The New York herald., 1876-11-09
CHINESE THEATRE DISASTER.
PARTICULARS OF THE PANIC IN A SAN FRAN
CISCO PLAYHoUsE--NINETEEN CHINAMEN
CRUSHED AND suFFocATrD TO DEATH-NINE
WOuNDED-STRANGE SCENES.

CISCO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CHINAMEN
CRUSHED AND suFFocATrD TO DEArH-NINE
woUNDED-sTRANGE SCENES.
From the San Francisco Post, Oct 81
The terrible consequences resulting from a panic
sezing mulitude OF human beings horribly illus
trated last evening at The Royal Chinese Theatre II
was tho occasion OF benefit to OF the favorie
actors and the building, No 622 Jackson street,
crowded to OVERLOOKING moro than 1000 persons being
present About midnight small fire was discovered
in the mating the floor by OF tho audience and
the fact hccdlessy shouted OUT acting like spark
in barrel OF gunpowdcr, bringing the spectators to
their feet and causing Simultaneous rush for the
door, each individual xious only for his SAFETY
as the nj all such times. From above and below
the frightened mass poured out surgng, frantic
crowd. and becoming Jammcd at the small entrance
progress was prevented and the gathering soon
became heavy for the stairs, which gave way and
prcciptated the crowd downward. The doors giving
way at the same time fell iorw ard with all their poa
derous weight crushing those upon whom they fell.
whlle the frightened ones behind jumped forward to
take advantage OF the opening made and passing
tho doors rendered all hope for tho victims underneath
out Of the question.
THE suRIEKs HowLs
OF the sufferers haa attracted the attention OF several
police officers who, hurryng to the spot and realizing
the situation sent word to the station for help, while
they endeavored to stop tho living stream that
pouring out Vigorous action was taken, and by dnt
OF strong and heavy clubs the crowd at last
prevailed upon to Its struggles. This was tho
moro easily accomplished. inasmuch as the nre had
been cxtinguishcd by Chinese convert named Adam
Quinn, and the fact becoming known efforts to mako
an exit were given over and quiet restored. Tho off,
GERS from the station arriving, the crowd was driven
back into the theatre, while attention paid to tho
dxpg
pitcous TO hear. Upon raising the door those under
meath were found with the life literally crushed out OF
their bodies In all there werc twenty eight bodies
carried out nineteen OF which quite Dead two
probably fatally injured and seven badly injured The
audience was then allowed 10 pass out All this time
the acting had been going on IN utter disregard Of tho
panic the players not comprchcnding tho nature of
the exit so suddenly attempted; but when the crowd
had all gone the actors followed IL and in their chastity
pap-covercd faces made fitting auxiliary to tho
irightiui tragedy, the denouement 10 which such
a dreadful reality. The scene in the street.
BEGGARs DESCRIPTION.
The news had travelled with all tho provcrbia speed
of tdings OF evil nature. and thousands OF Cinnamon
were gathered, their natural stolidny wakcncd into
gaping wonder at the sckcning sight OF tho bodies
lyIng the sidewalk the dcad with their CLASSY
aud st,n posture making hidcous contrast TO the
anguishcd groans and writings OF the injured Tho
debris from the broken portion OF the building WAS
pressed into service TO act ters upon which
convoy the wounded TO the Guy Prison Hospital who
a hcarsc aud wagon were used to convey the dead to
the Morguc. where they were deposited, nineteen
number. Many OF the dead were found without any
marks upon their persons except tue blood which had
spurtcd from their and in the agony sui
location. Several who were apparently dead revived
upon being taken rto the air. were taken to tho
City Prison HOSPITAL and cared for by DR. Stycrs.
OF the number ailerward sufficiently recovered to be
taken away. aud IS thought four out OF the remain
ing i've will recover the other ono beng given up
hopeless they all suffered from congestion OF the
brain. caused by the suung process through which
they had passed. This morning jury empan-
clled and viewed the bodies crowds OF both whites
aud Chinese wcro IN attendance at the Morgue tns
morning, seeking to gain admission to look at tho
dead and much dissatisfaction was expressed by the
whites because they were dcbarrcd the ghastiy pleas
urc while the Chinaman was granted The privilege.
The for it that the latter were admitted tor
The purpose OF Identification while tae purpose oil the
former could only have been the qualification Of
rmK SCENE AT rux xoRsuE
THIS morning there were nvc OF the yet living vsc-
Tins in the City Prison Hospital mono OF whom have
yet shown auy signs OF CONSCIOUSNESS One OF them
there is hardly any hope for but the Others, t Is be-
lcvcd will I've II has not been possible TO Identify
them, and the only way which their friends can
know that still live by seeing those who dead
al. OF whom now lying at the Morguc, and have
been identified with ono exception Crowds OF China
all tho morning continued TO flock to view The
bodies thcy were laid out cold and stln There Is
remarkable absence OF any marks of violence upon
the bodies, and many a Chinaman looks quite as re-
voting when merely asleep In ono or two Instances
legs broken but beyond that no violence Is evi
dent surocation having been the OF death IN
almost every instance. The friends OF tho dead as
they mss and show signs OF grief but look rs
iii were matter OF ordinary business they we're
transacng Following Is list OF the names OF those
were killed LIN the Ming Yung company-Tarm
An Kew, aged seventeen; Chm All Chew, thirty; In
Wan. twenty-four; Wong Kwok ON, forty-sx; Ko~
Moon, THIRTY six; Lee Sing Kons thirty eight; OK
Fong, forty-onc; Wong An iIaw, twenty Hop wo
Company--Kwok Pom, druggist on sacramento street.
aged thirty -four All Chu, ioarcen; Al su eighteen
Yam wo Company-Ah Kong thirty eight; Geo Pm
forts live. Yeong wo Company-Gow Wong, twenty
four; All Kong. whose company and ace are both un-
knowps aid one other. who is employed in the I'm
ching Laundry seventh street. between jefferson
and Clay, in Oakland MosSoi them were coolies, but
being OF tho better Class Tho tnqrsst will
be hcd tomorrow morning a. nine O'Clock