The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-12-14

,essiul struggles forced their way over the
gssping forms that l;y all around, Others
who had been crushed 10 inseasi biiiiy fell
as they les. the support Of the living.
There was nothing f0r j, but for myself,
and some others who had waited,
TO WALK oyER THE PILES or BODIES
on the floor. They were slippery with
blood. Hands and feet were protruded
here and there. which sho wed that life was
still in srme of them. BY this time the
smoke was dense, and the noise and shout
ing from the lower part Of the house we're
terrible. / and some others managed to
get to the stairway, and we went down IN
mass-how / couldn't tell you. All this
have been describing took place in less
than two minutes One man who got out
in the crowd Just before me showed me his
arm, which had been bitten almost to the
bone"
ANOTHER VICTIM.
NEW YoRK, December 11.-John Cum
mereon, fly man in the Brooklyn Theatre,
and who was injured in the disaster, died
yesterday. The fire marshal obtained
from him the following testimony:
] had charge Of the flies, and
SAW THE FIRE
break out. L. commenced in the centre oil
the building, in the rigging to the LEI.
among the borders or drop crutains. l
think the draft brought the borders in con-
tact with the light. There were wire COW
ers over the lights. We thought to pre-
vent the borders from touching the lights.
r. Of r,l<-
way. They went up. right enough, but
when came to ct them down they drags-
ed. 1 tried to put the green curtain down
and it broke. Nothing broke before the
FIRE. This was
COMMENCEMENT OF THE TROUBLE.
1 was christening the grooves when one
OF the men tried to put out the fire with
pole, but could not do it. We had no fire
hose attached. l saw hydrants in the
building, under and on the stage, but no
hose. We had
TWO OTHER FIRES
in the theatre shortly before this last one.
One was in the box office and the other on
the stage. / think the doors leading 10
Johnston street were all clear. The alarm
was given to the police pretty soon after
the fire was discovered, but the audience
were not notified OF it ior three or four min
utes. kept the curtain down as long as
/ could. In going down i found / had
staid longer than 1 should have done, and
could not get ont. On the landing
IMEr MURDocK,
and he went right up to his room. saw
him drop from the heat and smoke.
e LI1zIf. fIav-
leading from the first landing. Murdoch
and Burroughs first went down the stage to
get out, and when they found the heat was
too great they went up stairs again. Other
stage hands got out Of the door on johnson
street. was on the ether side ard could
not reach that door. II / had had fire
hose and water on the stage, or in the flies,
1 could have
PUT OUT THE FIRE
before it gained such Roadway. 1t blazed
up rapidly. Bill Layton saw it first and
said, II think that is fire." This was
the first i saw of it.
A SAD CASE.
Daniel T. Collins, of 1Ol President street,
persisted in the Ere, and the suspense which
the afflicted family underwent, till the find
ing of his body, wrought so injuriously on
the condition Of VIM. H. Collins, who was
i'll, that brain fever resulted and he died
yesterday.
AMONG THE MISSING.
Robert Still, brother of Daniel Still, one
Of those who persisted in the theatre, Is also
missing. Also John ID. Warner, of 435
Atlantic Avenue, and it is supposed he was
killed in the theatre. OF the
TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIvE
persons who persisted in the fire, and
of when 100 have been identified, all but
AZ were males. IL Of the victims were from
New YORK. Fifty-three were between ID
and 20 years of age, 81 between 20 and 25,
20 between % and 40, 10 between 80 and
81, and Il were over 30 years.
NEWSPAPER VICTIMS.
John McGinniss, an old employee Of the
Brooklyn Eagle" is among the killed, with
two lady friends, whom he had escorted to
the theatre. He was about thirty-five years
old, and was we'll known in Brooklyn. 1t
is likely that he bravely remained with his
lady friends until the last. He was an old
fireman Of the former Volunteer Depart
ment, accustomed TO battling with flames
and rapid in decision, and If
he had been alone, would undoubtedly have
found means to escape.
Stuart Campbell Hand, young reporter
on the staff of the Commercial Advertiser"
Of New York, is among the victims OF the Ca
lamity. He Ia known to have visited the
theatre on the night of the FIRE, and he has
nOt been seen since. He was only eighteen
years old.
A BRAVE OFFICER.
Officer Patrick Mexican, of tae Central
Office squad, VINO was detailed TO preserve
order in the gallery OF the theatre, is among
the dead. He was good officer, and had
been made member of the Central Squad
for his exemplary conduct. He was seen
working bravely in the vestibule OF the the
atre, trying to get the panic-stricken people
to move out in an orderly manner. Just
before the fatal blast OF smoke and gas fill
ed the entire building it was noticed thai
he was exhausted by his hard lsbors that
he had lost his hat, and that his coat had
been torn from him by the surging crowd.
1t is supposed that he was precIpitated,
when the floor give way, into the horrible
pit from which 40 many dead were taken
Officer Mexican was young
thirty years OF age, and the
support of widowed mother.
THE JANTroR's EFFECTIVE WORK.
From the New York Times
Mr. Sweeney, the janitor. stated: was
standing at the side door, back of the par
1uette, when heard the noise of the people
Jumping up On the seats; l saw spark
coming through the roof of the scene or
mimic house. l then said to the parties
,earest the door, who were were struggling
% get out, "For Gods cake, gentlemen,
lon't hurry, and you will ali get out in plen-
y of time" The utmost confusion and ex-
:itement prevailed. / then got my lantern,
which was close at hand, and started for the |
tage, where the fire was. met Mrs. Far
en-, who played "Mother Frochard," and |
ady and gentleman coming through the |
tage passage, under the auditorium. She /
legged to be showd the way out. Certain
~ said,
@KEEP QUIET"
brought them to the staircase leading to
he lobby, where they could get ont into
be street. with safety. Ithen returned to
be stage BY the same passage, under the
auditorium, and when l got to the top of
he stairs heard great noise, when ev.
rything seemed to fall on the stage with
reat crash. Immediately after gust of
Iind blew the gas out. The FIRE and smoke
ecame 50 strong that 1 had to return
own the stairs, back into the same pas
age. / then went under the stage and
ried out, "if there is any one there, come
his way and l will show YOU out" re-
eived no reply, and the smoke became %
ense that had TO return into the lobby.
went to the dress circle staircase, where