Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-28
NEWS BY TELEGRlPH. From All Quarters. PANIC IN A THEATER. Ten Persons Killed in the
 Rush to Escape. BATTLE ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. Another Crank Heard From
 in New York.
 
BATTLE AlOAe THE RIO GRAnDE.
4 DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN BOSTON,
An Autopsy Made on the
 Body of Sawtelle.
PANIC IN A THEATER.

Tandem mi um Caused by a Cry of Fire-Ten Persons Crushed to Death in the Narrow Exit From the Gal- lery-Many others Injured-Several Acts of Herofsm.
 LONDON, Dec. 27.-In a theater in Gates head, County Durham, last night the sight of slight blaze caused by man in the audience dropping lighted match on the sawdust- covered floor, caused someone to start the cry of "fire" and a terrific panic at once ensued. There was wild rush for the doors, which quickly became so blocked that few succeeded in getting out at once. There was an especially violent rush from the gallery staircase. The pas sage giving access to this staircase became blocked with persons striving to escape, while the staircase itself was filled with struggling mass of humanity from tho top landing to the outlet. A check taker, in trying to restrain the crowd in it's mad be- havior, was thrown to the floor and crushed to death beneath the feet of the panic stricken people. When the panic had sub sided the bodies of nine children, whose lives had been literally crushed out, were found on the floor. A constable, who came to assist in the work of rescue, on dragging out boy who was wedged among the struggling people, discovered that the lad was his own son. The boy was terribly injured and died on the way home.
 The performance interrupted by the panic was that of the pantomine ''Alad- dan." The theater was crammed with people, the audience numbering 1,200. When the shout of 'fre'' was heard the rJi confusion, in the midst of which were heard the shrieks of women, many of whom tainted. The lessee of the house stepped on the stage and shouted to the audience, beseeching them to remain seated and assuring them that there was no real danger. Many other men strove in vain to restrain the mad rush of the crowd for the doors. All those persons whose seats were in the better parts of the house succeeded in escaping safely to the street.
 It was a sudden bend in the staircase which caused the fearful jam in that exit. People who had fallen and were lying in heaps here screaming and grooming were trampled upon. At last so many strug- gling people had fallen that all passage for exit was effectually blocked by mass of writhing human beings, and those remain ing on their feet were forced to seek other means of escape. There were several acts of heroism. One man who had occupied 8 gallery seat jumped from the gallery railings to the balcony below and slid thence to the stage, all the time holding to a child by his teeth similar means. The fire was easily quenched. The police sought medical aid and assisted in extricating the victims from the staircase-a matter of the utmost diff ficulty One child, after calling out piteously ''save me, save me" died before it could be reached. The corpses were laid in an adjoining building. The news of the sands of frantic people were rushing to the scene to ascertain the fate of rels- tives and friends. All dead were between the ages of thirteen and sixteen. The names of dead are Casely, Robson (wo) Gregg. Csrten, Watson, Bainbridge, Mur ray, Washington and Forster. The last named was the check -taker. The company members escaped in their costumes, and when they returned to their dressing rooms they found their ordinary clothing had been stolen.
 The lesseee of the theater announces that he will give the proceeds of the per formance to the bereaved and will close the theater pending an inquiry.
 OLlo aoCouAO ol oLio paAliO Snyo puao oul- ing the performance two youths seated in the balcony insisted on smoking. They were warned to desist several times. They finally desisted, but re-lit their pipes soon after. The smoke of their pipes was seen issuing from the balcony and 8 woman frightened at the sight screamed "fire." A man near her immediately grasped her with his hand, but the mischief was done. The gallery was occupied by 800 spectators, mostly boys. The check | taker, Forest, rushed to the door which had been fastened. The struggle which ensued was awful. Men thrust aside lads, who were trampled to death. Two men were badly injured by jumping from win | dows. The lessee of the theater says the alarm of fire originated from the act of a boy in dropping a lighted match into a crevice filled with waste paper and other rubbish, in his search for lost penny. He also says that two pails of water sufficed to quench the fire.
 The girl Robson, died from fright in the pit. All the others killed were occupants | of the gallery.