The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-04-25
The Presbyterian Entertainment Is
Nipped in the Bud by the
Fire Fiend.
lust As the Curtain Is About To
Rise Screams of "Firel Firel
Greet the Ear.
Men, Women and Children Make
Mad Rush for Life and
Liberty and
PILE OVER 0NE-ANOThER.


visited this city occurred last Friday
night.
About 400 people-men, women and
children had gathered in the Red
Front Hall to witness the cantata,
"spring," the long promised entertain
ment given for the benefit Of the Presby-
terrain church building fund.
The spacious room was crowded, there
hardly being standing room left. Gath
cred behind the curtain were a quarter
of hundred or more of sweet little
girls and beautiful young ladies, the
cherished flowers of Cloverport homes,
dressed as gay flowers Of the lovely
spring time. The audience was anxious
ly awaiting the beginning Of the enter
tainment. The bell had rung for the
curtain to rise, and the spectators were
craining their necks for the first glimpse
OF the brilliant lovliness that was about
to be exposed to their anxious gaze.
Just at this interesting moment the
piercing feminine screams of "fire, fire,
fire." and great turmoil Of rushing feet
and promiscuous sounds from behind the
curtain greeted the ears Of the expectant
audience. At first it was thought that
this was the beginning Of the legitimate
program, but as the noise increased
mingled with increasing screams of dis
tress and light sprang up behind the
curtain with rapidly increasing brilliancy,
they realized the distressing fact that
the stage was actually on fire.
When this became apparent beyond a
doubt, the scene in the hall beggars
description. The large audience was on
its feet as one person. A mad rush was
made for the doors by large part Of the
spectators, while others started for the
stage to help save the children and ex-
tinguish the fire. There were three
pairs OF double doors at the entrance to
the hall and these were all closed, open
ing inward. The rush was so great
against the doors that at first they could
not be opened. Finally some stout men
forced the crowd far enough back to
swing the middle doors open and rush
ing out they kicked in another pair, and
the people began to pour out.
While this was transporting at the door
the scene back in the hall was danger
GUS and distressing one. People were
walking over the seats showing each
| ~ nh krxyt 10 nh Ian
were hallowing, women crying and faint
ing. Many were forced to their hands
and knees while others were fiat upon
the floor, the screams for help upon the
stage were increasing, while mothers
were wringing their hands and calling
for help. Sire, fire !" "water, water %
"Get out, get out, 30 we can fight the
fire !" "Get back, don't crowd the doors,
or somebody will be trampled to death %
"Help, help, my child, my child, my
darling babe is on that stage, will not
some one save her? For Gods sake
save my baby!" gives faint description
OF the pandemonium that was reigning.
About this time the children began to
burst through the curtain and pour over
the edge of the stage like frightened
fairies. They were caught in the arms
of strong men and carried aloft through
the crowd to the street where they were
deposited safe in the arms Of distracted
mothers. Others who were on the stage,
smashed the back windows and made
their escape at the rear OF the building,
when they ran around the square and
made their appearance in disheveled
and ragged stage costumes among the
throngs in the street.
The scene in the street in front OF the
hall was second only to that inside. Here
the cries for missing loved ones were
heart-rending, and anxious relatives
had to be fought back to keep them out
OF the building again.
| While 1t takes sometime TO tell ii, this
all occu red in few short moments, in
fact, it was all happening at one and
the same time.
The fire was caused by large hanging
lamp, on the stage, being hung too close
to the ceiling. The ceiling became ignit-
ed by the heat from the lamp chimney,
and the fire was discovered just as the
curtain was ready to rise on the first act.
AS the lamp was about to be removed
the staple burned out Of the ceiling and
the lamp came down with a crash and
the oil Immediately took fire AS soon