Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-15

some cases the mass was only about hand
ful Of charred bones and flesh without
remnant OF clothing or other property that
could possibly lead to identification. In
| other cases all the clothing was either torn
from them or burned of, leaving but charred
and blackened remains-bodies they cannot
be called. MY Godr' said one poor wom-
an, as she gazed on the charred mass of
bones, " that may be my boy, but who can
| prove itY"
NEW YORK Dec g.
| Brooklyn is literally walking in the valley
| OF the shadow of death. Funerals of such
| of the victims of the theater disaster
as have been identified are taking place,
and through the streets, in every part
OF the city, hearses are moving, bearing re.
mains to the cemeteries. A large force of
men are at work on the ruins and It is hoped
that the full extent OF the calamity will soon
| be definitely ascertained. One more body
was found this morning in the parquet, and
also two or three fragments of flesh which
may possibly belong either to bodies
which have already been removed or
to the Others which have been al
| most totally consumed. The body was so
charred and dishgured as to be unrecog-
nizable. II was evidently that of q woman
and piece Of hoop-skirt adhered to the re-
mains Several bodies were identified and
claimed today. One BODY on which was a
gold watch was claimed by no less than
seven persons. The investigation by the
W
large amount of testimony was taken Al
together 29S bodies have been taken from
the burned theater, and If the list of missing
is correct the burned bodies Of seventy per-
sons must still be in the ruins.
Miss Kate Claxton, one Of the leading act
resses, makes the following statement: When
the curtain went up-the fifth act and the
seventh tableau-l was lying on a pallet of
straw with Pierre (Mr. Murdoch) leaning over
me. AS the curtain rose, heard it whis-
fran thn nn.f,, ,s,l 4 n
theater is on frel" | listened again, almost
dazed, and then recognized Miss Clevis voice,
repeating: "The theater is on Gre; look be-
hind, for Gods sakel" Still did not awake
to the peril. The information of the fire was
whispered to all on the stage, but not one of us
moved to go off. The play continued The old
woman, Pierres mother (Mrs. Farren),
rushed upon me, and, in q savage manner
necessary to the action, caught hold of my
hair and pulled it, AS my head went back, |
glanced up to the canvass ceiling of the |
room in which we were playing, and then | |
saw little tongues Of flame licking through |
the canopy. Mr.. Murdoch, Mr. Studley and |
Mrs. Farren saw them at the same time. !
Then we heard a horrible roaring noise be- |
hind the scenery. This alarmed me more |
than the sight of the fire. Still none of us |
moved until the audience caught sight of |
the flames When the cry of "firer rang |
through the body of the theater, and the |
audience rose en- nldSSe, we acted alto
gether without the slightest knowledge of |
one another's intentions. We four clasped |
hands, and stood almost at the footlghts,
and cried out: I'VE are between you and |
the fire; sit still; for Gods sake, sit still!" |
The people in the front rows heard our ap-
peal. l saw them seat themselves again, and |
noticed one lady pull the gentleman beside |
her down into his chair. The body of the |
house was not very well filled, but the gal
lery was crowded | am convinced that our |
action prevented panic, and enabled the !
people near the doors to get out without be- |
ing pressed upon by those from the front |
seats. In this way, too, more pcrsOus got |
out without hurt than would have escaped |
II all the gallery people had crowded against !
the others at the doors. As soon as we saw |
the people getting out we turned to escape |
ourselves Then we found we were hemmed |
in by fire. The flames ragged above and |
around, excepto on the side of the auditorium.
We could see the red rafters above threaten
ing to fall. l dashed downstairs and got |
under the stage. There / met Miss Maude
Harrison. She had gone to her room to get !
some valuables. l cried out 10 her: " Let |
those things go, and come on, for Gods
sake! We must go out the front way. The |
fire is gaining on us now. Look" As ut |
tered this last exclamation | pointed to the |
ceilng-the floor Of the stage. The flames
were showing through, and we could mark |
out their course along the cracks Of the
flooring Miss Harrison, Mrs. Farren and |
myself then dashed along the crooked pas
sageways under the stage, and after some
trouble gained the auditorium through a
door. We had vet some distance TO
go; the fire followed us fast, and there
was still a crowd of excited people to
pass through. We got into the crowd and |
dashed along, Needless that now and again
we felt that we had trod on human being.
Once l looked and saw human face,
horribly distorted and burned Oh, my
GOdl it was a fearful sight. | shall never
forget it, Afterward, saw the injured man
taken out. He was horribly injured, and, l |
think, must be dead. AS soon as we got into
the street we dashed into the police station.
There a gentleman loaned me his overcoat,
and after short stay in the station we
walked home.
BROOKLYN, Dec. o.
Work is suspended at the theater ruins on
account of the danger of the walls blowing
down. The body of Harry Murdoch, the |
actor, was found this morning and fully |
Identified by the costume. Tthe body which |
was thought to be his has not been identi-
fled. The public funeral of the victims this |
afternoon was solemn and impressive. There
was no general military parade, owing to the
inclement weather One hundred and one
bodies were inferred in Greenwood. The
public buildings, stores and residences
were draped in mourning. The procession
started at two o'clock, consisting of police,
carriages with clergy, bands, two regiments,
hfty-six hearses, carriages with relatives and
city officials. Dirgeful strains of music, the
sorrowful countenances of the mourners, the
presence of the dead, and emblems of
mourning combined TO render the demon
stration one of awful solemnity Immense
crowds followed the cortege as IL proceeded
to Greenwood Cemetery, where trenches
were prepared for the reception Of the
dead, in the depositing of which there
was no delay Rev. Mr.. Schenck read the
Episcopal service; Rev. Mr.. Putnam, Uni
tartan, delivered the sermon; Rev. Mr.. Walsh,
Baptist, offered prayer, and Rev. Mr.. Odell
pronounced the benedicton. Previous to
the dismissal the members of the Senger-
bund sang two German funeral dirges
There were twenty victims buried privately
to-day.
NEW YORK, Dec. TO-
In Brooklyn, to-day, no matter in which
on funeral eortege. In accordance with
arrangements by the city authorities me-
mortal services were held at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music, Park Theater, and
Hooley's Opera House. All these places
were thr9nged with people Mayor schroe,,
der presided at the Academy of Music and
made short address, speaking principally
Of the erection of a monument over the
plot where the victims of the dis
aster were buried. Addresses were de-
livered by Rev. DR.. Storrs, Judge Reynolds
and Rev. Jos. T. Duryea At the Park Thea
ter addresses were delivered by Rev. j. b.
Thomas, Rev. Geo. Reed and Hon. D. A.
Taylor. AT HoOley's Hon. Albert Mcdonald
made a lengthy address, as also did Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher.
Nearly all the Brooklyn ministers and
many Of the clergymen in New York alluded
to the terrible calamity in their sermons to-
day, and in Mr.. Beechers church and that
OF Rev. DR.. Talmage collections were
taken up i'm behalf of the suffering
and bereaved families. The funeral serv-
Ices over the remains of the actors Murdoch
and Burroughs took place this afternoon in
the Little Church Around the Corner in
this city. Rev. Dr. HOughtOn ofiiciated.
Thousands of people assembled outside the
church, notwithstanding the bitter cold, and
the sacred edifice was crowded. Nearly all
the members of the theatrical profession in
the city were present.
NEW YORK, Dec II.
The Tribune publishes carefully prepared
list of the names Of 27l persons absolutely
known 10 have been lost; OF these the re-
mains of 2l7 have been identified. A solemn
mass of requiem was celebrated In number
OF Catholic churches to-day. Some Of these