Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-11

A False Alarm of Fire I'm r Cincinnati
Opera-HOuse Causes Panic which
Results In the Death of Several Per-
sons.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Feb 5.
THE allegory of "The Great Republic"
has been upon the stage of Rubinson's
Opera for the past two nights, un-
der the auspices of the Cincinnati Relief
Association. The proceeds were to be ap.
piled to the relief of the suffering poor of
the city. The performers, numbering
nearly 600 children, were taken from the
public schools of the city; and, as the OBJ
iect was a worthy one, and those who took
part children of old residents of the city,
vast audiences were present at each repre-
sentation of the allegory. The weather
this afternoon being propitious and there
being no session of the public schools,
the matinee audience in most part was
composed of women and children.
About half.past two O'Clock, while the
great house was densely packed and the
thousands of children among the audience
were at the height of their endowment,
some boy in the gallery, through mischief
or ignorance, raised the cry of fire, as the
red light from the colored fires used in the
piece flashed out from the wings. Every
inch of the theater was occupied, and the
dense crowd was pressing land surging
about the stair-cases and in front of the
doors. Some one in the audience took up
the cry of fire, and it was re-echoed from
near the door by some one who caught a
glimpse of red glare from the stage. There
was an immediate rush for the front doors.
A child was pushed down the steps and
screamed. Immediately after a man thrust
his arm through awindow, and the scream
and crash were enough to set the panic in
full force.
The scene was terrible one in the mar
row vestibule leading to the street. The
people in the rear, mad with fear, pressed
upon those in front, shouting and ours
ing. Men, terror stricken, struck down
helpless women and children in front, or
climbed over their heads to the top of the
staircase, and precipitatcd themselves
upon the screaming and bleeding mass of
children and women in the hallway.
The scene in and about the Opera
House after the accident was heart-rend-
ing. The news of the catastrophe spread
like wildfire over the city, and from every
direction came people hurrying to the
scene until the squares were impossible
There are many conflicting stories as to
the origin of the panic. The building
was filled, from parquet to gallery, with
dense mass, which not only filled all the
seats and aisles, but crowded the stair
ways, and hundreds were outside seeking
to gain admission. Behind the scenes
were 500 school children, who were to
take part in the performance. When the
false alarm was given the audience be-
came panic. stricken, and a rush was made
for the stairways. Some are said to have
leaped from the balcony upon the crowd
below. The lower circle of the house is
but few steps above the level of the
street, but the steps are narrow, and soon
became blocked by the surging crowd in
side the house. Multitudes were pressing
for the doorway, and in the panic women
and children were overthrOwn and
trampled to death by the panic-stricken
crowd. The scene beggars description.
The alarm rapidly spread throughout the
city, and those who had wives or children
there hurried forward to their rescue.
A few heroic men placed themselves
near the doorway and endeavored to as
sure people there was no danger, and an
effort was made from the stage to check
the mad career of the affrighted audience,
but quiet was not restored until number
were trampled to death and many serious
ly injured. Those able to walk at once
made their way homeward; those more
seriously injured were taken to the Ninth
Street Station house and to the CONNER
cial Hospital, and the dead were gathered
in one of the offices of the Opera House
Up to eight O'Clock tonight the following
had been reported:
| KILLED AND INJURED.
Mrs. Alfred White and her son Harry,
aged twelve; Mrs. Nancy Clark, reported
10 have died from heart disease, caused
by excitement; August and Fred. Loesch,
two brothers, aged eight and ten; Hattie
Leslie, age twelve; James Crowley, age
seven; Anna Mai Rienzi, Of Alton, ILL.,,
who was visiting friends here; Miss
Feronica Massatt, aged Twenty-Five; Mrs.
Henry Kessler suffered severe concus-
sion of the brain, and is reported dead
this evening. One unknown woman dead.
Among the injured are Fred. Strasburg,
Miss Pumphey, Master Harry Bliss, and
a child named COddington.
LATER.
The following additional particulars OF
the disaster have been learned: Carry Uhl
had the base of her skull crushed and
collarbone broken; Mrs. Anna Flood was
hurt in the breast seriously; Mrs. Lyon
was injured internally; and Mrs. White
who was killed, had five children with
her, one of whom was killed, another, the
youngest, was found clasped in her arms
uninjured.
Mrs Rienzi, of Alton, was in the gal
leTy, and was either pushed over the rail
ing or jumped to the floor below, strik
ing on her head.
CINCINNATI, Feb 8
Information tonight from those injured
at the Robinson Opera House, yesterday
Ia faVOrahla Mrs HanrV Kea0lor re
ported dead, is still living and will re
cover. Considerable prominence is giveT
to the report that the alarm was started by
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