The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-09
THBBROOKLYN HORROR
400 Persons Believ-
ed to Have Been
Burned.
Further Details of the
Catastrophe.

BROOKLYN, Dec. S.-From evidence adduced
before the fire marshal, there is reason to be-
ieve that over four hundred persons persisted,
blinded by smoke and panic-strickeD, in the
late frghtful disaster. The people In the gal
lery go blocked the exit that almost all perish
ed. Witnesses who escaped estimate that lot
over 20 or 80 of the occupants of the upper gall
lery made their way to the street, and the box
Office returns show that there were over 400
persons in this part of the house. 1t is proba-
BILE that the exact loss of life will never be ac-
curately known, for many of the victims must
have been reduced to ashes in the terrible fur
mace heat when the flames had gained COM
plete mastery. Some of the mystery that has
enshrouded the catastrophe from the first will
continue to cling round it forever.
Distressing Scenes M ike Morgue.
The scenes at the temporary morgue in
Adams street, Brooklyn, to-day were dreadful
and narrowing beyond description. There are
yet on the floor of the building SO unrecognized
and unclaimed bodies. Twenty-Five bodies
were carried away by friends to-day. Parts of
some of the corpses had crumbled and looked
like heaps of offal. The carbolic acid poured
over them hourly by order of the Board of
Health, the chloride of lime scattered about
the floor, and the decomposng limbs and
trunks increased the offensiveness of the place.
1t was noticed that the arms in almost every
instance, where they were preserved, were
thrown up and backward, as if death had come
suddenly while the poor creatures were s,rug-
Cling for life. There were comparatively few
persons to-day in the neighborhood of the
morgue on WIlloughby and Raymond streets.
Eighteen bodies remained within the building,
all the others having been identified and re-
moved. The physicians state that most of the
deaths were caused by. suffocaton. Detective
Curran thinks that few, and only few,
more bodies will be found.
1t is reported that last night while the dig
gers were at work, man walked alive and
unhurt out of the excavations after having
been buried since the fire.
Relieving the Sufferers.
The committee which met yesterday in
General Lloyd Aspinwal's Office have appoint
ed two experienced canvassers to visit the
houses of the victims and ascertain the num-
Der of surviving relatives and their pecuniary
condition. This is done for the purpose of
| enabling the committee to make wise dstri-
button of the funds which pass through their
| hands. 1t is expected the canvassers will be
| prepared tomorrow to make statement as to
| the actual needs of the families of those who
persisted.
The fire marshal received letter to-day from
| Henry O. Griffiths, stating that he and his
| wife were the last people to leave the dress
circle after the fire broke out, and that he was
| sure there were no persons left there when he
| came out
| The Burial Of the Unrecogntzed Dead.
| Those bodies not identified, as we'll as those
| not removed by relatives will be buried to-
| morrow in Greenwood Cemetery, plot on
| Battle Hill having been presented by the
directors of the cemetery to the city. 1t is
| circular and about sixty feet in diameter. The
rise from the circumference to the centre is
| about two feet. A circular trench IA feet wide
Will be dug completely around the Inside Cir
| conference. This will leave a centre plot for
| monument about 30 feet in diameter. In the
trench the bodies will be laid with feet towards
the centre, as close as may be Necessary.
Workmen are digging the trench to-day. The
| lot is on Battle Avenue near the exit. For the
| funeral at noon to-day 55 vehicles have been
| contracted for By the committee They are TO
| be hearseS and undertakers' wagons All the
collins are to be alike. They will be plain but
| tasteful in construction, the only ornament
being double row of diamond-headed tacks
| 1t is supposed that not more than 100 vehicles
| will be needed. 1t is supposed there will be a
| general cessation of business in Brooklyn
tomorrow, and that the day of mourning will
be observed as such throughout the city.
| About 5000 infantry, under command Of Gen.
| Thos. s. Dakon, will form the escort The
procession will form on Schermerhorn street,
by Flatbush Avenue, and start at II o'clock.
