Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-12-28
HORRIBLE DEATHS
OF % Persons During Panic
in Baltimore Theatre.
Crushed and TrampIed t, Death in
False Fire Alarm Panic.
others viii Die-Still Others inJured-But "a
Of Dead Identified.

Baltimore, Dec 27.-Twenty. three per
sons were crushed and tramplcd 10 death
in panic at the Front Street Theatre. to.
night. Several others We're injured. some
of whom, il is believed, will die
1hc United Oriental Opera and
Dramatic Co. of Boston, was billed TO pre.
sent the Jewish opera Alexander. +" and
the theatre was filled with motley throng.
About $500 persons were in the house
when the orchestra began playing the in e.
troductory.
A strong odor OF gas was noticed in tho
second gallery OF the theatre and one of
the attaches Of thc place was seen hunting
for the leak with lighted torch Sud
denly jet of flame flashed out as the torch
came in contact with the puncturcd gas
pipe.
Cries of fire. were heard in the upper
galleries, and in an instant the excite
ment became intense. some one rushed
TO the gas meter and turned off the sup
ply, plunging the main body of the house
into darkness. The stage jets remained
lighted.
The turning of of the gas and oonsc.
qucnt darkness served TO add to the CON
fusion. The audience rose on masse and
made a mad rush for the exits. The
actors ran to the footlights and shouted,
Sit down, there is no danger but the
excited throng paid no heed
The gas was quickly turned on at the
meter, and rs the theatre became illumi-
mated an indescribatle scene OF horror
was presented, Men women and children,
crazed by fear, were fighting and strug-
Cling In the aisles and on the stairways in
their efforts to reach the open air
The actors on the stage ana u few cool
heads in the audience added to the tur-
MOL by shouting commands to Sit
down, and cursing those most vigorous
In their Efforts to get out
The struggling mass of humanity made
little or no headway or n few minutes;
every aisle was congcsted and every door
way jammed with frantic Poles and Rus.
slams, who mainly comprised the gather
ing.
Strong men In the rear of the panic
stricken mob climbed upon the shoulders
Of those in front, crushing the weaker
men, women and little children to the
iloor To be- tranlpled to death by those
further in the rear
A few policemen forced passage way
20 the main entrance and began dragging
Iorth those iamned in the doors.
The rushing stream Of humanity flowed
mt on Front street until sll those who
we're able to move reached the open air
The excitement in the street was almost
rs great as in the theatre
The crowd grew so great that the police,
caring riot. ordered tho fire engine hose
urned on and in that way the struggling
| ass was driven back from the theatre on
rance.
The officers entered the theatre and en-
ountered IA sicknepipg sight. In every
Erection were found bodies from which
ife was crushed and trsmplcd the ma
orty Of the victims being young men,
iris and children.
They were tend, rly carried to the front
the house and taken to the city hospital
nd the mOrgne as fast as ambulances and
atrol wagons could make the trips.
Great crowds followed the ambulnncts
nd patrol wagons and stormed the en-
RANGES to the hospital and morgue In their
nxicty to learn IL their relatives or friends
'ere among the injured or dead
Twenty three dead bodies were finally
ikcn from the theatre Ten persons,
iorc or less injured, are at the city hospi-
ii and some Of them may die. Several
'ere taken to their homes In carriages,
IfferiDg from COMMISSIONS or broken bones.
At late hour tonight, but / I Of the dead
ad been identified.