New-York tribune., 1876-12-07

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tho poekets of the dead. Nothing to be seen on
tho oor but biack and distorted corpses, resembling
6gures cut from coal more than the bodies OF what
! were once human bcr gs. Most of the dead were
| men there being only i've six women. The only
wav of recognizing most OF the bodies was by
ieweIry the clothing being burnt so that the color
eoud not be asceriained. One man was identified
| Inv his watch and cham. another by gold neck
stud, &c.
One of the first that was positively identified was
p. II. Gcary, 10 years Of age, Of No. 10f Presi-
dentist lie wore upon his left breast fine gold
badge of membership of tho 69th Regiment OF New
York. This however, was the only mark upon the
remains that could have led to their Identification.
Every part of his body was burned to crisp and
his hair was singed off close to his head His cloth
ing was burned and torn and his limbs were man
rled by the falling bricks and mortar.
As one of the dead wagons, filled with tho bodies
of the victims, was driven up to the Morgue, one of
the bodies Immediately was recognized as that of
Nicholas Kelley of Red Hook, n. J. He was only 20
wears of age and was brother of Father Kelley,
vell-known Brooklyn priest. The young man was
on visit to his brother it was said, and decided 10
visit the Brooklyn Theater to see the 1.-TWO Or
phans" Several saw him after the cry of fire had
been raised in the theater, and it was believed that
he had saved himself by early fight. 1t proved,
however, that he became entangled in the panic
stricken mass.
One of the bodies that was nearly burned beyond
all resemblance of humanity was at length identi-
fed rs that of John Turner of No. 1876 Jay-st. Tur-
nor was butcher. and the only support of family
of seven persons. In his pockets found $l4S,
which was handed over to Coroner Sims. j. Z. Me-
Kinney of No. 81 Jay-st and two young ladies'
came TO the Morgue and identified Turner. Nc
Kinney was in tho gallery in company with Turner
and John Boyle when the theater took fire. J1e
said: "The first that heard Of any trouble was n
confused noise in the rear of the gallery near the
doors was sitting in the front and my whole
attention was absorbed by the play. Then be-
fore | could see any fire ] heard some
body say, the theatcr is on fire. Look ont
for Yourselves A moment aftcrward another per-
son cried Shut up; there Is no fire. Everybody
in the gallery had risen and was rushing for the
doors in a solid mass. The panic so great that
mon caught hold of those nearest them and stripped
their clothing from their backs. The pressure be-
came so great that it did not seem if there was
apyayenue of escape for Turner Boyle and myself
drew ourselves up the side of the gallery and at
length succeeded in getting out into the passage
way As soon as got into the crowd did not need
TO use any excrtion at all. | was borne along by
the Others who were pressing behind, and could not
abcck my ranid descent even after il became
Dcasant BOYLE shouted, where is TuTnerP Oh,
am all right exclaimed Turner in reply you go
ahead and save yourselves an llright aud VIII meet
you outside In moment Boyle leaped upon the rail-
ing and dropped into the wellhole beside the stair
way. was carried down stairs safely and out into
the open air. believed that Turner bad saved him
self, but had aftcrward become separated from MS
in the crowd after We got outside the thcater. |
WAS very much surprised 20 learn that Turner had
lost his life. He was q generous, large-hearted
man. and must have gone back 10 attempt to save
some unfortunate person who called 10 him for help.
cannot say whether the stairs fell IN or not. !
know tina. all IN the gallery not killed for there
were 30 or 80 who escaped at the same time that !
did. portion OF those who were III the family cir
Gle reached the street, but many were cut of from
their means Of exit By the crowd
Many women whose daughters did not return to
their homes m was expected on Tuesday night,
visited the Murgue in the expectation that they
might have gone 10 the Brooklyn Iheater and been
mado victims Of the disaster. Every female body
wa, examined but none answered the descriptions,
and one after another hurried away TO the i'm
proviscd Morguc in Adaws-st. Matilda Ward and
her husband young couple. each 22 or % years Of
age were both destroyed ia the theacr. They had
occupied seats in the family circle and cndcayOrcd
to escape with the crowd when the alarm of fire was
given. In attempting to SAFE the life OF hls wife.
the husband lost his life with her. The wiics body
WAS takon 10 the Morguc, and laie yesterday after
noon was identified by her relatives by some peculiar
ornament. found upon her person Her face was
charred aud burned beyond scmhlancc of \ human
being and one of her hands was reduced to charcoal
Richard Curran, - years of age, Of No 10 Jay
st. was one Of those who haf early and secured
a front seat il the gallery His escape was COM
petcly cut of by the pauic-strckcn crowd, ana M
IL. H.. Il .f-.,H. .frtf.,
the parquel. HIS father is lighter man, and the
son assisted him in that work. When the body OF
the son was identified il was that his legs were
fractured. This probably was occasoncd by his
leap into The parquct. Then being crippled by the
fall he was unable 20 move.
4 medical gentleman stated that the position of
nearly all the bodies indicated that mighty struc-
QIe WAS going on when death overlook them. Arms
were HeXrd and hands clenched and III the act OF
pushing. Knees were bent and legs drawn up as
tbourb lighting OFF some advancing, Oycrp0wcring
foe. Whether this was caused By the pressure Of
the crowd or the falling debris or even the heat of
the flames could not be told. 1t was the general
opinion nevertheless. that some portion OF the
building gave way, prccipitating the crowd into the
flames below. Tho rapid fall Of the roof that fol-
lowed buried those who escaped the other catas-
trophe.
Among these who came to identify the bodies wero
many colorcd people. The portion of the family
circle set apart for colorcd persons had beon filled
and from it, situation few if any, had been able to
escape. 1t was very difficult to distinguish the re-
mains of a white man from those of coored person.
The lips and hair if any had been left, were about
the only different features.
John Cozlett 90 years of age, of No. l40 Prince
ST. also had been of the occupants OF the front
row of tho gallery on the night of the fire. He fell
.-... O., tb.. f,rv of rho flames and the panic and