Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-12-13
FURTHER DETAILS
OF THE FATAL DISASTER At PARKE's
OPERA HOUSE.


The Disposition of the Dead-Tbe Condi-
tion of the wounded-The Building
Now Useless to the Lessees-An En-
Panic Was Prevented.
In addition to the full report of the
dreadful disaster at the Opera House on
Tuesday night as published in yesterday
mornings DEMOCRAT, there are not many
important details. None of the injured
have since died and most of them are on
the street to-day. But everybody is ex-
cited, and the accident is the topic of con-
versation everywhere. Many tell how
near they come going to the play, and
yet they did not go How fortunate they
were The number of those injured is a
mere matter of conjecture,
now THE DEAD WILL BE DISPOSED OF.
The body of Miller, the colored man,
will sent to Chambersburg yesteday
on Day Express at 1918.
Miss Claycomb's body was taken yes
terday overland to Bedford county.
Mrs. Wesley Burns and daughter will
be taken this morning at 7:45 to Snyder's
Station, Somerset county.
The remains of George Horner will be
inferred in Grand View this afternoon at
half past o'clock.
The body of Mrs. John Nestor was TAX
en- to Somerset Yesterday afternoon on
the o'clock train.
The funeral of George Freshcorn will
take place from No. 651 Wood street, cor
ner of Poplar, this afternoon at o'clock.
Interment will be made in Sadyvale.
The remains of Isaac Foler are still
awaiting the orders of friends.
The funeral of Eddie Bigler will take
place from the family residence, No. 500
Chaplin street, Conemaugh borough, at 8
o'clock this afternoon.
The body of Mr.. Slonicker will be
taken to Mt. Pleasant, Pa, for burial.
His friends came yesterday.
LOSS TO THE MANAGERS.
The managers of the Opera House are
Messrs, VI. McCann and James Finn.
Mr.. McCann's wife and child were in at
tendance, as were Mr.. Fliun's mother,
brother and nephew. None of them
were hurt, as they kept their places. Mr.,
McCann had been in all parts of the
house during the evening, and just prior
to the panic, had gone to the foot of the
stairs at the street. While there he heard
the fire bell ring in Kernville. He did
not know just what it was for the sound
of the Tell was new When he saw what
it was he remarked to some who stood in
the stairway near to him TO keep quiet,
and Immediately started up the steps in
anticipation of trouble. On the way up
he met the first of the crowd. They bore
him down in front of them to the street.
Mr.. McCann thinks that about twenty
five persons got down before anybody
fell Then il seemed like spill. Some
jumped over the guard railing around the
stairs on the crowd in the already clogged
stairway.
Mr.. Finn was in the audience, and
when the rnsh came, he with several
others who did not lose their presence of
mind, leaped to the stage and trid to re-
store order His most able assistants in
that particular were D. S. Shelienberger
James Davis, the. photographer, and
are not known also rendered able assis-
tance.
Many of those present also state that
great credit is dus to Reddy Hawkins, an
employe of T. Benton Brown & Co., for
his efforts in keeping back the crowd in
the gallery.
There were many acts of heroIsm,
which Of course, must pass unnoticed, |
because those who did them were un-
known. There were many also many
cases of total loss Of manhood and good |
sense. These of course will pass unnoticed,
but the man or bov who so sensclessly |
cried fire, should be known and gagged !
hereafter, when he goes to place where
crowds of people are assembled.
The managers had recently had the
building fitted up at their own expense
with electric lights and new scenery. |
was in good working order,
except, of course, the means of exit,
which has always been pronounced insult
icient. They had plenty of good offers
from companies, and several engagements /
had been booked. These have all been
cancelled by telegraph, and it is likely /
that the house will now s,aGu idle. Public
opinion would not now tolerate the holding |
Of entertainments there As it was Just the I
of the season tie man
ayers Will lose all they have spent in re-
fitting the house.