The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-05
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Terrible Slaughter by Fire in
a Bull Ring
In THE CITY OF CELAYA, MEX.
1t Was the saddest Tragedy In the
Three Centuries History ottne
City-Other Notes.
Fire in q Bull Ring.

CINCINNATI, April A special from
the Civ of Mexico says: TwO Republics
nublished the following advice from
Celaye: On Saturday afternoon, about
forty-fve minutes past 4 O'Clock, the
bull ring of Celaya was crowded with
spectators of the general national sport.
A 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 aSsemblage and
a frighuul catastrophe was the
result. The plaza was con-
structed of wooden masts, reeds,
etc., and it was due to this fact that the
majority escaped without injury, being
able 10 force an opening to permit an
exit at different points, but many
women and children jumped from the
top, distance of 200 to 300 feet, aud
over 100 persons were seriously wounded.
Eighteen lives were lost. The sides OF
the piazza being lined with mating as
dry as finder, and there being a slight
wind blowing, the amphitheatre was in
blaze in a few seconds. Nine dead
bodies, in some cases so charred as to be
unrecognizable, were taken from the
smoking ruins. Nine persons were
so badly burned that they di' d
in few hours. Sixty-nine per-
sons were very badly burned, and
at least ten of them will die this
week. Fifty persons, in escap-
ing, were knocked DOWN and trampled
upon by the psnic-stricken throng, and
are very seriously, but not fatally in
iured. 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
N their way. Among the eighteen dead
were two women, who were first gored
TO death by the bulls and their bodies
afSerward burned.
The scenes IN the neighborhood of the
bull ring were sickenlug beyond des
cription Women and children Invested
of their clothing and crazed with suffer
ing from their burns, ran aimlessly
through the streets, and could scarcely
be oVertakeu or collected by their
friends. Several persons lost their
reason from the severe mental shocks
to which they were subjected. The fire
was mcendiary. In the Celaya Jail were
a number of prisoners, army deserters
etc., who had obtained permission from
the authorities to attend Ike bull fight
They were accompanied by strong
guard of soldiers to prevent their escape
but one of the deSerters surreptltIously
struck match and Lighted one of the
dry p9tales. In an instant the Sol
side of the ring was ablaze. In tne con
fusion and excitement the prisoners
su cceeded in making good their escape
taking chauc IS to effect their ends. The
best society of Ceiaya was ia attendance
It was Easter Sunday, tue return of tht
season of gaiety after Lent. There was
an unusual number of ladies and LITTLE
children present, and these were th'
sufferers. No man lost bis life. Help
less tile ones and their mothers, wht
would not desert their offspring, were
the victims of the appalling catastrophe
Celaya is mourning to-day. On evt r.
side Is heard the sound OF wsiling fo
loved ones, dead, dying or suffering. 1
is the saddest tragedy that has oc
Cured in the three centuries of tn
ciEy'S history.