The New York herald., 1876-02-06
A Sunday School Festival Turned Into
a Scene Of DeSOlatiOn.
EFFECT OF A FALSE ALARM.
Narrowing Incidents Outside and
Inside OF the FSoGle.

A FALSE ALARM FIRE.
later despatch ays;-There is no foundation n The
report OF the gallery falling The stampede caused
by an alarm fire causelessly raised by mschlevous
boy the gallery. 1t is almost impossible to obtain
reliable details OF the disaster The streets for squares
are filed with anxious friends and relatives Of thd
audience
THE KILLED INJURED
1t is reported that six persons killed in tho
stampede Four Of their have been asccrtaned,
Mrs Henry Kessler.
Mrs Nancy Clark.
Hattie Leslie.
Harry White
Between fifteen and twenty were injured
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
The allegory Of the Great Republic has been upon
the stage Robnsons Opera House for the past twd
nights under the auspices of the Cincinnati Relief
Union and the proceeds have been applied to
the relief OF the suffering poor Of this city The per-
formers, numbering nearly GOO children, were taken
from the public schools OF the city, and, the object
was a worthy one and the children who took part were
those old residents of the city, vsN audiences were
present at each presentation OF the aegory.
tious and there being sessions of public
schools, the matinee audience in most part
was composed OF and children. About half past
two O'CLOCK while the great house densey packed,
and the thousands ofchdrcn among the audience at
the height their enjoyment boy the gallery,
IN nf
fire as the red light from the colored fires used in the
piece flashed the wings Every inch OF the thea
tire occupied and dense crowd was pressing and
surgng about the starways and in front Of the doors.
Some In the audience took up the cry OF fire, and
was re-echoed from near the by some one who
caught glimpse OF the red glare from the stage Therd
was an immediate rush for the front doors.
A TERROR STRICKEN CROWD.
A child was pushed down the steps and screamed,
and Immediately after, thrust his arm through
the window. The scream and the crash enough
to set the panic in full force and the vesti
bule leading to the street the a terrible
The people in the rear mad with fear pressed upon
those in front, shouting and cursng Men, terror
stricken struck down the helpless women and children
in 'front.' climbed their heads to the top OF the
staircase and preciptated themselves upon the
ing and Bleeding mass of women and children in tbs
hallway.
The scene in and about the opera House after the
cidcnt was heartrendng The OF the catastrophe
spread like widnre over the city, and from every d.
rection came people hurryng 10 the scene, until the
squares were impossible
ORIGIN PANIC.
At this hour mine P. NJ there are mans aopntcting
stories as to the origin OF the panic at Robnson's
opera House The building was filled from parquet to
gallery with a dense crowd, who not only filed all Of
the seats and ases, but crowded the stairway, and
hundreds were outside seeking admission. Behind the
scenes were 500 school children, VINO were to
take part in the performance which consisted Of an
allegory or "The Republic" AS the time
approached for The commencement of the exercises
calcium light the gallery dashed its glare upon
the stage, and Immediately 4 cry Of 'Frel was
raised The audience became panic stricken and
rush was made for the stairway. Some are said TO
have leaped from the balcony upon the crowd below
lower circle Of the house but four steps above
the level Of the street. but the steps are narrow and
soon became blocked by the surgng crowd Multtudes
pressing for the doorway, and, in the panic,
women and children were overthrown and trampled
under foot by the crowd The scene beggars descrip
ton An alarm rapidly spread throughout tho
city and those who had wives or children there hurried
10 their few heroic men placed themselves
nsar tha doorwav md anda.vorod e. a..
there danger, and an EFFORT was made
from the stage to check the mad career OF
the arrighted audience, but quiet was not
restored until number we're trampled upon and
many were seriously injured.
Those able to walk at once made their way home.
ward ThoEe more seriously Injured we're taken to the
Ninth house and to the Commercial Hos
pal and the dead were gathered In one or the Offices
OF the opera House.
LATEST LIST or KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Up to nine O'Clock tonight tho following had been
reported killed and inIured-
Mrs Alfred White and her son Harry, aged twelve
years
Mrs Nancy Clark, reported to have died from heart
disease caused by excitement
August and Fred Locsch, brothers. aged ten and
eight years respectively.
Hattie Leslie, aged twelve years.
James Crowley, aged seven years.
Annie Mac Rlenx Of Alton, ILL.,, who was visiting
friends here.
MSS Teronica Massatt, aged twenty-five years
Mrs Henry KessIer suffered severe conclusion oftho
brain, and, II is reported, died this evening.
One unknown woman Is dead.
Among the injured are Fred strasburg, Miss HUNS
phrey, Master Harry Bliss and child named coddng-
ton.
Later information will probably Increase tb. '"'eesr
] OF the inipred