The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-06-26
FROM OVER THE WATER.
DIsaster--Nearlyt zoo
Children Trampled to Death.

LONDON. June ia terrible calam-
ity inyolying the death of It's children
occurred In Sunderland, County Dur
ham. Saturday evening. From details
received it appears entertainments were
given at Victoria Hall by q conjurer,
which were attended almost altogether
by children, several thousand being in
attendance The accident occurred at
the close Of the performance. The body
Of the hall had been entirely cleared Of
its occupants, when some 1,20O of the
little ones came rushing down stairs
from the gallery. At the top OF the frs,
flight OF stairs was door which opened
only twenty inches, aud thus Shut '.one
child was permitted to pass through at
q time. At this point, while the mass
Of children was pushing forward, one OF
them fell, and was unable to rise again
owing to the others crowding. The re,
suit was that great number were push
ed down, tramlled upon and suf, f,,cated
The scene was terrible. ny effort
could stop the mad rush OF the afrighted
children. They came on pell.mell,
though. strangely, without much shout
ing, and soon LIS were knocked down
and suffacated to death by others tram
pling upon them. The greater, number
of bodies which we're badly uiangled
from trampling laid seven or eight feet
deep. Many victims who were not kill.
ed had their clothing torn from their
bodies. and this. together with the bleed
ing bodies Of the unfortunates. shows
the terrible nature Of the struggle, The
iges OF the 17S children known to have
been killed ranged from four to fourteen
years AZ
Excitement In the town when the
news OF the disaster spread was terrific
Great crowds rushed to the scene, until
90 600 pers.ns surrounded the hall y
The feeling was so intense ihat.the- au
thorities ordered out the Sixtv-eiyhth
Infantry TO preserve order The work
nf getting out the hodies was hegun i'm
mediately They we're laid ont in the
hall, and the parents of those killed
we're admitted TO identify the bodies O.
their children. The most heart rending
scenes tran pirei while the Identification
was In progress VI ,thers nf the dead
children constantly uttered piercing
shrieks. and manv tainted on discover
ing the boiics of ther little one.
LONDON, June l8.-The terrible ca
lamity OF Saturday evening is the auh-
jet OF universal and unhappy comment
The j.nitor says The scene behind that
gallery door was fearful. Some children
we're fixed upright In the heap, and ac-
,ually gasping for breath, 40 great wa.
the pressure of the crowd behind them
The maj ,rity OF the children in The hall
were under twelve years of ages
The latest reports figure up 1SS dead,
and the gravest fears are felt that the
number will yet reach 200 sTheleager-
ness OF tho children to depart from the
ball was CAUSED by their desire 10 re
ceive the pr;z.s promised thense-Gra-
ham throws the blame for the calamity
upnn man connected with ttie'enter-
talnment. who it appears fastened the
doors hslf open in order that the piiz IS
might he given 10 the children one at a
time while they were leaving the hall.
So tightly were the victims jsmmed
together that It was regarded as dan
gerous to drag them out OF the helpless
mass, lest the efnrt wouldresult In pull
ing off limbs OF The living children, as
well as the mulilated dead They, there.
fore, proceeded steadily and lsystfmsiie
ally to lift off the topmost A NfewS Of
those who were beneath ehadussatt5ved,
and their moaning and low cries sof' pain
could be distinctly heard amid the ex !.
citement and cries of the bereavfd par
ents and friends who were thronS!ng the
adjacent streets.
One man and wife pushed over their
way into the hall in which lay the bodies
of the victims, and, without betraying
any emotion, began To scan the faces Of
the dead Recognizing the face OF one
of his children, the father. poin,ing with
his finger, exclaimed. "That's one."-
Passing on again he recognized another,
and then g third Staggering, in fit OF
agony, be cried, "Mv God All nv
family gone u and. overwhelmed with
grief, sank 10 the foor. In some homes
there are five children dead.
One sad incident was witnessed In the
vicinity OF the hall. A lad was sitting
on the railing near Murton street crying,
and passer by inquired the canse OF
his grief. "Why. sir" said he, 81 was
in the place there. and when was com
ing out boy was dying bit my, hands,
and that's him." added he. pointing to
the corpse of q child lying near by.