St. Paul daily globe., 1888-03-23
THE OPORTO HORROR.
The Number of Deaths Much
LarGer Than First Renorfed.

Larger Than First Reported.
OPoRTo, March 22.-Last nights ap-
palling fire at the Banquet theater in
OpOrto, Portugal, repeats the familiar
history of the fatal fires in theaters-a
house crowded to SuffOcation; made
quate means of exit, terrible struggles
among the audience in mad effort to
reach the street, scores trampled under
foot and at least 100 people burned to
death. The actual loss of life cannot
be known for some days. The fire
originated in gas explosion while a
performance was in progress. The
intlammable material instantly caught
fire, producing a wild panic
among tine closely packed spec
tatOrs. The third tier boxes
and gallery above were crowded with
people and only few of them escaped.
The debris is surrounded by weeping
throngs whose relatives lost their lives.
Hospitals and private houses are filled
with victims severely injured in the
fierce struggle to reach the street. Some
who succeeded in getting out safely
died afterwards from vomiting blood.
and were killed by the fall. Only par
tial search of the auditorium and boxes
has been made yet, but the firemen and
the citizens relief corps are constantly
bringing out
CHARRED BODIES.
So far as known the loss of life was
entirely among the audience, and all
members of the company escaped.
The fire was caused by some dis
arrangement of the gas IN the
flies during the third act. The
flames swept over the upper part
of the house first, giving the people in
the galleries no time to escape, while
those on the lower floors reached the
street in comparative safety. Somebody
shut off the gas shortly after the fire
was discovered. in tho hope of checking
its spread, but this only left the theater
in almost total darkness and increased
the panic. The light WOOD work gal
lerieS were soon in roaring blaze.
All the doors of theater opened inward
and all were closed when the alarm was
given. The theater holds 1900 people,
and the loss of life is presumably very
large. The charred bodies of man
and woman found locked in close en-
brace are believed to be the bodies of
DR.. Sorrilla and wife. None of the
bodies have yet been positively identi-
fed. The search has been going on all
night by the light of torches, and the
scenes among persons looking for miss
ing relatives among the ruins are heart
rendering. Private information says
that very few people in the galleries eS-
capped, and that the loss of life is twice
as large as first reported.
THE LATEST NEWS.
1t is reported that some Americans
and Englishmen were burned. Electric
lights have been provided to enable the
searchers to work without interruption.
The fire originated from the Glowing of
an unprotected gas jet against the seen
cry. The scene shifter saw the fire and
rushed to lower the curtain, but before
he could reach it the burning scenery
fell on the stage. There was a panic
Immediately. In the cheaper parts OF the
house the attendance was principally
of the rougher class, including many
sailors and dock pOrterS, who pitileSsly
crushed down the weaker people in
their rush for the doors, using their fists,
shoes and knives, and mercilesSly slash
ing their way to the front. Girls, chill
dren and women were literally butch
cred. The house was crowded, an at
tractive benefit programme being pre-
sented. All the actresses wore the
finest jewels for the grand procession.
Their clothes, which they had left in
their dressing rooms. were to-
tally destroyed. The company
was composed of Spaniards, and
was playing LA Gran Via," popu-
lar piece depicting national customs,
which had run 500 nights in Madrid,
The principal actress saved herself by
jumping from window. The other
members of the company found an
easy exit to the street The burned thea
ter, which was formerly circus, was
constructed of wood. The authorities
are blamed because architects had con-
demned the building. The work of re-
covering the bodies of those who were
lost in the fire still goes on. SiXty-six
are now exposed for Identification, and
in several horrible heaps lay fifty-three
more bodies which cannot be recognized,
they being so badly disfigured. A relief
corps has been fully organized, and is
hard at work. The chamber of deputies
sent messages of coincidence here to-day,
and has adjourned out of respect.