The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-12-14

that pieces of the canvass, oat of which
trees, etc, are made, was broken from
its fasienings, AID hung from the flies
Immediately over one OF the border
lights near the center of the stage
The canvass had begun to shoulder and
the paint on il to crack, and the carpea
ter was directed to ascend to ono of the
grooves and remove the dangerous OBJ
ject. He could barely reach it with his
hand, and he drew it hastily mp. The
rapid motion through the air, OF the hall
iguited and highly inhammable canvass
caused it to burst out IN fame, which
rapidly spread to the adjoining material
and equally susceptible. All efforts to
extinguish the flames were aborlive, and
the carpenter had TO retire to save his
own life. The scene IN the galleries
after the alarm was raised, is decribed
as something horrible even 10 contem.
plate. Up TO noon to-day three hundred
and fifteen bodies had been removed !; OF
these fifty-nlne have been Unidentified
some by the remnants of clothing re-
naming, others by watches, chains and
such articles, but few by their features
The actors, Clude Burroughs and Har-
~ S. Murdoch, are among the identifi.
ed.
A. NJ. Palmer, one of the lessees OF
the theatre, gives the following state
ment of number of persons in the thea
ire Tuesday evening 405 persons IN the
upper gallery, 800 persons in the dress
circle, $50 persons in the parquette, II
actors, speaking people, 20 supes, 10
stage hands, 2 musicians. Total, LOIS
or including dressers and other subordi-
mates, 1850 persons.
At tho investigation which the fire
marshal is making, John Lyons testiG-
ed that he was in the gallery, and first
saw the fire through crack in the scene
on the left hand side of the stnge. 1t
was quito large flame when | heard
the cry of fire. My friend and called
him back again and we sat down, but
only for minute. / dropped over the
banisters at tho head of the stairs /;
When got up policeman tried to push
me back +; several others jumped on top
of me the stairs were crowded then,
and the police tried to keep the crowd
back; there was also a crowd down
ahead Of me, but met with no further
obstruction, not half of the people had
got out of the gallery ct the time | left,
there, was nothing to indicate the break
ing OF the stairs when | came down the
people were panic stricken, and were
fallen on each other; there were very
few women.
The following testimony was taken
by the fire marshal:
John Boyle was in the gallery ct the
time of the fire, AID said that when the
alarm was given all made rush. About
one hundred got out before he did. He
first saw it in the flies, over tho stage,
and the cry of fire was raised behind.
Mr.. Murdoch went to the ioot-lights and
requested all to be seated. He saw 9TH
ers sit down again, and saw flakes Of fire
falling on tho stage. He thought it was
in the play, but got up and went out
when it increased some ono fell, and
then twenty-five or thirty fell over him.
A rush of fire and smoke then camc
like whirlWind.
JUN luTUcT, al oiu uIChdui saiu
"Look out for your lives. The place is
all ablaze." The people were panic
stricken and cried out that the stairs
were falling behind them, they begged
some one for Gods sake to let them out;
did not see the stairs fall thought not
moro than seventy.Eve people from the
gallery got out there were perhaps fiji
ty woman in the gallery; Turner was
buried to-day; Charles Adams was IN
tho dress circle, first saw the fire in the
scenery on the left hand corner of the
stage from the audience; it was then
that the cry of fire was given, aud all
started on rush tor the doors ted the
people to keep quiet, and they did so
MIR. Studley then said, "Go, and go
quickly )" they then rushed out and |
got knocked down, but got up again
and took out lady who was with me;
saw several Ladies knocked down in
the parQuette and others in the vesti-
bule. There was even flash of fire to
The ticket Office from the dress circle
front entrance. The people were ali in
4 panic! women were knocked down
and tho crowd rushed over them.
think if the audience had been requested
10 leave quietly when the fire first broke
out, they could have been saved. There
might have been trouble in the gallery.
don't think all the people got out of
he dress circle. The place was very
not when | left. l did not hear any
stairs break, but beard the fire cracking
IN the stage.
Mr.. Richardson was in the gallery we
Jaw men with poles trying TO pull the
ire down sparks were then falling; the
actors tried to quiet tho audience and
some sat down q moment; panic ensu
ID and all rushed for the door; there
vas mass of people there when l got
o the door; in going down the first
light all were pushing but on their feet;
he lights were up at the first landing |
rear the box Office the lights went out
md man fell and fell on top of him
hen it seemed that all who followed fell
IN that heap; the place was dark and
-olumes of smoke came up; / was on
ny face but was familiar with the stairs
md got out and went down; there was
10 baluster or hand rail. Hooked back
rom the street, but saw no one coming /
ut; don't think any one got down
rom the gallery after me. They were
II piled up in heap on the first land
no. From the street near the box Of /