The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1897-07-29
PANIC AT PADUCAH.
Burning OF the Casino Summer
Theater Building.
Fifty Persons Painfully burned and a ucn'
dred Nearly TrampIed to Death
Three or -Four Children Re-
ported Missing.

PADUoAH. KY, July st-The Casino
summer theater building ut Ramona
park was burned Friday night at ten
o'clock. A performance was being
given, and there were about 600 people
present when the fire broke out caused
by fireworks display on the stage. The
audience was panic-stricken. Over 200
persons were injured by being burned,
and many were trampled almost TO
death. Severa of the actors were pain
fully burned.
The building was covered with tai
paper. and was 10 mas of flames IN
a minute. At midnightit was reported
that three or four children had per
ished In the flames.
Women aud children emerged from
the burning building with their cloth.
! ing nblaze. All the doctors In the city
were required to look after the i~
jured. Col. Reuben Rowland and hi,
wife were seriously injured In the
stampede.
vEnTABLE FIRE TRAP.
The Casino theater building was q
mammoth frame structure, and tho
roof being Of cardboard paper, the
flames dovoured IL In a few minutes.
The burned building was located about
three miles from the city aud was a
great resort for women and children
on hot summer evenings. The audi
ence last night numbered 600 persons,
and was composed principally OF WON
en- and children. The Bourne theatrical
company was producing I'm the Streets
Of New York"
In the third act, when the street Are
scene was being produced by the use
OF excelsior Mapped about wires.
lamp xploded. and instantly the flames
spread to the roof OF the building. The
curtain was ut this juncture raised. and
when the audience saw tho mass of
flames panic followed, and men. WON
en- and children ran over each other.
About fifty persons were painfully
burned, and at least 100 others injured
by being tramplcd upon.
There were many women and chill
dren rescued from the burning build
ing by brave men. who themselves
were burned In the undertaking. AZ
the front aud aide entrances men.
women and children were piled upon
each other several feet In depth. Those
who were not injured fed In every di-
rcction 20 their homes. not taking
street cars, which were In waiting to
bring the patrons OF the show back TO
the city. The dOctors were kept busy
Tor several hours looking after the.
needs OF the injured.
MANY INJURED.
Tho report that three persons had
perished In the flames could not be
verified at late hour. Many had their
limbs sprainod and broken in the STAN
pcde which followed the breaking out
Of the contlagration. Manager Bourne.
Of the theatrical company, and his wife
were seriously burned la making their
escape. Two new pianos and costly
wardrobes Of several of the actors were
burned with the building.
The list OF those most seriously
burned, as near ns could be ascer-
tanned. Is rs follows; Manager Bourne
and wife. Col. n. Rowland and wife,
Miss Cora Clark, Mrs. Brantlcy, c. c.
Rose and wife. A. @. Einstein, Fred
Hummel. two children, Miss Grigsby.
Fred Schroeder. Harry Kellor, John
BYng aud Gecrge C. Wailace's three
children.
Mrs Lehr was burned. as was also
her children, whom she rescued from
the building as the roof was collapsing.
Mrs. Gregory and her daughter of
Yazoo, Miss. were painfully burned.
Harry. Gilbert, Hall Waters and Miss
Dleich sustained painful injuries by
being trampled upon.
There were scores of others injured
In this manner, but 1t is impossible to
secure their names as yet,