The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-12-14

leaving tie norgue gentlemen was struS-
ciipg 10 get in st the door provided only
for es res, making pitsous appeal - n
man ia blue inside to permi. him 10 enter
to search ior dear friend, who was suppos-
ed to be smcng the cha1Ted remains within.
lie said be was il the theatre at the time
oil the FIRE, with his vile and friend.
They were in the dress circle, well away
| from the door. No sooner had he csst ms
eyes upon Miss Clsxtcn, who was upon the
stage when the curtain rose, than he saw
| flames darling up among the border work.
At FIRST he thought the gas had been turned
! un too full, and the Jets were squirting up
in consequence. Suddenly the word Fire"
rang on, FROM the gallery. Then woman
FASTENED to Miss Claxton and acted in .
most excited manner, as il urging her to
get up and leave. His wife clutched at
his shoulder and said,
"rEE HOUSE Is AFIRE;
| let us N axe for the door," In an instant he
saw i, was q rush for life. People in the
better parts Of the house began attempting
to auis, the fears of the people by e1claim-
| Ing: "Sit down. keep your seats" etc.
| But psnic had apparently occurred IN
the gallery. There was a terrible noise.
Some could be heard jumping from seat 10
seat, instead OF waiting to get out IN the or
binary manner. immediately the stream
OF people from the inside reached the doors,
there was a block, The flames shot up
among the scenes, behind the couiisses, and
swept over to the roof, oyer the orchestra
and auditorium, ciingiDg to the ceiling, as
| il we're, darling wider and wider each In
slant over the heads Of the struggling peo-
! pie in the dress circle. Volumes of smoke
began to descend in an oblIque line from
the top OF the stage. At this time his wife
| tainted, and he took her up in his Ards.
His friend disappeared, and has not since
| been seen.
| SAVED HIS WIFE.
| Now there was a desperate struggle. Per-
| Sons from the gallery and elsewhere had
blocked the doors, and there were many be-
hind him in the dress circle, pushing vio-
lently, one even clutehing at the head Of
his wife as she hung over his shoulder.
Slowly they were making for the doors,
when the flames from the ceiling seemed to
dart down and meet the jets from the CASA
iier. Then there was dreadful yelling and
crowding at the doors, men and women
struggling desperately for every inch gain
ed. A horrible accident occurred. A lady
partly suffocated, like the rest Of them, had
fallen and could not be lifted, and as evil
IDENTIFY trampled to death. But there was
no time to think. He passed over several
forns. Looking behind for an instant he
saw there was frlghtful panic in the the
atre. The gas or something else had ex
ploded, the lights were out, the flames roar
ed and the pieces of wood and plaster fell
upon the heads Of thUe at distance
"MEaCYp "MY GOD, SAVE NE"
and names Of husbands and brothers wert
shouted. The heat was intense, for the fire
was rapidly closing upon them. Arm:
we're thrown up in an attempt to force d
passage, as men somes do when swimming
and dozens must have been swept under
and trodden to death. He had now nearly
reached the door. All ut once q fearful
crash came, as if the gallery or ceiling had
fallen. "Murder~ "Helpp "Helpr
seemed to be shouted from hundred lips
He turned, as he felt the fresh air blow
upon his face, and saw behind something
like q dark wall. He then felt that al
least $50 people were shut in to certain de.
struction. But the groaning and yelling
continued wore than ever. Beyond this
wall he could see bright flames, which
seemed to swell and surge in terrible
manner. On gaining the street he found
still more excitement but he had to hurry
to Fiatbush avenue, where he lived, to have
his wife attended to, IA she remained in q
fainting condition. He was at the morgue
to look for his poor friend.
This was told in such a pathetic, straight
forward manner. that it was impossible to
attribute any Of the terror to imagination.
L |