| Memorial funeral services will be conducted on
| Sunday at o'clock at the Academy OF Music
| the Park Theatre, and Hooleys Opera House.
| 1t is possible before next Sunday that all the
| public buildings in Brooklyn and many of
the private ones will be heavily draped with
| mourning.
| Burned Alive in the Gallery.
| 1t is now believed by experts that When the
| large door on johnson street through which
| 1t was the custom to carry scenes and othsr
| heavy properties to the stage for special PLAYS
such as Julius Cesar and The Two Orphans,
was thrown open, while the fire was raging a
draft was created which carried the flames to
the gallery and family circles which literally
burned alive some of the occupants of these
parts OF the house before they could reach the
stairway leading to the main entrance.
| Mr.. Beam, one Of the stockholders of the
| Brooklyn Building Company, which owned the
bdrned theatre says: Investigation has shown
| us that very many of the persons in the gallery
persisted by actual contact with the flames. The
opening OF the large scenic doors at the rear of
created great current of air, which gave re-
newed yigor to the flames. This is shown upon
testimony of gentleman whom met who
| told me he was seated down in front when the
alarm was given, Before he could reach that
part of the parquette which is under the dress
circle a blast of wind struck him, and carrying
| OIL his hat seat it whirling to the ceiling From
this it is easy to reach the conclusion that the
smoke and heat were also carried up to the gal
| lery.
Proposed Charitable Entertainments.
The committee on charitable entertainments
met this afternoon, and the secretary was in-
structed to correspond with managers of theatres
| throughout the country in regard to charitable
entertainments. A number of managers have
| offered their houses and services, and these
have been accepted.
An Actress Story of the Catastrophe.
Besides the statement of Miss Kate Claxton
telegraphed, that lady has made another and
fuller one, which gives her experience in the
terrible tragedy with more vividness. She
says:
parted from my agent at the foot of the
STAIRS, and, bidding him good night, walked up
stairs to lie down upon my pallet of straw and
begin the fifth act of the play. had no sooner
assumed my position than heard noises as if
the ceiling Of the theatre was falling. L was
completely shut in above and on all sides BY
the canvas representing the interior of Fro
cnards howell ana could not see what the noise
was produced by. thought to myself "What
is the matter?" but had no time to give it
thought before the curtain assembled and my
attention was required for the business of the
play. Mr. Thorpe. stage manager of the the
aye, Standing 1d some me place behind, cried
instantly Miss Cleaves knelt down inside of the
wings beside my head, for was lying upon the
extreme right of the stage. In a thrilling
whisper she said "Save yourself, for Gods
sake! am running now" Lying on my back
looked up. and through the canvas roof over
my he ad saw little tongues of fire protruding
and heard cracking noise. 1t must have
been In flames before the curtain went up and
making headway all the time while Mr.. Muir
speaking the opening words of the act-"So
young, so lovely and yet so hard fate. Jacques
suspects; he watches me- If do anything to
assist her escape he will discover it and kill
me-" Mr.. Murdoch went right on after the fire
was perceived and finished that speech, expect
ing every minute that the audience would dis
cover the fire. 1t was while he was so speaking
that Miss Cleaves gave me the alarm. I think
at this time the greater part of the company
saw the Roadway the fire was making and
made their escape. Mr. Murdoch
"OhP' abruptly, exclaimed Miss CIaxtou,
clasping her hands until the blood almost
spurted from the euds of her fingers, aud tears
filled her eyes, Murdoch is gone; God help
him, poor boy!'
Regaining her composure after minute.
Miss Claxton continued: "Mr. Murdoch went
up to the door. and proceeded calmly with his
lines, II have begun my work and L will finish
it." Mrs Farren then came on the floor as
Frochard. The flames at this time were plain
ly visible. Mr.. Studley came on a few speech
es later, and he must have actually passed
through the fire in making his entrance. [
think the predominating idea in tine minds of