The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-06-27

LONDON, June ia terrible calam-
itv. Involving the deafh of 17s chill
dren. occurred in Sunderland, County
Durham, this eyening.-ua-sssa-s.a-ss.sss4ss
From details received it appears that
an entertainment given at Victoria
HalI by conjuror. was attended almost
altogether by children, several thou
sand being in attendance. The accl-
dent occurred at the close of the per-
formance. The body of the hail had
been entirely cleared of occupants
when some 200 of the little ones came
rushing down stairs from the gallery.
At the top of the first flight OF stairs
was door which opened only twenty
inches, and thus but one child was
permitted to pass through at time.
At this point, while the mass OF chill
dren was rushing forward, one or them
fell and was unable to. RISE owing 10
the others crowding. The result was
that a great number was pushed down.
Iitrampled on and sufocated. me
scene was terrible; no effort couio
sion the mad rush of the afrighted
children. They came on peH nell,
though strangled without much shout
ing. and soon rs were knocked down
and suffocated to death by the others
trampling upon them. The Greater
number of the bodies which were bad
ly mangled from trampling laid or )
deep. Many victims who were not
killed had their clothing torn from
their bodies, and this together with the
bleeding bodies of the unfortunates
shows the terrible nature of the strug-
gle. The ages Of the 17S children
known. to have been killed ranged from
four to fourteen years. The excite
ment in the town when the news
sn-ead was terrific. Great crowds
rushed to the scene until 10000 per
SONS surrounded the hall. The feeling
i was so intense that the Mayor ordered
out the Sixty-eightII infantry to pre-
serve order. The work of getting on
the bodies begun Immediately. They
were laid out in the hall aud the pa
rents of those killed were admitted Z
identify the bodies of their children
The most 9fleartrending scenes trans
. pired while the identification was II
progress. The mothers of the dea'
children were constantly utterini
> | shrieks, and many tainted on discover
ing the bodies of their little ones.
SUNDERLAND, June 1S.-The excite
ment over the catastrophe in VIctorl
Hall Saturday night, by which nearl
{ 200 children lost their lives, continue
3 intense, Some children who escape
. saw a report spread through the gal
Iery at the close of the performanc
I that the child first out of the ha
Q would get prize, and consequently
' eager rush was made for the doors
|. Most of the bodies of the victims WI
be buried together in long trench.
Sir Henry Frederick Ponsonby, pr
{ vate secretary to the queen, TELEGRAPH
t ed to the mayor of Sunderland Uni
, her majesty directs him to state tina
she is terribly shocked at the avn
q calamity in Victoria Hall Saturda.
: and her heart bleeds for the suffering
q of the many bereaved parents. 81
pravs God to support them in their lie
: ribie distress. Sir Henry also says M
e majesty is most anxious 70 hear no
i the injured children are: Sewers
children who left the exhibition b
!. force the accident occurred state tina
II they saw a man just before the rus
% partially close door on the landtn
Y where the disaster took place.
q 1t will be proved at the inquest
the bodies of the unfortunate lit
/ OH. that man bolted the door AZ
IS in order to facilltate the distribute
:. of toys to such children as were lea
IS ing he premises. A, box eontalnlr
:. toys which had been placed IN pos
Il ton in readiness for the distribute
: IN prizes is still standing near u
j. door. -E.. za.:-.gII e3.s..=,
y LONDON, June 1S.-The number
: deaths by theSunderland calamity n
now reached 1877. 80,