The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-07
FRIGHTFUL CATASTROPHE.
PANIC IN A THEATBR.
Terrible Loss Of Life and Personal
Injury Caused By False
Alarm of Fire.

TRAGIC SCENE IN THE VEST1BULE.
PERFORMANCE AT RoBINsoN's OPERA HOUSE.
CINCINNATI THE SUDDEN PANIC = IFS
CAUsE-HORRIBLE SCENE ON THE NARROW
sTAIRs-LIsTs OF THE KILLED AND IN
JURED.
CINCINNATI, o., Feb. 5.-During the perform
ance OF the sllegory OF the Great Republic at
Robinson's Opera House this evening a portion
OF the pillars supporting the gallery gave way
prtcipitating number of occupants upon
the balcony below. AT this writing 1t is not
known whether any were killed, though there
is a rumor that three persons received fatal
injuries. Nearly six hundred school children
took part In the allegory and the audience was
mostly composed o. parents and relatives of the
participants. r ~
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
inj ursd in the stampede OF the vast audience to
get to the doors. II seems that there is no foun-
dation for the report of the gallery falling, but
1s gsse g1s ~ an sar Gi
the gallery. 1t is almost impossible 10 obtain
reliable details of the disaster, as the streets for
atives.
STILL LATER.
1t Is now understood that six persons were
killed In the stampede Four names have been
ascertatned, viz: Mrs. Henry Kessler, Mrs.
Nancy Clark, Hattie Leslie and Harry White
Between fifteen and twenty were injured. The
allegory of the Great Republic, during the per.
Torrance of which occurred the terrible disas
ter this afternoon, has been upon the stage of
Robinson's Opera House for the
Spices of the cincinnati Relief Union. the n
proceeds were to be applied to the relief Of the
bering nearly six hundred children. were taken
from the pubic schools Of the city and as the
object was a worthy one and those who look
audiences were present at each presentation of
the allegOTy. The weather this afternoon being
sson Of and the there subo being schools
the matinee audience, in most part, wss CON-
posed OF women and children. About half PAST
O'Clock, while the great house was intensely
packed aud the thousands of children among
the audience were at the height of their enjoy
ment, some 10y IN the gallery, either through
mischief or ignorance, raised the cry of fire as
the red light from The cofored fires used in the
OF the theater was occupied and dense crowd
was pressing and surging about the staircases
ence 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. A child was pushed down the steps and
screamed. Immediately after this a man thrust
his arm through a 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 vest1bule leading TO the street. The people
In the rear, mad with fear. pressed upon those
and children in 'front.', or climbed
the staircase and prscipitatea the9selves upon
the screaming and bleeding mass of children
about the opera house after the accident was
heart-rending. The news OF the catastrophe
every direction came osep tne Sy and ~ f
scene until the squares were impossible. There
are many conflicting stories as 10 the origin of
Ia1
parquette to GALLERY, with q. dense mass,
sns a sS Sny crdHss s al the
and hundreds were outside seeking to gain adj
mission. Behind the scenes were i've hundred
performance which consisted Of an allegory of
the republic. AS the time approached for the
the gallery flashed its glare upon the stage and
Immediately cry OF IRE was raised, the audi
ence became panic stricken and rush was
below. The. lower circle OF the
level Of the Street but tSs steps sre
BLOCKED BY THE sURGINe CROWD,
Inside the house multitudes were pressing for
the doorway and in the panic women and chill
dren were overthrown and trampled to death by
the panic stricken crowd. The scene beggars
description The alarm rapidly spread through
out the city and those who had wives or chill
heroic men placed themselves near the doorway
and endeavored to assure the people that there
was no danger, and an effort was made
from the Stage to check the mad
career OF the affrighted audience, but
quiet was not restored until a number were
trampled to death and many were seriously in
jured. Those able to walk at once made their
way homeward. those more seriously injured
were taken to the Ninth street station house and
to the Commercial Hospital, and the dead were
gathered In one OF the offices OF the opera house.
Up to tonight the following had been re-
ported killed and injured: Mrs. Alfred
Nancy CLARK, reported to have died
from heart disease, caused By excitement;