The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1896-01-08
CRUSHED TO DEATH.
CAREFUL PANIC IN a AIsALrIsIOI.Ia
THEATRE.
Tho Cry of "Flro" Causes tho Dor II, Of
I Twcnty-Thrco People.

Twenty three persons woro crushed
md trampled to death in pnnic at
front Street thcator, Baltimore, Fri.
day. Several others wero injured.
somo OF whom will, it is believed, die.
IN" jewish opera, "Alcxandcr," was
hcing presented, md tho thcntor was
iillcd with motley throng. About
twenty-five hundred persons were in
mo house when tho orchestra began
playing tho Introductory.
strong odor Of gas was noticed in
tho second gallery OF tho thcatcr aud
QUO OF tho attnchcs Of tho plnco was
seen hunting for tho lcak with q lighted
torch. Suddenly jet of namo flashed
out as tho torch came in contact with
tho puncturod gas pipo.
Cries OF Fire" wcro heard i'll tho
upper galleries and in M instant tho
excitement became intense. Some one
rushed to tho gus meter and turned of
tne supply, plunging tho main body Of
tho house into darkness. The sinco
Jets alone remained Lighted, being fed
through another meter.
a Maddcned Mob.
Instead of allaying tho excitement
caused by tho sheet of fame from tho
leaking pipe tho turning of Of tho gas
and consequent darkness OILY served
to add to tho confusion. TITO Huu,-
cnco arose on masso and mndo mad
rush for tho exits. The actors ran
down to tho footlights md shouted,
"ioit down, there's no danger" but
tho excited mob pnid no heed to tho
advice but continued thcir wild scram-
bio for Tho doors.
Tho gus wns quickly turned on at
the meter and as the theatcr again be-
camo Illuminated an indcs cribnblc
sceno OF horror was prcSentcd.
Men, women and children, crnzol
by fear, were fighting and struggling
III the niles and on tho stairways in
their cfforts to reach the open mir.
Tho actors on the staec and row
cool headed auditors added to tho
turmoil by shouting their commands
to sit down" and cursing those who
were most vigorous in their tTorty to
get out.
Tho struggling mass of humanity
made little or no hcndway for few
minutes; every aisle WAS congcstcd
and every door was jammcd with fran.
tlc Holes and Russian Jews Tlio main
ly comprised tho gathering. Strong
men Ill tho rear OF tho ,Jnmic-stricken
mob climbed upon tbs shoulders of
tEose in front, crushing tho weaker
men, women and little children to tho
floor to bo trampl1d TO death by those
still further in tno renr.
n rushing steam OF humanity flowed
out on Front street until all those who
wero able to move T., achod tho open
ar. hc excitement in the street was
almost as great as in the thcntcr. as
relatives began searching for those
from whom they had become separated
during the mnd rush. Fathora and
mothers rushed about looking for
their children, and attempted to re-
enter tho thcnter in their scarcl, for
missing ones.
Encountered 81 Sickcning Sight.
Meanwhile officers Ind entered Tho
thcater and encountered sickcninp
sight. Tn every direction we're ronni
bodies which life Ind been orusbrd
from and tramplcd.
A mnJority OF tho victims wcro young
men, girls and children. They wcro
taken to The city hospital aud tho
morgue us fnst as tho ambulances and
patrol wagons could mako tho trips.
Great crowds followed tho ambn-
]ances and patrol wagons and stormcd
the entrances 10 the hospital and
morguo in their anxiety to learn if
their relatives or friends were nmong
the injured or dead
Twenty Three Doad Bodies.
Twcnty-throo dead bodies woro
finally taken from tho thcntcr. Ton
persons, more or less injured, wcro at
tho city hospital. Two of them NAV
die. Several others were taken to
their homes i'll carriages. suffering from
contnsions or broken bones. Tho
death list will probably exceed TWEEN
tyfiye.
at n lnto hour of tho night thcro Ind
been but fourteen of tho dcnd identi.
fed.
Victims All idcntincu.
Six victims Of the Front street thoa-
ter horror were buried Saturday after
noon. lnrgo crowd collected in
front OF oach house Of mourning, and
many morbidly curious persons follow
cd tho cortoge to tho cemetery.
Tho number of fatalities was twonty-
threo, rs previously announced. Many
persons woro injured and were re-
moved to their homes before their
names or conditions could bo asccr-
tainod, but mp to a Into honr Saturday
night no further deaths had been re-
ported to tho health officers.
OF tho ton patients at the city hos
pital, four recovered sufficiently to be
removed, and wcro sent to their homes.
-Four others arc in n critical condition.
All tho bodies have been identified
and delivered to thoir friends for
burial.
The coroner has summoned largo
number of witnesses to appear at tho
inquest, and q thorough investigation
OF tho causes of tho disaster will bo
mado.