New-York tribune., 1881-03-25
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.
HEAY1 IUSS UF LItE.
FAMILY OF FIVE PERSONS AMONG THE DEAD-AN
AWFUL SCENE OF TERROR AND DIsMAY

n NAmlLI Of FIVE FbleoONS AmONd AhE DbAD-AN
AWFUL SCENE OF TERROR AND DIsMAY.
NICE Thursday. March a. 1881.
Up to o'clock this morning SO bodies had been
recovered from the ruins of the Italian Opera House,
which was destroyed by fire last night. One whole
family Of five persons and another family of three
persons are known to have perished.
The fire began after the curtain had risen for
the performance of Lucia di LammermoOr" The
subscribers for the orchestra stalls and boxes of the
grand tier had mostly not arrived. A majority OF
the victims belong to the working class. Shortly
after the fire began the gas exploded, and the house
was plunged into complete darkness. A scene OF
terror and dismay ensued which beggars descrip-
ton. A detachment of sailors from the squadron In
The harbor arrived on the scene with pumps and
displayed great gallantry In rescuing people and
combating the fire. which was subdued toward 10
o'clock. NJ. strakosch, the impressario was slightly
hurt. Signora Blanca Donald, one Of the leading
artiass. made her way from the stage to the street
safely.
Relief subscriptions for the sufferers have been
opened throughout Nice The regatta has been
countermanded and the value of tho prizes to have
been contested for will be contributed toward the
relief of distress.
The Times Paris correspondent says seventy per-
sons perished at Nice. Nothing now remains OF the
theatre but the four walls. 10 is uncertain whether
any of the were killed. but several were in
jared.
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
LONDON Friday. March 25 1881.
The Standards correspondent at Paris reports that
many persons were trampled to death in the stam-
pede to get out of the theatre at Nice.
II does not appear at present that any
Americans were among the Victims.
The sole occupant of the stage when the explosion
occurred was seen enveloped in flames.
The injury of NJ StrakOsch was only slight con-
fusion of the leg Eleven bodies are said to be
under the ruins.
The exits of the theatre were very narrow and
badly arranged.
The DdiIv ketrS's correspondent at Paris says Sig
nora DOnadio. who lately achieved trlumphs on the
Venetian and Mlanese stages, was to have appeared
for the first time at the opera house at Nice on the
night of the fire. ,
gas-Iet set fire to some of the scenery. As the
eurtain was down the public were unaware OF the
danger until the gas exploded, when the smoke 0e-
themselves from the small windows near tine rOot OF
SIxty-nne bodies have so far been recovered. The
victims are mostly Italian artisans Among the
dead IS q German doctor named AreBd.
IAmong the friends OF Mr. William Walter Phelps
some. uneasiness existed yesterday because he had
been last heard from nc Nice; and this
&5sfisightssod by newspaper stories OF his having
been In tho opera honse on the night OF
the fire. There is absolutely no foundation
for this report, and there IS now strong
reason for believing that he not in Nice at all at
the time OF the fire. The last letter from him there
was dated March o. Meantime letters as far back
as March 4, from STUTTGART, said he was expected
there within few days to accompany his daughter
(who has been at school in Stuttgart through the
winterl to Paris.