The Morning herald., 1876-12-08
WILMINGTON, DEL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1876.

jumped over the banisters on the heads oi
those below. Every means was lawful
there was no thought but how to reach
the street, to escape with precious life. In
this deadful struggle the weak tainted, and
the strong, pressed against them by those
10 the rear, fell over their weaker COM
panions, who struggle to regain their feet,
tut were trampled upon by others, who, in
1urn, were hurried into the struggling
mass by those behind. Once fallen 1t va
impossible to rise. Now arose the frenzied
crises of those who had gone down In the
melee, mingled with the groans of the
wounded and the death rattle of the dying.
Women shrieked in an agony of fear, and
men with clenched teeth struggled savage
ly to regain their vantage. But their strug
giles were as vain as the cries of the
women. The inexorable fates held them
in their grasp, and would not let 60 their
bold. And now the fire had wrapped in It's
terrible embraces the auditorium.
RECOVERING THE BODIES.
When the fire was got under control the
dremen continued to pour the streams Of
icy water through every possible oriace on
the burning mass of furniture, upholstery,
dligree work and scenery piled up together
within the ruins and vesticule was flooded
through the Washington street entry in the
endeavor to cool the flooring and render It
safe for the police and hremen, who were
anxioas to seek for those who they feared
we're burned. Even at this time scarcely
any one dreamed of the great loss of life,
and, strange to say, the whole calamity was
regarded as disastrous to property rather
than to life.
THE FIRST BoDy.
They had not long to wait. Before two
O'Clock an ambulance broke through the
living throng, and, halting before the
Washington street door, received something
wrapped up in coarse cloths from the hands
of four or five men, who bore it out of the
ruins to the vehicle. 1t was the body Of a
woman who had been found inside the YES
tibule standidg up against portion of the
framework, which she had clutched in her
death throes convulsively. She was almost
naked and utterly unrecognizable, and had
died os the very threshold of safety, no
one knows how.
1t was not until after six O'Clock In the
morning, however, that anything like work
could be begun for the recovery of the bodies.
They entered the building from Washington
street and began to tear away the timbers,
charred beams, fragments of brick and the
rubbish which blocked up the passage way,
These had all fallen from the galleries and
flooring and hid from view what lay beyond
and beneath.
AN APPALLING SIGHT.
Through the ashes and wreck protruded
arms and limbs, half burned heads and
pieces of clothing in every direction. The
sight was appalling and the men were 90
horrided that they paused for an instant
mute and almost afraid to investigate fur.
ther. 1t was plain to all now that scores Of
human beings lay buried in this vestibule
The shocking discovery was quickly made
known to the thousands in the streets, and
it required the most rigid enforcement o1
rule that no one should pass certain point
within hundred yards of the building or
either side, to keep the swaying, excited
mass from forcing their way into the charnel
house.
HOW THEY WERE UNEARTHID.
The frem en- were provided with shovele
hoes and other utensils for the removal o.
the stuff that wsdged in the bodies and they
piled them vigorously. The men had tc
stand upon the pyre regardless of the dead
they stepped upon, dragging them out ont
after the other and sending them to tht
Morgue. 1t was found that tho shoveli
could not be used without mutilating tht
remains, therefore the men were constrain
ed to work only with their hoes, which wal
better adapted for removing the ashes and
cinders from the bodies under their feet
Once the work was we'll under way the
dead were constantly being handed out
placed in shells and carried to the trucks
and carts awaiting them without. It was
sickening spectacle.
WASHINGTON.