The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1875-05-07
SEEING 4 TRAGEDY.

SEEING 4 TRAGEDY.
Some thirty ysars Ago. tosl little one
~itA Ne 10 90 the xsAad CAristmAs pee
a theatre Aaadreds " mil~s away from
h~rc--ior theatres ss~n so me 70 bs All
much 4 maehness. whilc tks people IL
cns are about The same - The pssrls il an.
other. 4 piece of some kinl ~As being
performed, bat, after listening Tor = fcw
minutes. my ansMory took me back 10 the
old scene when | wsnt 10 - 1 comedy
which turned out 70 Le the moss fearful
tragedy ! ever looked upon.
Il ~as ~ ,sec~l,ngly fall night q the
theatre. and though we reached the doors
In pretty good time. ~ wers after great
many mers. and had TO 80 slowly up tho
great corkscrcw staircase. crowded With
good.tempercd people. laughing and push-
ing their way ur. Twice over l fslt dis.
posed 70 give itap, but I thought The child
woald be ~ disappointed. and | kept on,
taking her upon my hack At Last. when the
cro~d,ng was wone. and NJ last getting
PAST tho pay barrier. snl hurrying up the
endless Ascps.
There wAa regular ssa of heads before
mo when stool 1T last looking for I "a.
vorALlo spot; IN r,.a iinainx that taking 4
cot ius..nl see.ns nolAin: Of tbs perform.
ance. continued 10 wedge my way along
between two rows os s.ata occupied ly p.N-
rla loud IN their pro.vst.tioax that thogc
was no room. til foun.. = standing place
In front q one Of thu stoa, support. j, tic
upper Eallcry--a pillar that / have a.aay.
thought VI s.ncs - the saving VI NY iiss.
Iam not gang 10 iiscuss whether tho.
atrcs aro good Or lad places. but | Laow
that night tho greatest onioymcnt I had
wss IL watching my little g,rls animated
-~nnf..nanr. ~ h.- sycs rustca upon the
handsome chandelier. now uIoa III. Loa,s
full of well.drcAsol people. then half.,leuc.
INK with delight II I'll, strain. tso.a ID. OF.
chcstrA; while her delight bor.lcr.l aln,o.,
uron excitement when the curtain dsvw Mp
and snowy piccs was performed.
Hundreds mus. hAy. Lcsu TUNED fYyvu
the doors that night. Tor. cxecptin: Ia tho
principal rAsts Of tho house. sacrc Us not
standing roo,a. while the heat Was fright.
ful. IN our poor parl 81 tn h,use va had
Lcen wclsci In TIL ihorc was NOT vacant
spot 10 b. sccn. while between tho ac,s tho
inen aud women. with tleV basket. os Ap.
pies and orAn.cs. can,c forcing their way
through. and always terribly angry with
me. ~ s.ool lcaniny AgAins, my pillar,
for being In their way.
All 1t cnco turned sll AZ = cold shivsr.
and than the blood sscmod TO run back 70
my heart. while my hAnds wers vet with
persriration, for quito plialy had smelt
slaat unmistakaLle odor of burning wood.
] looked about me, al ~As A. Il should be--
people were eating. drinking and laughing.
tho curtain waa down, and thu orchestra
sending out ils lively strains.
Fancy" thought 10 myso.f, aad /
lsansd back against my pillar once more.
rssting my hands upon .ny chilis shoul.
dsrs. - we stood there. exactly opposite
The center Of tho stage. and consequently
- far from tho doors - possible. while TIE
recollection of that tremendous corkscrsv
staircase made mo shuddsr again; and.
fancy Or no fancy. took hold u the child's
ar,u. uasAning 70 force myself through The
crowd aud get out.
Once | nearly stArts.l. but Assitascd.
thinking how disappointed she would b %
leave when the best part u the perform.
ancs was 70 come; twice wAs goinv, and
- h.sitstod for about Ave minutes Just
long enough 10 euable mo % rw.eh ths
staircase aud begin running down. Just
..se a.inn.as AMI tl.ra, sa.clling thu Are
snsN ..safe. er.saea n shlid's Arm. sAid.
",ta'ie .lea~s, anl hai la.lc two stops.
va#H ssv INT | ~ss tn l4sr. and dashed
la:h ID enars ils.t 40 4 i nluut. bufvrv
Is ths fll.a,.
Mn | cal Il ireaeN's u and, 10 fru
III Icing considered vain, III. ~, Air,
that. il vis.aed ~ save my lnlia's ht,,n
rlAe. was !. that r.!las sn ths center, fsr |
kncw the people would rush right and lcia
towards tho doors at The drst Alaru,.
And now. what nlsdo me start back 7
Why. the sight q several people hunying
toward the door; 81 one here and another
thsrc starting up and looking anxiously
around. ~ II aware of coming danger, Il
people whispering together. aud anzious
fsccs besinniny % show among thoss which
snilcd. Then cAmsa dsaA pasas the band
Asd ceased playing. and tbs musicians ~<rs
hurrying ont through the door bsssAth tho
stage. ursctt,ng thc.s Ausss.slalada - they
wsnA still. people did not move. but
seemed wondering. till right u tho TOP
above tho curtain there vas : faint 6ash Il
light. and ) tiny wrsathof faint blue slnoke.
whss shrek. which rang through the
whole plArs. VA h1Asl-ths most horrible.
dsspairtas cry ever hsAsd--s cry which
actcl like shcct u every scul prs~ont.
md unlocked shsir voicss Tor. baioro tho
syc had seen another Dash ths whole au.ii.
snes VA afoot. shriskinx. yelling. and