The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-17
DEATH BY FIRE.
Burning Of the Ring Theater Mt vienna,
Austria-Oyer 700 Lives Reported Lost
Terrible and Thrilling Scenes.

The Hciner ALg7neiRe ZeitJHg, whose offices
are exactly opposite the Inflated Ring Theater,
gives a graphic account Of the catastrophe, of
which the following is an extract:
We write with death in our hearts, unable
TO find words to describe the pain which we
suffer. A terrible calamity befell our city
last night. The Ring Theater, formerly
known as the Opera Comique, is in ashes, and
hundreds of human beings are victims OF the
catastrophe Nothing like this horror has
ever occurred before in this CITY,
cat ten minutes to seven the fire broke out.
The theater was pretty well filled, but happily
not entirely crowded. A considerable number
of people were still in the dressing-rooms, and
a dense mass of carriages occupied the Schalten
Ring. II had just commenced to snow, and in
the auditorium of the theatcr there was the
usual hustle before the commencement of q
performance-pcople walking up and down
looking for their places, and the noise Of turn.
ing down seats was heard on all sides. Tue
boxes were still empty, but the balcony and
galleries were well filed. On the stage
everything was in state of &C.
tNity and hustle, the worllingmen re:
moving scenery, etc. OfTenbach's comic
OPERA LES Counties D'Hoffman" was to be
performed for the second time. Some Of the
singers and actors had already taken their
places on the stage in costume, but largo
number were still in the drcssing-roOms in the
hands of the costumcrs and hair-dresscrs The
overture had not yet begun. How the fire
commenced cannot yet be definitely stated
and probably it will never be known. Accord
ing to one version the scenery was ignited by
a spark from electric machinery. According
o11
caused the disaster. The former version is
the more likely one. Director Helemes-
berger, who stood upon the stage, was the
first to notice the fire A moment after the
"fliesn were wrapped in flames and the net
work of wood, ropes and canvas was burning
like finder The people on the stage were
stupefed with fear at first, and they speedily
took to fight in most terrible confusion to-
ward the ladies' dressing-rooms on the left Of
the stage, where a small staircase led to
Hohenstaufen Strasse. In moment the cur
tain flew up and draft blew it hither and
thither until like a fiery tongue, it darted
back and forth from the auditorium to the
stage. The fire then became master of the
Ring Theater.
Fire fire the Ring Theater is on frel"
was the cry that went from mouth to ear,
On Ring Strasse the flames were already
bursting through the roof, and cries, such as
Vienna never heard before, filled it. They
seemed not like the cries of human beings,
but such awful accents as can be heard only
in death struggle. The scene was indescrib-
able, all those inside the fated building
pushing their way toward the street, which
was crowded at all points. The audience
from the theater struggled and crushed each
other, and confusion reigned supreme. Sue
denly cries were heard from the windows OF
the theater leading to the Ring. The balcony
over the entrance was soon emptied, ARD the
cries of those at the windows and of those
| within the theater were awful, and swelled
| louder and louder. The mass of people in the
street was growing denser constantly
The following is the narrative of Herr Lind.
man, an actor engaged in the theater: SIT
was Gas, and the second signal had been
| given to the actors that in quarter of an
hour the performance would begin. was in
my dressing-room, and on hearing the alarm
rushed on the stage and found myself in
sea of flames. A violent draught Of air rose
and perfect column of fire seemed to rush
against the curtains, which it quickly pierced
Then a stream of fire poured into the theater
]
horrifying scream-a single cry of unspeall
able terror and fearful despair"
He then described the scene of the members
of the chorus flying to reach the doorway and
escape from the fire.
Inspector Nitzoe escaped from his dwelling
in the upper story. He describes the fearful
scene in the auditorium as follows: "The
people lay there in heaps, and many in the
strangest postures Some had their hands
stretched out imploringly, and there were 9th
ers whose nails were driven into the flesh in
pain and despair"
A lady who was in the third row Of the par
quette at the time of the disaster says: 81
was just about TO take out my opera-glass
from its case, when suddenly l remarked
that the curtain was driven out violently
towardme. A sheet of fire poured out i'm
mediately after over the seats. grasped
my friend by the arm and hurried toward the
central entrance, but in a moment all the
lights were extinguished, and we were in com
plete darkness Only by keeping firm hold
of the railing were we enabled to grope our
way down the stairway. Suddenly, to my
horror, found that my friend no longer chung
TO me. ! 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 fugitiyes
and saved"
LATER-EvENISG.
Researches show that the upper gallery must
have fallen into the pit, where the only re
mains found are small fragments Of bones
Beyond doubt 800 gallery tickets had beer
issued. Only 100 Of these are known to have
jumped from windows, and competent judges
fear the loss of life will be found to be fully
700.