Daily globe., 1881-12-11
Tho Vienna Horror.

LONDON, Dec. 10.-A Vienna dispatch says,
Count Tafe, president of the Austrian minis
try, and several archdukes assisted sufferers at
the fire. In one passage of the theater with
out an outlet, forty persons lost their way,
and being unable to return, suffocated. En-
peror Francis Joseph has subscribed $4,000
forins for relief of the sufferers.
Additional details of the Vienna fire state
that on the arrival of the fire brigade it was
found impossible to penetrate bevond the first
tier of the theater, the rush of suftocating
smoke and air extinguishing the lamps and
torches. The firemen retired under the mo-
mentary impression, because their shouts
were not answered, that there were
no more people in the theater. Those who
escaped on the first alarm, however, soon I'm
deceived them. Another effort was then made
to penetrate parts of the theater which were
not actually blazing. In narrow passage be-
tween the second and third galleries mass of
corpses was discovered, some SO closely inter-
locked that it was hardly possible to part
them. The first man discovered was got out
alive but all the rest were dead. These were
persons who had lost their way in consequence
of turning off the gas, which, 1t is now as
certained, was done by some irresponsible per-
son with a view to prevent ;an an
r hands soms wsEs esss oSa Ond tbroa mh
Subsequent investigation showed that in some
cases persons finding escape hopeless, COM
mitted suicide. 1t is stated by Survivors that
women were seen to throw their children from
the galleries into the pit. At the time of the
outbreak Of the flames the gallery espec ally
allotted to the ladies was full. Among the
missing are young Count Sigismund Festaties
and several other students from the private
military college. About 10 o'clock the gas
AZ lodi aI oil ha WI boll
thing was reduced to wreck.
VIENNA, Dec. 10.-Further inquiries as to
the origin of the fire at Ring Theatre, estab-
lish the fact that the persons entrusted with
the duties of firemen on the stage, ran off af-
frighted at the first blaze. One even tumbled
headlong from the flies to the stage floar, and
another, who had charge of the gas, thinking
an explosion had occurred, or would occur,
turned off the gas at the metre, throwing
the theatre into total darkness
until it became Illuminated
with blaze of the confagratlon, the reserve
petroleum lamp, placed in the theatre six
months before by order of the police, mad not
been lighted after the first month OF the order.
There was wire gauze curtain ready to be
let down in such case of emergency, and sup
posed to be a attended by special mechanic
well drilled in his duties. Had this curtain
been lowered, it is probable that every person
the attendant could not find the apparatus
box, or he was also seized with panic. Any
how he ran and saved his own life, at the
expense of 600 or more lives, for whom
Vienna is mourning to-day. Herr Forster,
who huilt this death trap styled the Ring
theatre, says that had this curtain been low
cred the fire would not have extended beyond
the stage.
On account of danger of the walls falling,
y af ba hQ
ruins has been suspended until supports have
been erected. In the reichstrath today Count
Taafe, president of the council and minister of
the interior, said rigorous measures would be
taken against any one proved guilty of culpa-
BILE negligence. He presented a credit of e500
for the sufferers, which was voted
through all the stages. The government has
ordered that two policemen shall go to each
theatre an hour before the commencement of
tions have been taken to guard against fire.
The report that the number of missing per-
sons is 1900 is certainly an exaggeration.
The theatre was only capable of holding 1, 100,
and some portions were empty. At
l o'clock this afternoon the stair case
on the left side collapsed. Fire broke out
again this evening at the corner of Ringstrasse
close to the theatre ruins, but was promptly
subdued. The funeral of the victims will
take place Sunday morning The private
interments will commence Sunday with those
of DR.. Groag and his wife. A large grave
has been prepared for the burial OF unidentif-
ed bodies which will be maintained for all
time at the expense of the municipality. The
members of the Reichserath will take part
in a body. Solemn services will be held in
all churches Tuesday. The synagogues all
being much crowded. The relief fund now
amounts to $4,000 forins. The house will be
Monday ha Or6a oil
theaters to be kept closed Sunday.
New YORK, Dec. 10-On Monday, Decem-
Der 10, the management of Thalia theatre
will give matinee, the proceeds of which
will be sent to Vienna for the benefit Of the
sufferers from the'fire IN Ring theatre. Sub
scriptions will also be received and forwarded
by cable order.