The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-12-20

Will be difficult, for most of them ar,
burned beyond recognition. The only
mode OF identifying will be by the
personal property found attached t,
the bodies Thus far i: is ouly
evident that the flames made com
m9n havoc with men, women anC
children.
Shortly before nine O'Clock Rev
Father Hanley visited the theater
and among the bodies recognized
was the brother OF Father Kyle
Father Kyle was also present, and
identified the body of his brother
The body was taken fcom the ruins
cbarred and blackened beyond recog-
nition Ia the breast pocket Of the
coat were number Of cards bearing
the name Of Abraham Barrett in
German text Bodies are constantly
being removed from the ruins and
are taken to the Morgue as fast as
possible. 1t is rnmo:ed that mum
her Of the attaches of the tteater are
burned. Itseems certain that Charles
Lott and his son, who were stationed
in the upper gallery, are among the
lost. The actors and actresses es-
capped from the stage into Johnson
street.
J. W. Thorp, stage manager, states
that tho FIRE occurred 10 this wise: 4
drop was iguited from border light
by some means inexplieable as one
was guarded from the other He
Immediately ordered stage carpenter
Weaver aud two supernumeraries 10
extinguish the flames, but the diff
cul,v was to reach the part on FIRE.
The stage carpenter, with the super
numerar:es. essayed to effect the OBJ
lee, bv lowering the drop, and 10 50
doing added fuel to the flames. The
scene. the last in the play, embraced
ceiled apartment and the instant
the burning drop came IN contac,
with tie inhammable ceiling it served
to spread the existing flames in a
fash. as though powder had preyi
ously been scattered about the scene
nv. The entire properties we're 10 a
blaze. The usual avenues of escape
were thus summsrilv closed at the
rear. and an exi,, if at all possible,
had to be made by way Of the box
entrance, All except perhaps one or
two thus escaped. 1t is now believ-
cd that the number of dead viii be
about one hundred aud twenty-five.
The courts adjourned this morning
without iransaeting any business
There is intense excitement 10 the
city, and business was partially sus-
peuded The Park Theaier has been
closed for the week 4 meeting OF
the theatrical profession has been
called for Thursday to concert meas
az. Tor reliei
Hon. Henry C Murphy, distiD-
guished ci,izen 81 Brossivn and well
known throughout the country. j.
among the missing.
Wagon loads Of rough boxes are
arriving in front of the tbeater. and
corpses are placed in them and Gov
cred with tarpaulins and carried TO
tho Morgue
Too seens gsOs- more terrible
every minute. Men and women
are ecrowding around the station house
and theater entrances. making inqui-
ries for missing friends. In some in
stances whole families have persisted
The bodies present every form of
contortiOn, just as they stifened 10
the last agony, when the foor gave
way aud they plunged down in the
binding smoke aud flames Arms
and legs are bent aud twisted in
every way, hands are eleucbed snd
reach cut as il grasping for helm The
f'ezt SAYS at about eleven O'Clock
horrible discovery vas made. In
the middle of what was the iobbv OF
the theater lay sn immense pile Of
rubbish. smouldering beans. frsg-
ments Of girders and other things.
This heap was nearly opposite the
principsl entrance TO the auditory of
the thes;er Bevond II was another
besp. marking the place where the
stairs which led TO the gallery fell
Under the heap first mentioned q
dead body was found, and The Ere
men diligently prosecuted tbeir search
in this direction. With much labor
some Of the heaviest lumber was re-
moged and q horrible sight was re-
vesled Beneath that m0und cornses
Law iu rnws beaDed one upon the
other packed together with fearful
s0lidity. which told nf the great pres
sure to which tbev had been suhiAes-
ed How MANY Law there. what their
sex or age. 10 man could -pll: and ct
noon onIv gueszes could he made
Another actor. Cisnde Burroughs.
i now reported missing Tins FER
bat three cnrpS-s bsye bsen identified
those of Hugh J Dover aud Niehn-
las KvIie. III Tillsrv street. and
John Woods. 10l Fleet place
The Brooklyn Argus states that ~
"a que o'clock ninety four bodies bad
been taken from the ruins. and others
were still vlsible, lying in layers four
deep.
The Morgue Is completely Sled
and bodies are uov carried - The
old msrke; building IN Adams street.
They cannot he recognized
A. txo O'Clock one hundred and
fifteen bodies have been recovered.
and there are probably a. manv more
within the ruins Some persons a.
sert that ~ one 10 the upner gallery
ofthe theate- ESCAPED The last msn
tina; len the stairs heSnrs thev feii
ssEs behind him ~ss q helpless, half
-uff5cated crowd.
on Washington street i Ice Of
horses and wagons, ready TO remove
bodies. Great crowds Of persons are
gathered ia lbs ueigaborhoed of tbe
Morgue TO identify relatives and
friends
required . force OF pOliSsnies 70
keep them rroB eFowding over each
other.
TIE actors themselves bad great
dificultv- in eFectiog their esespe-
Going 10 the back Of the stage. their
advance was cut OF BY tie flames