The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-30
PANIC STRICKEN CROWD,
FIRE AT THE OPERA HOUSE
LAST NIGHT.

| A Fearful Stampede hy the Large
| and Frightened Audience-No One
Seriously Hurt. and But Little
Damage Done.
The Opera House was crowded last
night with probably the largest audience
| that was ever in the building, to attend
| the performance of Baird's Minstrels,
when, just after the opening overture,
and while the cOntortionist was exhibit
! ing his feats, the audience noticed bright
! light issuing from the wings OF the stage,
many thinking it was to be thrown on
the contortionist to give dramatic et-
| feet to his fearful twisting, when a
| bucket of water was thrown over the
blaze, which was the first intimation the
audience had that the building was on
| fire.
The scene that followed was terrible,
and hey ond The power of description.
! The five or six hundred people rose to
! their feet az one person. Women began
TO scream, children TO cry, and men be
came panic stricken. a fearful rush
was made for the stairway, and not
! withstanding the efforts of a few cool
headed men and the performers on the
stage to quiet the crowd, stream oil
humanity rushed out so crowded, pack
ed and damned together that the only
wonder is that some of them were not
ira implied TO death. But aside from a
few bruises we learned of no one being
hurt, and the most damage done was
the fright given the people. The fear
full fires Palatka has recently passed
through, where frame buildings like the
Opera House have been burned in few
minutes. served to further terrIfy the
people, and at such a time and amid
such scenes II Is no wonder that stout
hearts quaIled and that wo men were ter
rified. When the excitement was at
the highest pitch and the greater part of
the sudience was crowded about the
stairway, the gas meter was turned oil,
and the people left in total darkness.
The rush for the stairs was kept up, and
their cheeks blanched "a they realized
the danger the women and children
were subjected to in being crushed and
trampled. When lamps were lit and 1T
was seen that the fire had been extin-
guished the people regained their self
control, and the greater part made their
way quietly to the street. Most of the
ladies and their escorts made their way
home badly frightened but not much
hurt.
The fire originated from defective
gas pipe in the ceiling over the stage.
Mr.. Baird, the proprietor of the minstrel
show, and the members of the troupe
smeIled the escaping gas, and thought 1t
came from the meter, but were looking
around for it when the flame burst out.
Everything possible was done by those
on the stage to smother the flames, but
to no avail as the wood work was blazing
and there was no way TO control the
escaping gas. But little damage, how
ever was done to the binding by the
fire, but the way the chairs in the hall
were smashed was a sight to behold.
There were many cool men in the
audience, but no one did more to quiet
the panic than Ma ior G.. II. Healy, who
stood near the stairway and cautioned
all to take time and keep quiet, assuring
them that there was plenty time TO get
out of the building.
After quiet had been restored and the
hall re-lit, the performance was resumed,
and those who remained to see it were
treated to one of the best peri ormances
| ever seen in Palatka.
Mr.. Baird had his money bag knocked
down the steps by the crowd, and S31 in
silver was scattered on the stairway,
and was picked up by whoever took
time to notice them. This gentleman
regrets the accident very much, and did
everything in his power TO prevent the
rush.
LOST.
We are authorized to offer liberal
reward for the return of a silver mount
ed revolver, lost in the panic at the
theatre last night. Leave at this office.
| Lost, last night at the theatre, cloak,
shawl and wrap. Return to this office.
Lost, last night at the theatre, a point
| lace handkerchief. Return to this office.
Lost, last night at the theatre, black
brocaded dolman with deep black lace
trimmed with passementerie, also one
black jersey cloak. Return 10 this office.