New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-28
EPIGHTFUL THEATRE PANIC.
TEN PERSONS KILLED AND MANY INJURED
rss1GEs BLOCKED BY STRUGGLING CROWDS
AND PEOPLE THROWN DOWN AND
TRAMPLED TO DEATH.


TRAMPLED TO DEATH.
1ondon Dec. ga theatre in Gateshead,
c.art,, Durbam was last night the scene of
,r,chtful panic in which, according to the reports
-..;,.od here. AT least ten persons, including nine
children. were killed outright and many were
;rinred The sight of the slight blaze caused
~, man in the audience dropping IA lighted
+ob on the sawdust-covcred floor. made some
ora start the cry of Fir" and terrible panic
AZ once followed. There was immediately wlld
rusb for the DOORS which, owing to the savage
crush and struggle, quickly became so blocked
that only few succeeded in getting out az once
There was an especially violent rush Tor the
staircase leading from the gallery. The passage
giving access TO this staircase became blocked
with persons who were striving their utmost 10
escape. while the staircase itself was hlled win
struggling mass of humanity from the top land
ing all the way to the outlet
4 cbeck-taker was killed in the midst Of his
Asroic efforts 10 save ethers' lives. In trying to
restrain the crowd in its mad behavior, he was
thrown to the floor and crushed TO death oeneath
phe feet Of the paRic-stricken people.
When :he panic had subsidized that an exam
nation Of the premises could be made, the bodies
of nine children whose lives had been literally
crushed ont were found lying on the staircase or
near door leading to it.
A constable who came 10 assist in the work OF
rescue, on dragging ont boy who was wedsed
among the struggling people discovered that The
lad was his owl, son. The boy, although living
when rescued was terribly injured and died while
on thc way 10 his home.
The performance which was so terribly inter
rupted was the second one of Saturday, The at
traction being the pantomimc Aladdin The
theatre was literally crammcd with people. At
1880 o'clock the shout of fire =" created a fear
full scene. The whole aydience TO their feet
and there was dire confusion, in The midst
oil which were heard the shrieks of women,
many OF whom tainted. The lessee of the house
rrcn displayed most creditable presence Of mind.
He stepped on 10 the stage and shouted TO the
audience beSeeching them to remain seated, and
solenuy assuring them that there was no real
danger if they would do so. At this juncture
many others of the present also showed that
they retained presence Of mind, by forcbly striv-
ing to restrain the mad rush of the crowd for
the doors, but their brave efforts proved of no
avail. The occupants Of the pit and, indeed, all
spectators whose seats were in the better parts
Of the house finally succeeded in escaping safely
" the str t.
1t was a sudden bend in the gallery staircase
which caused the fearful jam in that exit. Peo-
pie who had fallen, and were lying in hears
here screaming and groaning, were trampled upon.
At last 80 many Of the struggling people had
fallen that all passage for exit efectually
blocked by mass of writhing human beings, and
those still remaining their feet were forced to
seek other means of escape.
The occasion was made doubly memorable by
several acts Of heroism. One man. who had oc-
cuped a gallery seat, jumped from the gallery
Ianss 10 the balcony below, and Sid thence
70 the stage, all the time holding 10 a child by
his teeth Other rescued several women by
similar means.
Meanwhile the fire easily quenched The
police sought medical aid, and assisted in extri
eating the victims from the staircase-a matter Of
the utmost difficulty. One child after Cllhng
ont piteOusy, Save me- Save NE, died be-
fore il could be reached. The cOrpscs were laid
in an adjoining building. and the injured were
taken 10 hospitals and other institutions.
The news Of the catastrophe spread rapidly
and soon thousands Of frantic people were ruSL-
ius - the scene - ascertain the fate of relative.
Of friends. Within a few houts all OF the dead
were hi ntifed. All were between the ages Of
thirteen and sixteen. The Eames O1 The dead
arc CaScly Robson two, Gregg, Carlcn, Wat
tn. RInbTd1e. Murray WaddIpgtOu and WOTh-
ter Tie last-laGicd was the c!ccN-taker. The
audience numbered 1900 persons. The company
members escaped IN their costumes and when
they returned they found that their dressing
rooms had been robbed Of their ordinary clothing.
The lessee of the theatre announce. that he
viii give the proceeds % the performance 10 the
teIeaved families, and will close the theatre pend
Ing an inquiry.
Tie statement is made that during the per-
fermance two youths seated in the balcony in
sisted smoking. They were warned to de,ist
several times. They finally desistcd. but reiit
their pipes aiterWard The SMOKE from
their piper issuing from the
balcony and woman being frightened at the
sight, screamed Fire; man sitting, near
her her imediatgy gassed her win his hand but
by 800 spectators, mostly boys The check-ta)ler,
Foster, rushed To open the door which had been
fastened The struggle which ensuad was awful.
Men thrust aside The weaker lads, who
tnmpkd to death. Two men badly injured
by Jumping from windows.
The lessee Of the theatre says that
The alarm Of fire originated from the act
Of hoy in dropping lighted match
into crevice filed with waste paper and other
rubbish in his search for lost penny. lie also
SAYS that two pak of water sufficcd to quench the