Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-01-02
FrightfuI Panic in a Theatre.

Twenty-three persons were crusheu
md trampled to death in panic at
the Front Street Theatre, Baltimore,
last Friday night, and several others
were injured, some of whom may die.
The United Oriental Opera and ORA
matte Company was billed to present
the Jewish opera, Alexander" About
$500 persons were in the house when
the orchestra began TO play the intro
ductory. A strong odor of gas was
noticed and one of the attaches was
seen hunting for the leak With lighted
torch. Suddenly a jet of fame flashed
out as the torch came in contact with
the punctured gas pipe. Cries of"fre"
were heard in the upper galleries and
in an instant the excitement became
intense. Some one rushed to the gas
meter and turned off the supply, plung-
ing the main body Of the house in dark
ness. The stage jets alone remained
lighted, being fed through another me-
ter. Instead of allaying excitement
caused by the sheet of fame from the
leaking pipe, the turning off the gas
and consequent darkness only served
to add to the confusion. The audience
rose en- masse and made mad rush
for the exits. The actors ran down to
the footlights and shouted "Sit down,
there's no danger" but the excited
throng paid no heed to the advice but
continued their wild scramble for the
doors. The gas was quickly turned
on at the meter and as the theatre
again became illuminated an indescrib-
able scene of horror was presented. Men
women and children, crazed by fear,
were fighting and struggling in the
aisles and on the stairways in their eff
forts to reach the open air. The act
ors on the stage and few cool heads
in the audience added to the turmoil
by shouting their commands to "sit
down" and cursing those who were
most vigorous in their efforts to get out.
The struggling mass of humanity
made little or no Roadway for few
minutes. Every aisle was congested
and every doorway jammed with the
frantic Poles and Russian Jews who
mainly composed the gathering.
Strong men in the rear of the panic
stricken mob climbed upon the shout
ders Of those in front, crushing the
weaker men, women and little children
to the floor to be trampled to death by
those still further in the rear. For
several minutes the wild fight contin-
ued. Then a few policemen forced a
passageway to the main entrance and
began dragging forth those who were
TANNED in the doors A rushing
stream of humanity flowed out on
Front street until all those who were
able to move reached the open air. A
hurry call for policemen had brought
large squad to the theatre by this
time and a fire alarm had also been
sent in, bringing some engines on the
scene.
The excitement in the street was al
most as great as in the theatre, as rel
atives began searching for those from
whom they had become separated dur
ing the mad rush. Fathers and moth
ers rushed about looking for their chill
dren and attempted to re-enter the
theatre in their search for the missing
ones. The crowd grew so great that
the police, fearing riot, ordered the
fire engine hose to be turned on and
in that way the struggling mass was
driven back from the theatre entrance
Meanwhile officers had entered the
theatre and encountered sickening
sight. In every direction were found
bodies from which life had been crush
ed and trampled.
A majority of the victims were
young men, girls and children. They
were tenderly carried to the front Of
the housc.-snd taken to the City Hos
pital and the morgue as fast as the am
balances and patrol wagons could make
the trips. Great crowds followed the
ambulances and patrol wagons and
stormed the entrances to the hospital
and morgue in their anxiety to learn
if their relatives or friends were among
the injured or not DR.. Standish Nc
Cleary and the hospital corps of ply
sicans were kept busy for five hour:
attending to the injured.
! In all twenty-three persons were
killed in the mad panic or died soor
after being taken out. Ten Others
were treated az the City Hospital TO
serious injuries, while many sustained
minor hurts.