, 1877-01-10
THE WHOLESALE HOLOCAUST ar
THE BROOKLYN THEATRE.
MEN, WOMEN AND CHtLDRBR BURIED IN
THE BLAZING RUINS.
997 Bodies Recovered.
An American paper says:

at would be impossible TO describe the scene
that ensued on the discovery of the fire. At
the appearance OF the flames In the flies a
murmur went through the audience az of sur.
prise, which quickly turned into q CRY Of horror
as the fire, leaping upwards and curling about
the scenery, cracked and roared as Il swept
through the light woodwork. 1t was the work
Of an instant, and, almost before the audience
had fully realized the awful situation, the
entire stage trappings overhead were one mass
of fire. The cry of Fire Fire T. rang from
the galleries, end, amid the shrieks of the
women and the curses Of the men, a rush was
made for the door. The men we're as Wild as
the women, and every one seemed intent upon
saving himself, regardless Of what might befall
anybody else. 1t was he law of self. preserva-
lion asserting itself In selfish struggles 10 escape.
Strong men fought with desperation 10 make
tbeiT way towards the doors, and in endeaVOur-
ing TO do so trampled down he women In their
way, who, struggling and shrieking, cried out
hopeleSsly for help. 1t was oil in vain that a
few men, more self possessed than others,
endeavored to calm The fears of the afrighted
crowd, and that a cry came from the stage that
all would be over 10 a minute. The rush for
the vsstibule continued. The seats we're broken
down 10 the general confusion. With the des-
peration Of extreme fear, the struggling men
aud women tugged and hung on to one another
as they pushed their way down from the
galleries-many, overcome with fright, falling
to the floor only to be bruised and crushed by
the terrified multitude behind them. Fortu-
nately, the vestlbuls was a large one, and she
doors opened freely In and out on what are
called double acting hinges, else there might
have to be chrOnicled one Of the most frightful
disasters that ever occurred In this country.
Even as 1t vas, the vestibule was too small to
prevent a scene of the widest confusion and
terror az the crowd from the dress circle
and galleries and that from the PArquet
met in the vsstibule near the doors, and
for q moment or 90 the crash threatened a
dire calamity. Men, women, and children
were huddled together in one writhiDg,
shrieking mass, and, so tightly we're they
wedged near the door, that it was almost an
impOssibility for the police, who had come 20 tho
rescue early, to make q break through the crowd
In order to relieve those in front from the pres
sure of the terrified people behind, who were
madly endeavouring to reach the street, hatless
and ~coatlsss. Some of the men fought with the
energy of giants to pull down those who were in
their way, while cries of despair and shrieks of
agony rent the cir on all sides. Many of the
womss were dragged ont of the crowd by the
polise with their clothes torn to shreds, several
Of them having their dresses stripped off their
backs. The policemen succeeded finally in
getting the vistibule cleared. The side walk at
this time was Uttered with dresses. mufs, hats.
and shawls, and many women, 80 they found
themselves safe In the street, fell fainting to
tAe ground. The excitement 10 the neighbour