Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-01-02
rRAMPLEp TO DEATH.

a Panic Caused by Cry of Fire In n
British Play -House-In the Mad Rush
of tho Audience for an Exit. Nine Chill
dren and a Man Are Crushed to Death.
LONDON, Dec. 2S-A theater in Gates
Head, county Durham, Saturday night
was the scene of frightful panic, in
which, according to the reports re-
ceived here, at least ten persons, in
clnding nine children, were killed out
right and many injured. The sight of
a slight blaze caused by man in the
audience dropping lighted match on
the sawdust-covered. floor caused some
one to start the cry of fire and terri
BILE panic ensued.
There was n mad rush for the doors,
which, owing to the savage crush and
struggle, became so blocked that only
a few succeeded at once in 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 were striving their utmost to es-
cape when the staircase itself was
filed with n struggling mass of
humanity from the top landing all the
way to the outlet. A check talSer was
killed in the midst of his heroic efforts
to save other lives. In trying to re-
he was thrown to the floor and crushed
to death beneath the feet of the panic
stricken people
When the panic had subsidized so that
an examin alton of the premises could
be made the bodies of nine childen,
whose lives had been literally crushed
out, were found lying on the staircase
or near door leading to it.
The performance which was so terri
| bly, interrupted was the second one Of
Saturday, the attraction being the PAN
tomine aladdin" The theater was
literally crammed with people.
At 1880 o'clock the shout OF
"Fire" was raised. The audience
rose to their feet en- masse and
there was dire confusion, in the midst
of which were heard the shreks Of
women, many of whom tainted. The
lessee of the house then displayed mos
creditable presence of mind Stepping
on the stage he shouted to the
audience, beseeching them to
remain seated and solemnly assur
ing them that there was no real danger
if they would do So At this juncture
many others of the men present alst
showed that they retained their pres
ence of mind by forcibly striving t.
restrain the mad rush of the crowd fol
the doors, but their brave effort
proved of no avail.
1t was sudden bend in the CALLER,
staircase that cased the fearful jam il
that exit. People who had fallen ant
We're lying in heaps here. screamin!
and groaning, were trampled upon
At last SO many of the struggling
people had fallen that all passage fo
exit was effectually blocked by
mass of writhing human beings an
those still remaining on their fee
were forced to seek other means c
escape.
The news of the disaster spread raj
idly and soon thousands of frantic pee
pie were rushing to the scene to ascel
tain the fate of relatives or friend:
Within few hours all of the dead wer
identified. All were between the age
, of 13 and 49,
The lessee of the theater says thf
the alarm of fire originated from tn
act of boy in dropping IL lighte
match in a crevice filed with wast
paper and other rubbish, in his scare
for lost penny. He also said tn;
: two pals of water sufficed to quenC
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