The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-19
THE SUNDERLAND CALAMITY.
Tho Fatal List OF Victims SweiIed to
ISS-HarrOMIng Details.
lBy cable 10 the Dispatch.


that occurred Saturday evening in Victoria
Hall, at Sunderland, is the subject OF uni
yersal unhappy comment. The hall was
surrounded yesterday by distressed and
excited crowds.
A number OF deaths have occurred since
the first report, and the fatal list is now
placed at 1SS. The rescuers' first efforts
were directed toward reaching children
who were apparently alive, but so tightly
were the victims iammed together that II
was regarded as dangerous to drag them
out OF the helpless mass less the effort
would result in pulling of the limbs Of
living children rs well as mutilating the
dead. They therefore proceeded steadily
and Systematically TO lift off the topmost.
A few OF those who were beneath had sur
yived, and their meanings and low cries OF
pain could be distinctly heard amid the
excitement and cries OF berelyed parents
and friends who were thronglng the ada
cent streets. The disaster was referred to
in all the churches in Sunderland to-day,
and by many OF the preachers in London,
and prayers were offered for the parents
and friends Of the victims.
The staircase from the gallery was n
winding one. Both the audience and the
HlItflN w liD NNlt III ltt ldli Ut tilN Alliit vi
the disaster were unaware for some time OF
the terrible tragedy that was being enacted
at the door. They were not informed until
Graham, the hall-keeper. who. strolIing
near the scene OF the calamity, was attract
ed by the groans and gave the alarm. Mr..
Fay, who gave the entertainment, was busy
packing up his apparatus to depart, when
a man rushed up to him and inform
ed him OF the disaster, and Immediately
fell down SPECIFICS in a fit. Some OF
the families whose homes were so suddenly
darkcned lost over three children. One
man and his wife pushed their way into the
hall in which lay the bodies OF the victims.
and without betraying any emotion began
to sean the faces OF the dead. Recognizing
the face OF one Of his children. the father.
pointing with his finger, exclaimed, .'That's
one" Passing on again, he recognized
another, and then third. Staggering i'm
fit OF agony, he cried, any God All my
family gOne!" and, overwhelmed with
grief, sank to the floor. In some homes
there are five children dead
Queen Victoria sent telegram to-day to
the Mayor of Sunderland expressing her
grief at the occurrence OF the disaster. The
children OF various Sunday schools also
sent kilograms OF sympathy. Flags were at
half-mast. One Sunday.school loses thirty
scholars by the catastrophe. Many OF the
survivors had their arms broken in the
crush. Others are suffering from broken
ribs or rupture Of internal organs. Gra-
ham, the hall-keeper, says that children
who were not twenty yards from the door
came pressing forward, unaware OF
the tragedy. thus making matters
ten times worse than they really
were. The faces Of the dead chill
dren were almost in every case black and
swollen from sullocation, from which many
died. The lips were cracked and parched
and noses bleeding, and the parents rush.
ing wildly about would fall upon the bodies,
and with loud wailing and weeping clasp
the unconscious forms in their arms, yaiDly
endeavorng TO note any sign Of life. Many
poor mothers swOOned away at the first
sight OF the dead, while others were wild
and almost violent in their hysterical grief.
The act Of removing the dead from the hall
to-day was an occasion for renewed amen-
tation and confusion. Many parents rushed
through the police Gordon appointed for
the preservation Of order, and there was a
scene OF great confusion.
One OF the Witnesses OF the calamity
stated to-day that for the first five minutes
OF the accident there was great lack OF
assistance, and from this cause alone there
were certainly 100 lives lost. The weather
was warm and the passage-way very close,
so that in short time after the catastrophe
horrible, sickening stencil came from the
pile OF cOrpses at the main outlet Of the
hall. The latest reports figure up 1SS dead,
and the grayest fears are felt that the num-
Der will yet be shown to have reached at
least 300. The eagerneSs OF the children
to depart from the hall was caused by
their desire TO receive prizes that
had been promised them. Graham
throws the blame for the calamity upon a
man connected with the entertainment,
who, it appeared, fastened the door half
open, in order that the prizes might be
given to the children one at a time while
they were leaving the hall.
Several OF the children who left the eX-
hbiti0n Saturday before the accident oc-
Cured state that they saw a man just be-
fore the rush partially close the door on the
! landing where the disaster took place. 1t
will be proved at the inquest that the man
bolted the door aiar in order to facilitate
| the distribution OF toys to the children as
they were leaving the premises. The bar
containing these toys is still standing near
the door.
Later.-The number Of deaths caused
| by the calamity in Sunderland has reached
| 1917