The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-07

performance of the Allegory, of the Great
Republic, at Robnson's Opera House this
afternoon, a portion of the pillars sup
porting the galley gave way precipitat-
ing a number of the occupants upon the
balcony below. At this writing it is not
known whether any were killed, though
there is rumor that three persons re-
ceived fatal injuries. Nearly six hundred
children took part in the Allegory, and
the audience was mostly composed of pa
rents and relatives Of the participants.
Later.
The latest reliable report from the
Opera House disaster is that one woman
was killed outright and number of
children seriously,if not fatally injured in
the stampede of the audience to get to
the doors. 1t seems that there was no
foundation in the report of the gallery
falling, but the stampede was caused by
an alarm of fire causelessly raised by a
mischievous boy in the gallery. 1t is
almost impossible TO obtain reliable de-
tails of the disaster sas the streets for
squares are filled with anxious friends
and relatives.
Ii is now reported that six persons
were killed in the stampede. ORly four
names were ascertained, viz: Mrs. Henry
Kessler, Mrs. Nancy Clarke, Hattie Les
lie and Harry White. Between fifteen
and twenty were injured.
The allegory of the "Great Republic"
during the performance of which occur
red the terrible disaster this afternoon,
has been upon the stage OF Robinson's
Opera House tor the past two nights, un-
der the auspices of the Cincinnati Relief
Union. The proceeds were to be applied
to the relief of the suffering poor of the
city. The performers, numbering nearly
600 children, were taken from the public
schools of the city, and as the object was =
worthy one, those who took part with the
children were old residents of the city
Vast audiences were present at each
presentation of the allegory. Tho weather
this afternoon being proptious, and
there being no session OF the public
schools, the matinee audience, in the
most part, was composed of women and
children. About half past two o'clock,
while the great house Was densely pack
ed. and the thousands of children among
the audience wore at the height Of their
endowment, some boy in the gallery,
either throught mischief or ignorance,
raised the cry of fire as the red
light from the colored fires used in the
piece flashed out from the wings. Every
inch of the theatre was occupied and
the dense crowd was pressing and surg
ing about the stairs and in front Of the
doors. Some one in the audience took up
the cry Of fire, and it was re-echoed from
near the door by some one who caught
a glimpse of the red glare from the stage.
There was an immediate rush for the
front doors. 4 child was pushed down
the steps and screamed. Immediately
after man thrust his arm through
window, and the scream and the crash
was enough TO set the panic in full force.
The scene WAS terrible one in the mar
row vestlbule leading to the street, the
people in the rear mad with fear pressing
upon those in front and shouting and
cursipp. Men, terror-strlcken. struck
down helpless women and children in
front. or climbed over their heads to the
top of the stair case and preclpllated
themselves upon the screaming and
bleeding mass of children and women in
the hallway. The scene in and about the
opern house after the accident was heart
rending. The news of the catastrophe
spread like wils-fre over the city, and
from every direction came people hurry
ing 10 the scene until the streets were I'M
passable.
Another Account:
Thsre are many conflicting stories as
TO the origin OF the panic at Robin
sons Opera House. The building was
filled from parquette TO gallery with
dense mass, who not only filled all the
seats and aisles, but crowded the stair
WAYS, and hundreds were outside seeking
10 gain admission. Behind the scenes
were five hundred school children, who
were 10 take part IN the performance,
which consisted OF an AllegOry OF the
Republic. At the time appointed for
the commencem Of the exercises, =
calcium light in the gallery lasse.
its glare en- the stage, and
Immediately the cry OF ire was
i
stricken and O rush was made for the
stairway. Some are said 70 have leaped
from the balcony on the crowd below.
The lower circle Of the house ls but few
steps above the level Of the street, but
the steps are narrow and soon became
blocked by the sUrglng crowd. Inside
the whole multitude were pressing for
the doorway, and in the panic women
and children were oysrthroTn and
trampled 10 death by the panic stricken
crowd. The scene beggsrs description. The
alarm rapidly spread Throughout! the city,
and those who had wives or children
there hurried forward 10 their rescue. a
few heroic men placed themselves near
the door and eLdsavorCd 20 assure the
people that there was no dagger, while
an effort was made from the stage 70
| check the mad cries of the aifrighted su-
/ dience; bu. quiet was not restored till
| number were trsmped TO death and many
seriously injured. Those able 10 walk
made their way hsmewsrd and those more
/ seriously injured were taken 70 the 9th
street station house and TO the CONNER
cisl Hospital. The dead were gstheted
| in one OF the offices of the Opers House.
! Up tog p. NJ, the following had been re-
ported killed and injured: Mr.. Alfred
I White and her son Harry, age ~; Mrs.
/ Nancy Clark, reported 70 have died from
/ heart disease caused By eIcILemenii Al
4 gust and Fred Dhesch, brothers, ages 8
and 10; Hattie Leslie, age II; Jas. Crow
lev. age I; Annie Nal RIenzI, Of Alton,
Illinois. who was visiting friends here
Miss Teroyica Massatt, age 22i Mrs.
Henry kessler suffered 3 severe concus-
sion Of the brain, and ls reported dead
this evening. One unknown woman Is
dead. Among the injured are Fred.
Strasturg, Miss Pumpnrey, Master Harry
Bliss and 9 child nsmed Coddlngton
Carrie Uhl, base Of skull crushed and
collar bone broken Mrs. Anna Flood