Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-12-16
The BROOKLYN Theatre Fire.

,hronph the house there was momen-
tarv pause Of horror, the people crowd
ed in the galleries seemed to feel the
bopelessness OF their position, and the
hravest hearts were momentarlly stilled.
For moment stupor seized all minds,
but for a moment only, and was succeed
ed by a frantic impulse to escape. Men
and women rose with common Instinct
to flee. Each Que thought only of him
self, the strong deserted the weak, and
sudden as thought men and women
were scrambling for the doors. In some
hearts the better and nobler nature as
serted its self, and men who had desert
cd friends under the first selfish impulse,
rushed back TO save those they loved.
1t was a terrible moment, the danger
which had only threatened was now
upon the unfortunate mass crowded in
to the dress and family circles-some
seven hundred and fifty souls all told.
The sparks OF fire from the tiues
which had caused the first terror had
moved steadily and serpent,llke TIL 1t
had reached the wings, moving with the
stealth aud rapidity of a beast OF prey.
Then suddenly Selling upon the seen.
cry, it enveloped the stage IN a sheet OF
flame. This was the end OF hope
What each one had feared had come,
and there rose from the trapped and
frightened mass of humanity cry OF
despair and horror that was heard out
side the wall otthe theatre and called 70
the scene the police, who were fortu-
matelv within easy reach.
The scene in the galleries now be-
came terrible. Men rushed hither and
thilher not knowing what they were
about All sense of humanity was lost
in the one absorbing thought of reach
inc the stairs. Men and women jump
ed from seat TO seat, not stopping to
nick np those that fell The fight for
life WAS begun. Behind, the craSlfng
flames had seized upon the stage and
were rapidly advancing through the
house. Huge clouds of sutfocating smoke
tloated inward, and filed every nook
and Granny, rendering breathing almost
impossible. There was no time to be
lost. Every instant seemed an age to
the agonized wretches who struggled
at the doors 10 reach the outlet. No-
men screamed and tainted, aud strong
men struggled desperately i'll that awful
crush.
At last tie stairs were reached, an6
those yho had been iuckey enough to
get to them first poured down to the
corridor of the dress circle. For mo
mcut the stream flowed freely, but the
crowd behind pressed on tiercely. The
dre behind was growing more intense
and the smoke binding The occu-
pants of the family circle descending by
the stairs that led to the vestlbuIe 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 the stairs almost Immedi-
atcly formed an obstruction. The flames
were gaining with inconceivable rapldi-
~. Panic had seized all hearts and
blind instinct had taken the place OF
reason. There @as but one savage
thought in all breasts--to save them
selves at anv cost. The stairs led to safe
tv. Then the stairs should be made 10
do their work, and the mad mass rush;
ed forward, pushing those betore them
ON to the stairway till it was choked up
with a mingled mass ofmen and women
"a human wedge that became more
compact the closer it was driven; but
these terrified men did not reason, they
did not think, they only knew that the
outlet was 10y the stairs, and the stairs
should do their work. But, alas the
stairway was only seven or eight feet
wide, and $50 men and women sought
to drive through this narrow passage all
together, and it was impossible. But
the fire behind grew apace and those
ia the rear could and would not under
stand that those in front could not get
out of their way immediately, and they
crushed forward and urged, with frantic
wells, the clearing of the way.
Some saw ready way OF escape and
iumped over the ban!sters on the heads
of those below. Every means was law
tul-there was no thought but how to
reach the street, TO escape with precious
life. In this dreadful struggle the weak
tainted, and the strong, pressed against
them by those in the rear, fell over their
weaker companions, who struggled TO
regain their feet, but were trampled up
on by others, who, in turn were hurled
into the struggling mass by those be-
hind Once fallen it was impossible to
rise. Now arose the frenzied cries OF
those who had gone down in the melee,
mingled with the groaus of the wound
ed, aud the death rattle of the dying.
Women shrieked in agony of fear, and
men with clenched teeth struggled saw
agely to regain their vantage. But
their struggles were as vain as the cries
of the women The memorable fates held
them in their grasp, and would not let
90 their hold And now the fire had
wrapped in its terrible embrace the au.
ditorium. On all sides the larid flames
shot forth and about, licking with a
thousand fierce tongues whatever was
eombustable in the building and rapid
ly cutting off all hope of escape from
the wretches imprisoned on the stairs
But quicker than ever the flames roll.
ed IN the binding, choking smoke, fill
Ing the eyes and throata Of the victims !