The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-05
MODEL
HORRIBLE AFFAIR IN MEXICO.
The Inclosurs of Bull Ring Set ON Fire and
Eighteen Women and Children Burned.

ST. LOUIS April 4-The Globe Democrat this
morning publishes the following from the city
of Mexico. dated CeIaya: Sunday afternoon,
about AS o'clock. the bul-ring here was crowd
ed with spectators of the great national sport.
! The company OF bull-fghters from Leon was
still playing with the first bull, when fire sud
denly broke out on the sunny side of the plaza.
A panic seized upon the vast asser1blage and a
friRhtful spectacle was the result The plaza
was constructed of wood masts, reeds, etc., and
IL was due to this fact that the majority of the
people escaped without injury, being able to
force an opening. permitting an exit at different
points, but many women and children jumped
from the top. distance OF twenty to thirty
feet, and over one hundred of them were very
seriously wounded. The sides of the plaza be-
ing lined with mating as dry tinder. and
there being q light wind blowing. the
amphitheater was in blaze in few seconds.
Nine dead bodies, in some cases. so charred
as to be unrecognizable, have, so far, been taken
from the smoking ruins Nine persons were
badly burned that they died yesterday. This
make eighteen deaths in all up to to-day. Sixty
eight persons were badly burned, and though
they still live at least ten Of them will die this
week. Fifty persons in escaping were knocked
down and trampled upon by the panic-stricken
tthronR. and are very seriously but not fatally in
cured. The bulls. maddened by the roaring of
9he flames, broke loose from their stalls and
rushed wildly through the surging mass of
humanity, tossing aloft and knocking over all
who stood in their way. Among the eighteen
dead were two women, who were first gored to
death by the bulls and their bodies afterward
burned.
1.-THE scenes in the neiRhhorhood of the bull
ring were sickening beyond description. Women
and children, divested of their clothing and
crazed with suffering from their burns, ran aim
Iessly through the streets. and could scarcely be
oyertaken collected by their friends. Several
persons lost their reason from the severe mem
tai shock to (which they were subjected. The
fro was ineendiary. In the Celoya jail there
were number of prisoners, army deserters,
etc. who had obtained permission from the
authorities to attend the bull fight. They were
accompanied by strong guard OF soldiers 10
prevent escape, but of the desePters
reptitlously struck = match and lighted one of
the dry petates tmatsl and In an instant the
sol side of the ring was abiaze. In the con-
fusion and excitement the prisoners all sue
ceeded in making good their escape, taking
chances 70 effect their ends.
THE best society of Celaya was IN attendance
1t was Easter Sunday, the return of the season
OF gayety after Lent. There was unusual
number of ladies and little children present and
those. as often is seen in such events, were the
sufferers. No man lost his life. The helpless
little ones and their mothers, who would not
Eesert their offspring. were the victims of this
most appalling catastrophe. CeayA ia In mourn
Ing to-day On avery side is heard the sound Of
wailing for the loved ones, mourning for those
doomed 20 die, OF suffering by those whose
wounds will not prove fatal It is the saddest
tragedy that has ever occurred in the three cent
nrieB Of the citys history