The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-29
FIRE AND PANIC; SS DEAD
AWFGL CALAMITY Ar hun
GARIAN VILLAGE FESTIVAL.
FIImsy Decorations Ablaze 90 Dance BSoV
on Frantic CrOWd-DOoss Locked
Men ana women Trample Each
Daher 60 Death before Rect FaIla-

Men ana women Trample Each
Dsher 60 Death before Rect FaIa-
Speaai csbIs DsspsieA TO TIE SUE.
VIENNA, March Ss.-The most terrible
catastrophe that has happened in Austria
Hungary since the Ring Theatre was
burned In 1891 occurred last night when
nearly four hGGhred persons were killed
in . Are TIT started In q large coach
house which bad been 3tted up a. .
dance hall at the village Of oekoorito.
near Mate-Sxalka. More than hundred
and fifty survivors 81 the catastrophe were
shockingly injured. Many Of these will
probably die.
oekocrito and tho neighboring villages
have been agog with excitement for some
weeks and last night hundreds focked
to che improvised hall. which adjoinsd
an inn. The shed which had been turned
into a dancing hall was constructed en-
tirely Of wood and the interior was deco
rated with paper fsstoons and evergreen
wreaths which were scarcely less in
fiammAble. A. they had been on the walls
ever since the occasion Of some rustic
festivities several weeks ago. A. q con-
sequence they were exceedingly dry.
There seems to have been TO public
control OF tho arrangements. Not only
were the door openings. with the excep-
ton II a single small one. barricaded
in order to facilitate the issuance ana
collection oG the tickets. hut paper lanterns
had been hung numerously among the
dried evergreens.
About IL O'Clock one Of the lanterns
became ignited and before the blaze
could be quenched the festoon from
which IL was suspended also took fire.
The Are ran with lightning rapidity
catching branch after branch II the
resin filled pine boushs.
At first those in the hall watched the
blaz. with an air 81 half amusement,
apparently not realizing the peril.
Within a short space Of time. however
those nearest the door began to make
their way out
Very few. however. had passed into the
air before the whole ceiling was a rOar-
ing mass 81 lame. Then IL was that an
awful panic seized the dancers.
As II with a single impulse they rushed
20 the door. where a terrific battle took
place. All self-control. all regard for
age or sex. seemed to vanish in the pres
encs Of imminent death. While the
foremost of the crowd that was now COM
pIets.ly frenzied we're pushing. ciawing
and struggling like Wild animals. the
terror stricken mass behind pressed on,
creating such q jam that the door could
not 10 forced opra-
Children and the weaker 81 49, adults
went down before the maddened rush
The stronger cambered over the pros
trate bo,iies Of the lees fortunate and still
pressed On from behind speedily num-
hers 81 persons were trampled To death
or suffocated. while above the pile Of in
jured and dying the awful battle ragged.
BY this time the clothing Of many 81
the dancers had been isnised by the
blazing boughs which we're constantly
dropping from the roof. The flames
spread from one person to another. The
terrible scene Was az its height when the
blazing roof - the fimsy structure
collapsed and fell in upon those below
4 very few escaped unhur'
The greater number u those in the hall
wore either trampled or burned 70 death
The spectacle presented tonight by the
heaps - cha rrcd human corpscs Is a mo~t
appalling ono. old and young. men and
women. are mingled IN the great mas
The village authorities az first stated
tL.,t th" death list would not exceed es0.
but tonight Il IL placed at 80. " it'll about
one hundred and fifty seriously hurt
OekOcrito IL a remote village ~ about
1 iAl Inhabitants