The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-28
HORRIBLE THEATRE PANIC.
CAUSED BY 4 FALSE ALARM or PIRB.
Doors Made TO Open Inward Were Closed
and the Progress of the frightened
Crowd Was ID,peded- -Terribie
scenes Around the Doors Of
the Theatre and Hospitals.

BALTIMORE, MD. Dec 27.--Twenty.
three persons We're crusnei and trampsed
to death IN a panic in t'ront-street
Theatre tonight. Several others were
injured, some of whom Will. II Is believed.
die.
The United Oriental opera and Drama
tic Company. OF Boston, under the man.
agement OF a. Schongold and Abram
ransman. was billed to present the Jew
ish opera, Alexander and the theatre
was filed with a motley tnrone. ABOUT
twenty-five hundred persons were In tne
house when the orchestra began playing
the Introductory.
strong odor or gas was noticed IN
the second gallery OF the theatre, and
one of the attaches was seen hunting
for the place where tho gas was escaping.
Suddenly a jet OF flame flashed out as
the torch came in contact with the punc-
tuted gas pipe.
DEATH IN DARKNESS.
Cries OF Fire were heard I'm the upper
galleries, and in an instant the excite
ment became intense. Some one rushed
TO the gas metre and turned on the sup
ply. pmnging the main body OF the house
into darkness. The stage Jets alone
remained lighted. being fed through AN
other metre. Instead OF aiaying the
excitement caused by the sheet OF lame
from the leaking pipe. the turning OIL
of the gas and CONSEQUENT dafkness
tfiil StfAt1 W hbN w Nbi'tNit's 'f'f
audience arose en- massc and made
mad rush for the exits.
The actors ran down TO the 1905
lights and shouted:
''Sit down. there's no danger
But the exclled throng paio no heed
to the advice. but continued their wild
scramble for the doors. The gas was
quickly turned on at the metre again,
and when II became Illuminated an in
describaDle scene OF horror was pre-
sented men. women. and childrep crazeJ
by fear We're fghting and Struggling IN
the aisies and on the stairways m their
efforts 10 reach the open air The actors
on ne stage and a few cool heads IN me
audience added to the turmoil by shout-
ing their commands TO "Sit down' ana
eufsmg those who were most vigorous
In their efforts 10 get out.
The struggHng mass on humanity made
/ little or no headway for few minutes.
every aisle was congested ana every door
was jammed with the frantic gathering.
The street doors, made 10 open Inward.
We're closed.
Strong men In the rear OF the panIc-
stricken mob climbed upon the shoulders
J OF those in front, crushing the weaker
men, women. and little children to the
/ toof 90 be trampled TO death by those
still further In the rear.
For several minutes the wild fight con-
tinued Then few policemen forced a
! passagoWay TO the main entrance anu
/ began dragging forth those who were
jammed I'm the doors. \ rushing stream
! OF humanity flowed ont on Front street
| until all those who were able TO move
reached the open air
FIRE-ALARM TURNED IN.
A hurry call for policemen had brought
/ a large squad 10 the threatre by this
time. and a fire alarm had also been sent
| III, bringing some engines on the scene.
| The excitement I'm the street was al
| most az great as I'm the theatre, rs reia-
tives began searching for those from
I h.I cd during
the mad rush. Fathers and mothers
rushed about looking for their children,
| and attempted to re-enter the theatre IN
! their search for missing ones.
! The crowd grew 20 great that the po-
lice. fearing a riot. ordered the IRE en-
! gine hose TO be turned on, and IN that
way the struggling mass was driven BACK
from the theatre. Meanwhile officers had
entered the theatre and encountered a
! sickening sight In every direction were
| found bodies from which the iife had
| been crushed and trampled. A majority
| were young men, girls, ana cbildreh
| They were tenderly carried from the
| house and TO the city Hospital ana NOR
! que as fast as the ambulances and pa
! trci wagons could make the trips. Great
| crowds followed and stormed the en-
| frances TO the hosuital and morgue IN
their anxiety to learn II thelr relatives Or
| friends were among the injured or dead.
/ Twenty-three bodies were finally taken
| from the theatre Ten persons, more or
| less injured are at the city Hospital, TWO
| of them may die Several others were
| taken to their homes in carriages, sur
ferlng from cOntusions or broker boher'
| The death-iist will probably exceed TWEEN
! ty-iiyc -
! FOURTEEN IDENTIFIED.
| AT late hour tonight there had Decn
| but fourteen OF the dead Identified. They
| are.
Miss Jennie Hinkle. twenty-one years OF
| age. who was I'm the orchestra with ner
| brother-in-law. sister, and two chilhten.
| They reached the door In their attemp'
| to escape. Miss Kinkle suddenly reiess'
| ed her hold on her brother-in.iaws arm
| and sank under the feet ot me thronB
| She was trampled 10 death.
| LOUIS COHEN. a ten-year-old Doy.
| JACOB ROSENTHAL, tailor, ABOUT
/ twenty-five years OF 9ge.
| -- WOLFF. a tailor.
| THERESA GOLDSTEIN, seven years
OF age and her little brother. four years
| OF age
LOUIS AMoLsKY nfty-two years CT
| age.
| IDA SlLvERMAN, fourteen years OF
| age.
IDA FRIEDMAN. fourteen years OF
| age.
SARAH sfEGEI., sixteen years OF age.
-- LOVENSTEIN, forty years OF
| age.
| sALsBrRG. a twelve-year-old boy.
| LENA LEWIS. aged twenty-five years
---0-----------
! Greek Letter Societies Elect Officers