Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-02-11

screamed. Immediately after man thrust
his arm through window, and the scream
and crash was 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 precipitated 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 10 the
scene until the squares were impossible.
There are many conflicting stories as to
the origin of the panic. The building
was filled, from parquct to gallery, with
dense mass, which not only filed 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 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 chill
dren there hurried forward to their res
cue 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
~ 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
to 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, H.,
who was visiting friends here; Miss
Feronica Massatt, age twenty two; 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
child named Coddington.
LATER.
The following additional particulars of
the disaster have been learned: Garry Uhl
had the base of her skull crushed, and
collar bone 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
lery, and was either pushed over the rail
ing or jumped to the floor below, striking
on her head.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 6.
Information tonight from those in
jured at the Robinson Opera House, yes
y Il r