecessary
confusion. number Of ladies' ained on retiring ard
there IVES great deal of rep.daticn and alarm In the
balls and exit way.
The scene in the rear Of the theatre Samson street.
vas most pitecus and agonizrg in is Character. 9lt
dressed ballet girls up and down. aid poor women,
whose daughters took part 10 the procession ard show
scenes were screaming their names amid confus sob
bing txecraiion and fear. Carriages and cabs we're
driven up and down. and each srrsr was placed upon
the cushions and taken away the crowd pressed up aid
touched her sores
The excitement continued to rpresd throughout the
city end all Situriay night aud Sandny morning the
theatre was surrounded by curious croWds The Gale
sisters were beautiful aud finely formed gill, English by
BIRTH aud they travelled through the county, some time
ago with the Rer z,ni troupe. The management cannot
be blamed 10 any way for the Toe theatre
will open a. usual on Tuesday, ADD on "Wednesday the
sufferrs will receive bsntf. The event has spread
gloom and sorrow throughout the city.
TIE telegraph has announced the death Of the sIh Of
the suderers-one Of the Misses Gale.