The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-12-24

Similar Instances in this Century to the Broo
lyn Tragedy.
THE BURNING OF THE RICHMOND, QUEsE,
3 AND SAN FRANCISCO THEATRES.
OF the many horrible disasters by th
burning of theatres 10 this country, rh
destruction of the theatre at Richmond
s Va, December 65h, 1911, was, until tn
Brooklyn horror, the most fatal. From
the files of the New York Clipper interest
ing "reminiscences of this melancholy even
have been secured. 1t was q cosy l1ttl
theatre, with seating capacity OF abou
i've hundred. The structure was not pre-
tentlous, but, like most of the places o
amusement of that time, was bullt with 8
view to solidity, though the auditorium
was constructed exclusively of pine wood
ESQ much ueed in building all kinds of edit
ices at that period, particularly in that sec
tion of the country. The boxes, galleries,
supporting columns, etc. were of that
material, aud the roof vas covered with
shingles. The ceiling of both tiers YVES
covered with painted canvass, helping in a
great measure to make the interior Of the
building very combustible. The stage was
small, and was furnished with thirty
four drop scenes, all painted on ordinary
canvass, save one, which was entirely of
paper. The canvass scenes were not ex-
tremey combustibIe on the painted side.
but the fibre of the hemp on the reverse
eIdes rendered them dangerous. The mode of
exlG was nsumclent, there being but single
passage way for pit and boxes and one for
the gallery, and only through these could
Ehe audience reach the street. Theatres
those days could scarcely be emptied in
less than half an hour
lt was the fullest house of the season,
3ulIy oOO people being present When the
curtaln rose on the second act of the pan
Fonine light which was used in the repre-
eentatlon set fire to the scenery. When
fhe first alarm was given people rushed
wildly for the only avenue of escape: vet
kpany believed the danger bat slight, and
accordingly remained Cooily in their places
sather than cause additional exri. ement: but
= proved delusion, for before fifty persons
lad found their way to the street black,
hick smoke rushed upon I'll @ crowd soin.
fantan eonsly sutfocatlng that those who
ad yielded to their fears by crying sank
Fithout groan. The flames soon envelop
Il the stage, and from there with the rapid
~ of lightning, rushed along the facipgs
4 the upper tier, taking both sides at the
anne time. The house became totally
sarkened by the thick smoke, and in less
pan i've minutes from the time the first
larm " Fire was raised the whole audito- |
um was wrapped in flames, threatening
oevour every human being in the build |
Pc. Many were trod under foot, while |
fhers were thro wn back from the windows |
4om which they were struggling to leap.
mong those who persisted IN the flames |
as Miss Nancy Green, the daughter of the
aanager. None of the members of the
mpany lost their lives, but every thing be-
&nging to them was consumed.
BY this calamity sixty-seven people lost
selr lives, among them George w. Smith,
governor of the State. and very many
pore were seriously injured in effecting
heir escape from the burning building,
On the 18th of October, 1897. a manic
Yas caused by false alarm of fire at the
aGiers wells Theatre in London, and
ighteen persons were trampled to death
efore the house could he cleared
On the 18th June, 1876, re burst ont at
ne Royal Theatre, at Qaebec, during tbs,
erformance, and forty persons were
urned TO death within the b0lldiug.
January ID, 1865, the Royal Theatre at
dtnburgh tuck fire during the perfor
ance and unmber of lives, never exact
ascerraiued, were lost.
On tue 27th of December, 1858. Dnon 81 c
idden and as it proved false claim of fire f
ven at the Coburg Theatre, in Loudon, t
70 house being crowded with Christmas il
audience, a terrible rush to y
cape was made, in which, despite the q
roic exertions of the police and tie fire f
lgade, sixteen persons were killed and il
lmbers badly injured. v
AT Cincinnati, on February last. at a q
Atlnee performance at Robineon's Opera 81
ese the allegory of " The Great Repub Il
was oelng performed, under the aus p
y OF tne cincinnati Relief Union. THE y
Formers, to the number of nearly ak s,
ndred, were taken from the public b
ooIs, and the day being school holiday t,
audience was composed for the most n
&c of women and children. AT about2 :30 8,
Hook, while the house was densely pack is
and the thousands of children in the |,
1ience were at the height of their enjoy 81
INT, some boy, either through mischief or OF
ORANGE, shouted 4" fire !" as the red light if
Rd in the piece flashed out from the wings. A
ere was an immediate rush for the doors, ie
7 panic ensusd. In the narrow vesti- et
e leading to the street the scene was a -
rible one. Those in the rear pressed
IN those in front. and women and child
were trampled uuder foot. Ten people
killed outright, and hundreds more or
injured.
the 9th of May, 1875, a shocking
9SISNtrophe happened In the French Catho.
Church at South HolyOke, Mass, which,
many respects, was much like that in