Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-12-10
AUSTRIA.
The Vienna Horrer.

LONDON, December "a later telegram
from Vienna, dated this morning, says 20
bodies have been removed from tho ruins
of the Ring Theater. The fourth gallery
has not yet been explored. 1t is believed
that not single person escaped from this
gallery, and very few escaped from the third
gallery. The bodies last recovered are lit
tie more than charred fragments.
Gross neglect is charged against the man
agement of the theatre The law prescribcs
the use of oil lamps in the corridors OF
theatres, so that il fire occurs the exits
shall be discernible in the event OF
failure Of the gas, but this precaution was
utterly neglected. The person in charge OF
the iron curtain between the stage and au-
ditorium appears to have fled at the first
alarm.
Graphic Description OF the Fire.
VIENNA, December 9.-The Wiener AAe-
oeu,eiae Zeitang, whose Office is exactly OPP
posite the Inflated Ring theatre gives
a grapic account of the catastrophe. The
following is an extract:
We write with death in our heart, unable
TO find words TO describe the pain which We
suffer. A terrible calamity befell our city.
to-day. Ring Theatre. formerly known as
the Opera Comique, is in ashes,
Hundreds OF Human beings
are victims OF the catastrophe and nothing
like this horror has ever occurred IN this
city
At ten minutes before o. the fire broke
out. The theatcr was pretty well filled,
but happily not entirely crowded. con.
siderable number OF persons were still
in the foyer and dressing rooms and
dense mass of carriage occupied
Schaltcn ring. II had just commenced
showing, and in the auditorium of the
theater there was the usual hustle before
the commencement of the performance.
People were walking up and down looking
for their places, and noise OF turning down
of seats was heard on all sides. The boxes
were still empty, but the balcony and gal
leries were filled.
On the Stage
everything was in a state of activity and
hustle, working men removing scenery &c.
Ofenbach's Comic Opera, LES Contcs
De Hoffman" was 10 he performed
for the second time. Some Of
the singers and actors hal al
ready taken their place on the stage IN
costume, but the larger number of them,
I,
the hands OF the costumcrS and hair dress
ers. The overture had not yet begun.
How the fire commenced cannot yet be
definitely stated. and probably will never
be known. According to one version,
the scenery was ignitcd by spark
from the electric machinery. According
to another, workman with an alcohol
lamp caused the disaster. The former
version is the more likely the one.
Director Helmsburger, who stood upon
the stage, was the first ono
To Notice the Fire.
In A moment after the flies were wrap
ned i'm flames. and the net work, wood.
paper and canvas was burning like
finder. The people on the statgc
were stupciicd with fear. ut first, and they
speedily took flight in the most terrible
confusion toward the ladies dressing
rooms. -,
On the left OF the stages, where the small
staircase led to IIohcnSlauieng street. In
a moment the curtain flew up and draft
blew it hither and thithcr until
Like Fiery Tongue
il ,lart5d hack and forth from the audi.
torium to the stage, The fire became master
of Ring Theatre. Fire! fire! the Ring
Theatre on fire, was the cry that went from
mouth To mouth on Ring Strasse.
| The flames were already bursting through
the roof and cries such rs Vienna never
heard before, filled the air. They seemed
not to like the cries Of
Human Beings.
| but such woful accents rs can be heard in
death struggle only. The scene was inde-
scribablc.