The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-06
A STAMPEDE IN A THEATRE.
fHE CRY or FIRE ECHOTNG FROM
GALLERY TO PARQUErTE.
Terrible Panic In the eAudItorium-Nfen and
Women Mad with Fear Rushing for the |
Doors Nine persons Crushed to Deatb.

A Terrible Panic In the Auditorium Men n d
women Mad with Fear Rushing for the
Doors Nine Persons Crushed to Death.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 5.-During the per-
formance Of the allegory OF the Great Republic
at Robinson's Opera Houss this afternoon, an
alarm OF nre was raised, causing stampede Of
the vast audience to get to the doors. Nearly
800 school children took part In the allsgory,
and the audience was composed mostly OF the
parents and relatives OF the participants. One
woman was killed outright, and a number Of
women seriously II not fatally Injured II ls
almost impossible to obtain reliable details Of
the disaster. The streets for squares are allied
with anxious friends and relatives Of those
composing the audience.
Ldter.-The aegory OF the "Great Republic d"
has been upon the stage OF Roblnson's Opera
House for the past two nights, under the aus
pices OF the Cincinnati Relief Union, aud the
proceeds were to have been applied to the relief
OF the suffering poor OF this city. The perform
ers' numbering nearly six hundred children,
were taken from the public schools Of the city |;
and, as the object was worthy one, and the
childien who took part were those Of old resi-
dents Of the city, vast audiences were present
at each presentation Of the aegory. The
weather tins afternoon being propitious. and
thtro being no sessions Of public schools, the
matinee audience, in most part, was composed
q women and children. About half past two
o'clock. while the great house was denscIy
packed and the thousands OF children among
the audience were at the height Of their eniov-
ment. some boy In the gallery, either through
mischief or Ignorance ralsod the cry OF fire rs
the red light from the cOlored fires used IN the
piece flashed out from the wings. Every inch
OF the theatre was occupied, ana a dense crowd
and IN front OF the doors. some one In the au-
dience took up the cry OF Hre, and 1t was oed
a glimpse OF the red glare from the stage.
ihcre was an immediate rush for the front
screamed, and, imme dlately aftcrward, a man
thrust his arm through the window. 1he scream
and the crash were enough to set the psnic In
iull force, and In the narrow gestibule leading
TO the street the scene was terrible one. The
people In the roar, mad with fear. pressed upon
those in front. shouting and cursng Men, ter
ror stricken, struck down the helpless women
ana children In front, or climbed over their
heads TO the top of the staircase ami threw
themselves upon the screaming and bleeding
mass of women aud children Ia the hallway.
The scene IN and about the Opera House, after
the accident was heartrending. The news Of
the catastrophe spread like widnre over the citv.
s ana from every direction came people hurryng
10 TIE scene until the squares were impossible.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
At this hour % z. NJ there are many conflict
ing stories a. u the origin of the panic. Inc
building was hlied from parquette TO gallery
wlth a dense crowd VINO not only lllod all OF
the seats ana Gisles. nut crowded the stairway,
and hundreds were outside seeAing admission.
Behind the scenes were five hundred school
children, who were to take p.rt In the per
form nee which consisted of an allegOry Of the
As the time approached for the commences.
ment OF the exercises, a calcium lignt In the
gallery nashed It's glare upOn the stage. and Inn
medlttelN "A cry OF urc was raised. The audience
became panic stricken, and a rush was made for
the stairways. some are said to have leaped
from the balcony upon the crowd below. The
lower circle OF the house is but four steps above
the level ofthe street: but the steps are narrow,
and soon became blocked by the surgins crowd
Inside the house mulutudes were pressing for
tue doorway and, IN the panic, women and
children were overthrown and trampled under
foot by the crowd. The scene beggars descrip-
tion.
An alarm was rapidly spread throughout the
city, and those who had wives OF children there
hurried to their rescue. A few heroic men
placed themselves near the doorway, and en-
deavored to assure the people there was no dan
ger, aud an effort was made from the stage to
cheek the mad career OF the anrighted audi
ence but quiet was not restored until a num-
Der we're tram pied upou and many were serious
their way homewArd those more seriously in
Iured wero taken TO the Ninth street station
house and To the Commercial Hospital, AMI the
dead were gathered in one OF the ofices of the
Opera House.
w to o'clock to night the following had
been reported killed
Mrs. Alfred white and her son. Harry. aged twelve
Mrs. Nancy Clark reported to have died from heart
disease caused bY eIcueneut
August ana Frederick Loesch brothers. agea ten and
eight years, resl ectiNely.
Haltie Le ile, .sed tScye years.
> IN Crowley aged seven yeArs.
Annie Mckenzie Of Alton, H., who was visiting
friends here.
Mls, reroucl Massat aged 90 years
Mrs. Henry Kesser suffer severe conclusion OF the
BRAIN, AAd. Il Is reported, died this evening"
Ole unknoSn woman Is dead.
Among the Injured are Fred Strasburg, Miss
Humphrey, Master Harry Bliss, and child
Later information will probably increase the
number OF the injured.