Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-08
VOL. LXXVU.
The Brooklyn Theatre Fire.

Theatre:
When the alarm Of lire Erst rang through
the house there vas momentary pause Of
horror, the people crowded in the galleries
seemed to feel the hopelessness of their posi-.
ton, and the bravest hearts were momentarily
stilied. For moment stupor seized all minds,
but tor moment only, and vas succeeded by
traGtio impulse to escape. Men and women
rose With a cohmon instinct TO flee Each one
thought ony of himself, the strong deserted
the weak, and sudden as thought men and
women were serambling for the doors. In
some hearts the better and nobler nature as.
serted itself, and men who had deserted lriends
under the first selfish impulse, rushed back to
save those they loved 1t was terrible mo-
ment, the danger which had only threatened
was now upon the unfortunate mass crowded
toto the dress and family circles-somc seven
hundred aod fifty souls all told. The spark of
lire from the flies which had caused the first
terror had moved steadily and serpent-!ike till
It had reached the wings, moving with the
stealth and Gspldisy ol a beast Of prey. Then
suddenly seizlug on the scenery, it enyeloped
the stage 10 4 sheet Of flame. This WAS the
END Of hope.
What each one had feared bad come, and
there rose from tl:, trapped and heightened
mass Of humanity cry Of despair and horror
That was heard outside the wall of the theatre
and called 70 the scene the police, who we're
fortunately within easy reach.
The scene 10 he galleries BOW became ter
rible. Nlen rushed hther and thither, not
knowing Whist they were about. All sense Of
humanity was lost 10 the one absorbing thought
oi reaching the stars Men and women jump
I'd from seat to seat, not stopping to pick up
those that fell The fight ior life was begun.
Behind. the craokl.ng flames had seized upon
:he stage and were rapidly advancing through
the house. Huge clouds OF sutfocatiog smoke
iioatcd inward, and filled every nook and cram
ny, rendering breathing almost impossible.
'ihere was no tins to De lost. Every instant
seemed ao age 10 the agonized Hreiches who
struggled at the doors to reach the outlet.
Women screamed and taiLted. and strong men
struggled desperately 10 that awful crush.
At last the stairs were reached, aud those
who had been lucky enough to get to them first
poured down to the corridor Oft dress circle.
For moment the stream flowed freely, bnt
the crowd behiod pressed GU fieroely- The
lire behind was growing more intense and the
smoke binding The occupants Of the family
circle, descending by tho stairs that led to the
vestibule of the dress circle, which promised
the best means Of escape. were met by the
stream of people flying from the dress circle for
their lives The two streams meeting at the
head of tho stairs almost Immediately formed an
obstruction. The flames were gaining with IN.
conceivable rapidity Panic had seized all
hearts and bliod instinct had taken the place
of reason. There was hut one savage thought
ia all breasts--,o save themselves at any cost.
The stairs led to safety. Then the stairs should
be made to do their work, and the mad mass
rushed forward, pushing those before them on
10 the stairway till it Was ohoked mp With
mingled mass of men and Womeu--a human
wedge that became more compact the closer 1t
was driven; bnt these terrified men did not
reason, they did not think, they only koew that
the outlet was By the stairs, and the STAIRS
should do their work. But, alas the stairway
was only seven or eight feet wide. and 100
men and women sought to dTive through thls
narrow passage ali together, and it was lmpos.
sible But the fire behind grew apacu and
those iu the rear could aud would not under
stand that those in front could not get out OF
their way Immediately, and they crushed for
ward and urged. with frantic yel!a, the clear
ing of the way.
Some saw . ready way oil escape ana jumped
over the banisters ca the heads Of those below.
Every means was lawful-there was no thought
but how to reach the street, TO escape with
precious Iilc. In this dreadful struggle the
weak tainted, and the strong, pressed against
them BY these 10 the rear, fell orer their
weaker companions, who struggled to regain
their feet, but were tramped upon by others,
who, in turn, were hurled into The struggling
mass by those behind. Once faliao 1t was iLn'
possible to rise Now arose the trcnZ!ed cries
of those who had gone down 10 the melee,
mingled with the groaus of the wounded ana
tho death rattle Of the dying. Women shriekod
&c vi
teeth struggled savagely to regain their vantage.
Rnt their struggles were as vain as the cries OF
The women. The inexorable iates held them
IN their grasp, and would not let 60 their hold.
and now the lire had wrapped in ts terrible
embraces the auditorium. On all slue5 tic
lurid flames shot forth and about, licking wlth
i, thousand fierce tongues Whateyer was com-
bustible 10 the building and rapidly cutting otf
all hone Of escape from the wrctches lmprison-
I'd on the stairs. But quicker than came the
flames rolled in the binding, choking smoke,
.:ng the eyes and the throats OF the victims.
Exhausted by their struggles the Wedgcd 10
crowd ceased the violence OF their eicrtS anu
easped for air, pure untaioted ar, but iecclvea
only the asphyyiating fumes OF the burning
wood and paint. Then there Is heard crum,
bling sound, and the air becomes hotter, and
the smoke thicker and mote dense ami the
mass begins to settle.
The pressure from behind cou.iuucd. \
lew minutes more and it would be 100 late to
make an effort; death woul! selZe upon them
all. Another effort and the banlsters gave way,
nrecipitatins number of people oa the heads
of those below. The stairs are giving way.
Ia au instant all hearts grew still, and de-
spair is 90 every face Slowly the stairs seem
TO sink down and then with crash give way,
With shout OF agony and terror the mass OF
humanity fall through the gaping opening,
down. down iuto the pit Of death. The floors
had eiycn way and the tangled mass of human
beings disappeared as though the earth had
opened and swallowed them. The debris from
the falling galleries end roof covered them IN
aud buried them as 10 grave of fire. Hun
,ireds in this fatal moment were sent out OF the
word fighting iieroely for life into the presence