Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-14
FRIGHTFUL CASUALTY.
Theatre Burned and Over 800 Lives Lo

Theatre Burned and Over 800 Lives Lost.
IT is very rare that the newspaper
chronicler is called upon to record so
appalling disaster as that which oc-
CURED by fire at the Brooklyn theatre,
on the night of the 5th. 4"
j. W. Thorp, the stage manager
states that the fire occurred in this
wise: A drop was ignited from a Dor.
der light, in some way inexplacable,
as one was guarded from the other.
He immediately directed the stage
carpenter weaver and two supernu-
mer0ries to endeaver to exiinguish the
the flames, but the difficulty was to
reach the part on fire. The stage car
penter, with the supernumeraries, es.
saved to effect the object by lowering
the sfop and in SO doing added fuel to
the names. The scene last in play EN-.
brace0 a ceiled apartment and the 1n-
stant the burning drop came in contact
with it the inflamable ceiling served to
spread the existing flames. In Il flash,
as though powder had been previously
scattered about the scenery, the entire
properties were in blaze. The usual
avenues of escape were thus summari-
ly closed up at the rear, and an exit, if
at all possible. had to be made by way
Of the box entrance.
The fire broke out during the per.
formance of the last act of the 'sTwo
Orphans" in which Miss Claxton, who
plays the part of the heroine, lies on
the boat house floor. In five minutes
more the audience would be dismissed
and there would have been moth
ing more serious to record than the de.
struction of property. The house was
about twO.thirds filled, these below
sitting we'll forward toward the stage.
For those in the family circle, dress
circle, and galleries, there was no way
of escape except by Washington street.
The panic-stricken people rushed pell
nell toward and down the stairway.
The mail exit became Immediately
chOked up, and a scene of terror, con.
fusion and distress ensued with beg
gars description. Just above the land
ing place OF the stairway woman, in
the crush, had her foot pinched be-
tween the bannisters and fell. The
crowd behind, forced forward by the
terrified people still further behind,
fell over her and piled on top of each
other four and five deep.
The scene which then ensued is be.
yond description and the horrors
which resulted can be better conceived
by the statement that up to this writ.
ing upwards of 800 bodies have been
recovered.
In some instances whole families
have perished. The bodies present
every form of contortion, just as they
stiffened in the last agony, when the
floor gave way and they plunged down
into binding smoke and flames. A. -,
and legs are bent and twisted in e
way. Hands are clenched and II III
ont as if grasping for help.
In the middle of what was the lobby
of the theatre lay an immense pile Of
rubbish, smouldering beams, frag-
mennts of girders and other things.
This heap was nearly opposite the
principal entrance to the auditory of
the theatre. Beyond it was another
heap, marking the place where the
stairs which led to the gallery fell.
Under the heap first mentioned a dead
body was found and the firemen dill
gently prosecuted their search in this
direction. With much labor some of
the heaviest lumber was removed and
a horrible sight was revealed. Be.
meath that mound the corpses lay in
rows, heaped one upon another, packed
together with fearful solidity, (which
told of the great pressure to which
they had Leen subjected.
On the 9th, the funeral of those who
were not identified, or whose friends
had not the means to bury them, took
place. There were over one hundred
bodies, some sixty hearses, each with
two cottins, being in the line. The cold
was intense, but all Brooklyn seemed
to have turned out to the funeral.
There was tremendous crowd at
Greenwood. AS the cortege passed
through the gate the bell in the tower
tolled mournfully. On either side,
along the pathways, on the hillsides
and invading the private plats were
the people. The ground set apart for
the reception of the mutilated remains
was donated by the trustees of Green.
wood cemetery, and is located on Bat.
tie hill, but a short distance from the
Twenty-fifth street entrance, at the
corner of Battle avenue and Maine av.
enue. Battle hill rises to the left of
the main entrance to Greenwood. It
is the highest point in the cemetery,
and near it the battle of Long Island
was fought. The soldiers monument,
the tomb of Col. Vosburgh, of the list
New York regiment, and monument
to Capt. Freeborn, the pilot who per.
ished off Sandy Hook, 30 years ago,
are all near the plot selected by Aid.
Guthrie. A trench or circular grave
of seven feet in depth and Is feet in
width was dug, capable Of accommo.
dating 100 collins. The great crowds
which were met near and just within
the cemetery were formed about the
vast grave. The site being on the side
of hill, and completely exposed, the
cold was almost insufferable, but still
the people held their places. There
was no delay in removing the remains
from the hearses and wagons and de.
posting them in the circular trench.
Then the services were begun. Rev.
DR.. Noah II. Schenck read the beauti.
full burial service of the Episcopal
church, which was listened to atten.
lively by those who were within reach
of his voice. There was inexpressible
sadness mingled with solemnity in the
scene. Hundreds of people wept, the
tears freezing on their cheeks as they
issued from their eyes. A monument
in circular space of 10 feet will be
erected in the centre Of the plat, with
appropriate devices and inscription.
to which work the theatrical pro s.
sion promise a subscription of $40, ,O00'
The plat is 200 feet square, and com.
mands fine view of many of the beau
ties of Greenwood.
For some years I was failing in
health, was not alarmed until began to lose
my appetite. grew very thirsty, my mouth
became parched, my hands dry; it was time
to do something. consulted my doctor; he
said had Diabetes, that he had young lady
patient dying in the same way; must sell
out my business and make myself as com.
Portable as possible. Itried the doctors and
everything that could be heard Of. At last
heard Of prescription that had cured . case
! 1;lro mine T triad IL md am a well man. Nv