The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-28

LONDON, Dec. 27,-A theatre in Gates
hoad, county Durham, last night was
the scene OF a frightiu! panic, in which
according TO tho reports received here
ut least ten persons, including nine
children were killed outright and many
were injured. Tho sight OF the slight
blaze caused by . man in tho audience
dropping lighted match on tho saw
dust covered floor caused some ono to
start tho cry OF fire and terrible panic
ut onco cnsucd.' There was Immediately
wild rush for the door, which owing
10 the savage crush and struggle quickly
became so blocked that only iew sue
Cccdcd in ut once getting out. There
WAS an especially violent rush for the
staircase leading from the gallery. The
passage giving access to this staircase
became blocked almost at once with
persons who wore striving their utmost
10 escape, while the staircase itself was
filed with q struggling mass OF human
ity from the top landing I'LL the way to
tho outlet.
4 check takcr was killed in the midst
OF his heroic efforts to save others
lives. IN trying to restrain the crowd
in its mad behavior ho was thrown to
the floor and crushed to death beneath
the feet OF the panic stricken people.
NINE CHILDREN CRUSHED.
When the panic had subsidized so that
"
m examination OF the premises could
be mado the bodies OF nine cheldren
whose lives had been literally crushed
out were found lying on the staircase or
near door leading tit.
a constable who came to assist in the
work OF rescue, Oh dragging out Il boy,
who was wedged among the struggling
people, discovered that the lad was his
own son. The boy, although living
when rescued, was terribly injured and
died while OH the way to his home.
The performance, which was so terri
bly, interrupted, was the second one Of
Saturday, the attraction being the pan
1omimc OF Aladdin"
The theatre was literally crammed
with people.
At lO:3O O'Clock the shout OF FIRE Great
ed q fearful scene. The whole audience
rose to their feet en- massc and there
was dire confusion in tho midst OF
which were heard thcslirieEs OF women,
many ofwhom tainted.
DISPLAYED PRESENCE OF MIND.
The lessee OF the house then display
cd most croditabls presence OF mind.
Stepping on the stage, nc shouted to the
audience, bcseeching them to remain
seated and solcmnly assuring them that
there was no real danger iftheywould do
so. Atthis juncture many others OF the
men present also showed that they re-
tanned presence OF mind by forcibly
striving to dctain the crush OF the
crowd for the doors, but their efforts
proved of no avail Tho occupants OF
tho pit, and indeed all spectators
whose seats were in the better parts OF
the house, succeeded in escaping safely
10 tho streets 1t was sudden bend
i'll the gallery staircase which caused
tho fearful jam in that exit. People
who had fallen and were lying in heaps
here screaming and groaning, were
trampled upon.
BLOCKED DY WRITING HUMAN. BEINGS.
At last SO many OF the struggling
people had fallen that all passage for
exit was c!lectually blocked by mass
OF writhinG human beings and those
still remaining on their feet were forced
10 seek other means of escape.
The news OF the catastrophe spread
rapidly and soon thousands OF frantic
people were rushing to tho scene to as
certain tho fate OF relatives or friends.
Within a few hours all Of the dead were
identified. All were between tho ages
OF thirteen and sixteen. Tho names of
The dead are: Cascly, Robson (2l
Gregg, Carten, Watson, Balnbridge,
Murray, Waddington and Forster. The
last named was check takcr.