The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-24
EXPLOSION IN A THEATRE.

GAS RECEIVER SHATTERED ON THE STAGE
or BALTIMORE THEATRE-FoUR MEN
HUsT-NAEEow ESCAPE OF THE AUDIENCE
lBS TELEGRAPH 10 THE HERALD.
BALTIMORE, Md, Jan. %, 1873.
panic was created al the Holiday Street Theatre.
Ia chs city this afternoon by the explosion OF gas
receiver Tor a calcium light, which resulted in
one man oeing dan erously wounded and several
others severely injured. II matinee perform.
sDce OF ''Evangeiine" now being played al that
ouse b. the Rico extravaganza Combination. The
thea,re was crowded 400 500 ladies' being among
thc audience 90 tue lower auditorium.
THE ALARM.
About fifteen minutes before two O'Clock terrific
e1plcs IA The aes startled the audience and there
was general rush Tor the Two blocks
distant The OF the explosion was dis.
.neuy heard, ADD tho front OF the theatre
~as 10 few minutes blocked up with
excited crowd Every possible effort was
made By toe empo S. OF the theatre to allay the
element, and TO tnese prssewortny Efforts must be
largely attributed ne prevention OF serious loss OF
lie. an be Ieaas OF ext, were thrown open, aud
the txS'ed audience squeezed and pushed their way
into the street. but there serious blocking OF
doorways, aud not a single person in the audience
was injured.
QUIET RksTORED
Before tho house had been emptied the rcassuring
efforts OF the ushers and managers, who announced
that there was really danger, had the effect OF
quoting the people, and the panic stricken crowd OF
iow moments before began to re-enter, and
in ten minutes every seat in the auditorium was
again occupied The rising OF the curtain
was delayed about thirty minutes and when II rol ed
up the stage WAS nlcd with smoke from tho explo.
stn. III cloud spread over the mouse, but DIS
appeared through the ventutors Ia the ceiling The
performances Was given in entirety and without any
iuri her incident OF note.
THE CAUSE ExPL sIoN
visit behind The scenes revealed the fact that u
copper gas holder, use0 IN supplying the calcium
lilnts on the stage, haa explode.
rne " ssei WAS torn fragments. and piece Of
IL was aurie through the drop curtain near the top
ana Gown across tho auditorium. 1t passed over the
heads OF tue audei Co in tue gallery without, however
Tor tue past year by Mr.. james Knapp Who
WAS considered To he thoroughly familiar
the apparatus. 1t Is supposed that hc made d mis-
tax. by pumping the oxygen gas iuto the cylinder
designed Tor the reception OF the hydrogen gas
When he applied lighted match to the aperture the
explosion followed instantaneously. AS already
stated, .he copper cylinder was shattered to rug
ments aud strewn about the stage, only one piece
bong blown across the line OF ioollights.
THE VICTIMS.
Tbs members OF the theatrical company wcrc for,u-
natcy IN ther dressing rooms unu thus all Of tpom
escaped injury. The tour persons who were woun ded
belonged TO the force OF mechanical ON pioyes VINO
y
their names
JAMES KNAPP Lett log horribly shattered and burned
below me knee he also sustained u severe cash in
the groin.
CHARLES RurrER-Rizht leg seriously but NO. dan.
gcrOusly burned.
CHARLES STREEr-Burned about the right hand
HENRY THoMpsoS--Lct nip injured.
Physicians were summoned and tho won nded men
made MS comfortable us possible Tho PHI slciuns adj
monished Knapp that his injuries likely prove
iataL The shattered leg was amputated, aud al ten
O'Clock tonight nc was removed 10 his homo. Ii
possible that lac may survive. None OF the OF hcrs
ataly injured Rutter's wound being the most serious.
Manager Gilmore was absent at WASN'T ngton at the
time The explosion occurred but reached The theatre
at three O'Clock, when he promptly made every
vision Tor the Comfort OF the injured, expressing much
sympathy for poor knapp In his misfortune.
MERKTMESr AND PAIN.
Few among tho audience were aware OF what had
occurred behind the scenes in nnection with tho
explosion and the humorous sahes OF the actors
were warmly appIauded by the spectators IN front
While the surgeons were saving OIL the shattered
bones OF Mr. Knarps leg and dressing the injuries OF
the others The house was crowded. again to night