Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-17
TWO HUNDRED DIE IN FIRE
Audience in Mexico Theater Caught
in Trap by Flames.
PICTURE FILM Is IGNITED
Adobe Structure with wooden Roof
and Small Exits Feeds BIaEe and
People Are Literally Roasted
No Americans Lost.

| WASHINGTON. Feb ls.-No Americans
lost their lives in the fire which destroyed
the Flores theater at Acapulco, Mexico,
Sunday night, according to a dispatch re-
ceived at the State department today from
American Consul Maxwell X. Moorehead.
over 200 people were burned to death, &C
cording to Consul Moorehead
Bodies stIu in Building.
Ell PASO. Tex, Feb. ls.-Reports re-
ceived this morning from Jaurez Mexico,
say that the death list resulting from the
fire at Acapulco Sunday night will not
reach 80. az at first reported. but 1t is i'm
possible TO state the exact number OF IA
talities, as all the bodies have not yet been
recovered from the burned building.
Tho building in which the entertainment
was being held was a large adobe structure
with a wooden roof and with a few small
doors as exits. an almost perfect fire trap.
Mexico Reports ESQ Dead.
MEXICO, Feb. ls.-Between 20 and sOc
people were burneG 20 death and many in
jured in a fire which destroyed the Flores
theater in the city OF Acapulco last night
The news OF the disaster reached this capt.
tai this afternoon, telegraphic communica-
ton with Acapulco having been destroyed
last night ana today owing to the fact that
the telegraph office adjoining the theater
was burned and all wires put out Of COM
mission. The Flores theater was a wooden
structure and last night over l,O00 people
crowded into 1t to witness a special per-
formance given in honor Of Governor Da-
msnian Flores Of the state of Guerrero.
who was visiting the city at the time. One
! Of the numbers on the program consisted
OF series of moving pictures While the
operator was exhibiting these, a film
caught fire and blaze was quickly COM
munieated to some bunting which had been
used for decorative purposes.
Awful Panic Ensues.
In an incredibly short time the flames
spread to all parts of the structure. There
were but three narrow exits and the panic
stricken audiences rushed TO them, many
persons faling.N to be crushed to death.
their bodies choking the way to escape for
others.
The screams OF those imprisoned were
terrifying. Owing TO the rapidity with
which the fire spread and its intense heat
II was impossible to attempt rescue work
and those imprisoned were literally roasted
alive. the fire burned with little smoke
and few were suffocated. The efforts of
the fire department we're confined 10 AT
tempting to save the adjoining buiIdines
and the firemen succeeded so well thar
the property loss was small The teIe-
graph office. postOffice and custom house
were damaged, but all OF the governments
records and registered mail were saved.
Today pitiful scenes OF grief were wf,
messed on the streets Of the CITY. Ne,
women and children wandered about bpnt-
ing for relatives or friends.
Many OF the dead are from the fir--, fam
HES OF the state, the affair Al the theatre
being social event of considerable i'm
portanee and calling out the vesItbiest
and Oldest families for miles around. In
some instances whole families were u,,ned
out The municipal authorities toda,,
caused large trenches to be dug ana int
these the bodies were laid. Identifica,ion
has been impossible. most of the bod,ss
having been burned to a crisp.
Telegrams sent TO the American co,-,,,
al Acapulco by the Associated Press a.l-
ing for the names Of the American dead
have not been answsred.
Acapulc-, the west coast OF the s,,,.