The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-04-13


4 Hull right ~ Celayn. &sestro- Inter
ruptcd ~ IN u~nccndiary rire n which ;
Large Number of feop1r Lost Their
Hlves and scores Were serloosly unrnrd
or Otherwise lnlureo.
Cry on MEXICO. VIA En- fASo. Tex
April a.-Thc Ttro Erpuil,rs Of last even
Ing published the following dispatch from
Cclayn:
-Sanday afternoon, about ;;fs o'clock.
the bull ring here was crowded with
spectators Of the great national sport
The company Of bull fighters from Leon
was still playing with the FIRST bull, when
a fire suddenly broke out on the sunny
side of the plaza. A panic seized upon
the vast asscmblage and q frightful spec
taclc was the result. The plaza was con-
etructcd Of wood. masts, reeds, etc.. and ~
was due 70 this fact that the majority
Of the people escaped without injury, be-
ing able 10 force an opening permitting
an exit az different points. but many wom-
en- and children jumped from the top. a
distance Of two hundred feet, and over one
hundred Of them were very seriously
wounded.
The sides Of the plaza being lined with
mating as dry as finder, and thsre being
q slight wind blowing. the amphitheater
was in q blaze in a few seconds. Nine dead
bodies, in some cases 50 charred as 70 be
un~recognixnble, have, so far, been taken
from the smoking ruins. Nine persons
were so badly burned that they died Non
day. This makes eighteen deaths In al
thus far. Sixfy-eight persons were very
badly burned, and though they still live,
al least ten u them will die this week
Fifty persons in escaping were Knocked
down and trampled upon by the panic
stricken throng. and are very seriously
but N fatally injured.
The bulls, maddened by the roaring 81
the flames, broke loose from their stalk
and rushed wildly through the surgini
mass Of humanity, tossing aloft and
knocking over all who stood In their way
Among the eighteen dead were TIVE
women who were first gored 70 death b.
The bulls and their bodies afterwart
burned.
The scenes in the neighborhood Of ths
bull ring were sickening beyond descrip
ton. Women and children, Invested q
their clothing and crazed with suffering
from their burns, ran aimlessly through
the streets, and could scarcely be over
taken or collected by their friends Sew
eral persons lost their reason from tn
severe mental shocks 70 which they wer'
subjected. The fire was in~cendiary.
In the Celaya jail there were . number
Of prisoners, army deserters, ETC.. whs
had obtained permission from the authori
ties TO attend the bull fight. They were
accompanied BY q strong guard u sol
diers TO prevent escape, but one Of the de
serters surreptitiously struck . match q
lighted one OF the dry petates lmatts) al
in an instant the ''sol" side OF the RIM
was ablaze. In the confusion and excite
ment the prisoners all succeeded in max
ing coed their escape, taking chances q
effect their ends.
The best society Of Celaya was In at
tendance. 1t was Easter Sunday. the re
turn Of the season OF gayefy after Lent
There was an unusual number OF ladie
and little children present. and these, q
often Is seen In such events. were the SUI
ferers. No man lost his life. The help
less little ones and their mothers. VIII
would not desert their offspring. were tn
victims Of this most appalling catastrophe
Celaya is mourning. On every side j
heard the sound Of wailing for the love-
ones, mourning for those doomed 70 die
Of suffering BY those whose wounds vii
not prove fatal. II Is the saddest TRACED
thne has ever occurred in the three cent
uries OF the city's history