Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-12
FIRE, PANIC AND DEATH
Appalling Catastrophe During the
Progress of Bull Fight at Celaya,
Mexico.
The Arena Deliberately Fired by Con
TictS, Who Escape in the Awful
Confusion.
Eighteen People Killed and Over a
Hundred Trampled Upon ana
Otherwise Injured.

C1NCINNATI.-A special from the City
of Mexico says: The Two Republics
published the following telegram, dated
Celaya, at 5 p. NJ, Tuesday.
Sunday afternoon, about 4:45 O'Clock,
the bull ring here was crowded with spec
tators Of the great national sport. The
company bull-fghters 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 assemblage, and frightful specta-
Gle was the result. The plaza was con-
structed Of wooden masts, reeds, etc,
and it was due to this fact that the ma
iority of the people escaped without in
jury, being able to force an opening
permitting an exit at different points
but many women and children Jumped
from the top, a distance of 200 to 500
feet, and over one hundred of them were
seriously wounded.
Eighteen lives were lost. The sides of
the plaza being lined with mating as dry
as finder, and there being slight wind
blowing, the amphitheater was in a blaze
in few seconds. Nine dead bodies, in
some cases SO charred as to be unrecog-
niZable, have so far been taken from the
smoking ruins. Nine persons were so
badly burned that they died yesterday.
This makes eighteen deaths in all up TO
to-day. Sixty eight persons were very
badly burned, and though they still live,
at least ten of them Will die this week.
fifty persons, in escaping, were knocked
DO IN and trampIed upon by the panic
stricken throng, and are very seriously,
but not fatally injured.
The bulls, maddened by the roaring of
the 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.
The scenes in the neighborhood of the
bull ring were sickening beyond descrip-
ton. Women and children divesteG
themselves of their clothing, and,
erazed with suffering and their burns,
ran aimlesaly through the streets, and
could scarcely be oyertaken by their
friends. Several persons lost their rea-
son from the severe mental shock to
which they were subjected. The fire was
incendiary.
In the Celaya jail were q number Of
prisoners, army deserters etc. wno had
obtained permission from the authorities
to attend the bull fight. They were ac-
companied by strong guard of soldiers
to prevent escape, but one of the desert
ers surreptiously struck match and light
/ ed one of the dry mats, and in an instant
the side of the ring was ablaze. In
tbs confusion and excitement the prison
ers made good their escape.
The best society in Celaya was in at
tendance. It was Easter Sunday, the re-
turn of the season of gayety after Lent.
There was an unusual number of ladies
and little children pfesent, and these, as
oftrn is seen in such events, were the suf-
ferers. No man lost his life. The helpless
little ones and their mothers, who would
not desert their offspring, were the vic
Tins of the most appalling catastrophe.
Celaya Is mourning to day. On every
side is heard the sound of wailing for the
loved ones, mourning for those doomed
10 die Of suffering, by those whose wounds
will not prove fatal.
It is the saddest tradegy that has ever
occurred in the three centuries of the
city's history.