The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-17
,staDa as spectator o dc mos. appalling
a1d hcartrcndins scene Of modern times.
I3odies could be ntalling from the upper

stand as spectators to the most appaillh5
and heartrcnding scene Of modern times.
'I3odies could be seen falling from the upper
aAoors into the white fire below, some still
and limp as though lifeless, others III the
widest movements of agony. One was
seen to plunge from the highest part Of the
house. 1t was that of a man, and it Went
down head foremost, both arms crossed I'M
der the face.
A1ady who was in the third row of the
parouct when the fire broke out says: "
was lust about to take out my opera glass
from its case when suddenly observed
that the curtain was driven out violently
toward me. A sheet Of fire poured out
Immediately after over the seats. grasped
my lady friend by the arm, and hurried
toward the central entrance but IN mo,
ment all the lights were extinguished, and
we were in complete darkness. Only by
keeping firm hold of the railing were we
enabled to grope our way down the STAIR
way. Suddenly, to my horror, | found
that my friend no longer chung to me. l
screamed out her name, and to my delight
[ was answered She caught hold Of me
again, and we were crushed out through
the darkness with the living mass Of fugi-
tives and saved.
Whatever may have been the origin of
the fire, there seems to be no doubt that
the management of the theater are guilty
of gross neglect in not providing against
such a catastrophe Nor is there any
doubt of the cowardice of the person IN
charge of the iron curtain between the stage
and auditorium, who fed at the first alarm.
Had he stood at his post and let down the cur
tain, every person in the auditorium might
have been saved. 1t is as yet impossible
to ascertain the number of those who per-
ished in the fire. Only small part of the
audience escaped, and many of these are in
hospital, badly burned and otherwise lnJur-
ed. Among the missing is the wife of
Hellmersperger, the court musical director.
The Bourse is closed in consequence of
the calamity, and the city is plunged In the
deepest gloom. At the Cathedral and in
all the churches tomorrow masses for the
souls of the victims will be said. The
scenes attending the removal Of the charred
bodies of the dead beggar description.
Ten thousand forms were subscribed on
the Bourse this morning in aid Of the fam
lilies of the victims Of the fire, who are
probably far more numerous than was at
first believed.
The lower House of the Reichsrath adj
lourned its sitting to-day, at the suggestion
of the President, after several sympathetic
speeches. Hope was expressed that an am
pie fund would be raised for the relief of
the sufferers by the fire.
The official report states that Of 1871
bodies taken to the hospitals, 90 Of those
are men and II those of women, and 20 are
SO badly burned that their sex is undistin-
guishable.
1t appears that five-water taps above the
STAGE. which might have been Of material
assistance in checking the fire at the out
break, were not used in consequence Of the
panic which ensued.
Ecening.-Researches show that the up
per gallery must have fallen into the pit,
where the only remains found are small
fragments of bone.
Beyond a doubt 900 gallery tickets had
been issued One hundred holders of these
are known to have jumped from 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 subscription raised
on the Bourse now amounts to E2S,00O.
All the newspapers have opened subscrip-
ton lists.
The Emperor has given alarge sum. An
official of the theatre says that it was abso
lutely impossible to lower the iron curtain,
owing to the frightful rapidity with which
the flames spread.