River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-22
VIENNA,S VICTIMS.
a Fire in the Old CouetrS HHat s.~'
ceeds Anything iu the History of the
world in Loss of Life

ceeds Nnyihine in the History of the
world in Loss of Life.
VIENNA, Dac. 9.-The Wiener Ale
genuine Zeitltno, whose office is directly
opposite the Inflated Ring theatre,
gives graphic account of the catastro-
phe, OF which the following is an ex-
tract: We write with death III our
hearts, unable to find words to describe
the pain which we suffer. A horrible
calamity befell our city, to day. The
Ring Theatre, formerly the Opera
Comique, is in ashes, and hundreds of
human beings are victims Of the catas-
trophe. Nothing like this horror has
ever occurred before in this country.
At ten minutes before seven O'Clock
was pretty well filled, but happily
not entirely crowded A considerable
number Of people were still in the Foyer
and dressing rooms, and dense mass
of carriages occupied the Scholten
ring. It had just commenced showing
and in addition to the Auditorium
theatre, there was the usual hustle be-
fore the commencement of the per-
formance People walking up and
down looking for their places, and the
noise of turning down seats was heard
on all sides. The boxes were still
empty, but the balcony and galleries
were well filled. On the stage everything
was in a state of activity and hustle.
The workingmen were removing the
scenery, etc. Offenbach' s comic opera,
Lies Contes d'Hoffman," was to be
played for second time. Some SUI
al, 4 +,ly
their places on the stage in costume,
but large NUM- Der, however, we're still
in the dressing rooms in the hands Of
the costumers and hair dressers. The
overture had not yet begun. How the
fire commenced cannot yet be definite
ly stated, and probably it will never be
known. According to one version the
scenery was ignited by q spark from
the electric machinery. According to
another statement a workman with an
alcohol lamp caused the disaster. The
former version is the most likely one
Director Helemburger, who stood on
the stage, was the first to notice the
fire. In moment "the flies" were
wrapped in flames, the network of
wood, ropes and canvass burning like
finder.
All those inside the building were
pushing their way towards the
street, which was crowded at all points J;
the audience from the theatre strug-
gled and crushed each other IN the per-
istlle and foyer, and confusion reigned
supreme. Suddenly cries were heard
from the windows of the theatre lead
ing to the Ring balcony. Over the en-
trance was soon emptled, and
the cries of those at the windows
and of those within the theatre were
awful, and swelled louder and louder.
TIE mass of people in the street was
growing denser constantly. All the
morning papers give long heartrend-
ing accounts of the catastrophe. Most
of them place the number of dead at
three hundred, but with persons who
were in the Alb gallery yet to hear
from, the number will be swelled to
500 al least. Even the police seem re-
luctant TO speak of the extent of the dis
aster. Neither fremen nor soldiers
have as yet offered to penetrate the
dreadful scene. The fremen who
had assisted i'll bringing out
the bodies from the third gal
lery being asked Glow many per-
sons do you think there are on the
fourth gallery?" 1.-TWO hundred, and
possibly four hundred. We shall not
know how many are dead until the
people of Vienna send in a list of the
missing ones to the police" was the
reply. The origin Of the fire is not yet
established to certainty, but of the
cowardice Of the officers and attend
ants, who should have let down the
iron screen, and the general want of
provision in the event of such catas-
trophe, there remains no doubt.
VIENNA, Dec, 10.-The official list of
identified corpses, gives one of them as
Master Baar, from America. Among
the missing persons reported by the
hotel keepers, is merchant named
Buckwitz, of York, who is either an
Englishman, or American.
The latest information is that the
total loss of life will exceed one thou
sand.