Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-10
THE VIENNA FIRE.
Four Hundred Bodies Re.
covered.
Maine Men Safe.

LONDON, Dec. 9.
A late telegram from Vienna, dated this
morning, says: Two hundred AID seventy
bodies have been recovered from the ruins of
the burning theatre. The fourth gallery has
not been explored. 1t is believed that not 4
single person escaped from that gallery. The
corpses last removed are little more than
charred fragments. Gross neglect is charged
against the management of the theatre. The
law prescribes for the use of oil lamps
in the corridors of the theatre, SO that
exits shall be discernible in the event of the
failure of the gas. but this precaution was
utterly neglected. The person in charge OF
the iron curtain between the stage and aud
itorium, appears to have fed at the first
alarm.
VIENNA, Dec. ..
Ten thousand forms has been subscribed
on Bourse this morning in aid of the fam
lilies of the victims of the FIRE, who are prob
ably far more numerous than was at first be-
lieved. Business on Bpurse was suspended
during the morning.
LONDON, Dec. ..
The Central News Association has a dis
patch from Vienna. dated this afternoon, say
Ing: -Four hundred corpses have thus far
been taken from the ruins of the burned
theatre
VIENNA, Dec. 9.
The lower house of the Reichsrath ad-
journed its sitting today, at the suggestion of
the President. after several sympathetic
speeches. Hope was expressed that an ample
fund would be raised for the relief of the
sufferers by the fire.
The official report states that of the l57
bodies, taken to the hospitals. 90 are those
men, Al of women and 20 are so badly burned
that that the sex is indstinguishable. Ii ap-
pears that five water tips, above the stage.
might have been Of material assistance in
checking the fire at the outbreak, were not
used in consequence of the panic which en-
sued. Researches show that the upper gal
lery must have fallen into the pit. where the
only remains found are small fragments of
bone. Beyond doubt 900 gallery tickets had
been issued. One hundred holders of these
are known to have jumped from the windows.
Competent judges fear that the loss Of life
will be found to be fully 700. Nothing has
been heard of the members of the orchestra.
The subscriptions raised Bourse now
amounts to % 200 pounds. All newspapers
have opened subscription lists. The En-
peror has given a large sum. Officials of the
theatre state that it was absolutely impossi-
Bile to lower the iron curtain owing to the
frightful rapidly with which the flames
spread.
The audi nee last night was larger than
usual owing to the fact that the day was
a holiday. There were about 200 on the
stage and in the adjoining dressing rooms at
I outoresk of the fire. The ballet corps
were only half-dressed. On the extinguish-
ing of the light they all rushed to the stage
door and many were knocked down and
trampled upon but most of them reached the
street without serious injury The galleries
were crowded and the pit was fairly full, but
owing to earlness of the hour there were on
ly few persons in the stalls and boxes. In
the panic the persons responsible for the
safety of the theatre neglected to use the
means for telegraphing to the fire engine
station which was at their disposal. The au-
'dience were consequently left for ten min
utes struggling in the darkness for means of
exit. Persons whose bodies were first re-
covered seem mostly to have died from suf-
location, but other bodies presented shock
ing spectacle.
collection among the members of the
lower house of Reichsrath amounts to ) 1000
fiorins. The theatre, the property of the
state, was insured for 900 900 forms. The
lessees lose 100. 900 forms.
The funeral of the victims will be Sunday
The number of persons actually reported to
missing are 500.
BOsroN, Dec 9.
As the burning of the theatre in Vienna
last night, in which many lives were lost
has caused anxiety in regard to young Amer
lean physicians staying there, the following
private dispatch received here. will aliay
anxiety: Drs. A l.. Kennedy, Horace Pack
of Bath, Me-. are safe.