smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

terror to the gaspng men and women who still free
from the jam on the stairway, dropped TO the par
quet floor to perish in the heat and smoke. There
was great peril and loss of life on the lobby stairs
leading to the dress circle. The stream of people
flowed on swiftly, crushing some, carrying others
out shoulders from the dress circle until stout
lady caught her foot at the landing in the stairral
and fell. The way was blocked. Crushed and
manned men were piled one above the other. Three
policemen, of them stripping off his coat extr-
Gated the lady and opened the way again. Those
who could extricate themselves ran over mass Of
PROSTATE beings to the door.


The gallery was filed by young men and boys
The means of egrcss were by separate, angular
stairway. Here the panic was worst. A few got
out in the first rush. jam occurred at the second
landing above the lobby, and the staircase was bar
ricaded by an inextricable mass. Some jumped
the stair-rail Others dropped into the parquct
Before those not killed outright and those
behind could free themselves the stairs gave
way ard all fell into the lobby, which
iIA turn went down. 1t was headlong fall the
crushed and bleeding men and women and boys
bound and wound into solid mass, were sufocated
by the weight and the smoke. Those who escaped
this awful death, bruised and manned, and with
clothing torn, scarcely knowing how they came
FORTH all thought that nobody was left to perish.
Even in all the outside confusion which ensued, it 10
surprising that the loss Of single human life was
discredited and not definitely known till almost
three hours after the fire broke out The excitement
was intensified from morning till night Of yesterday
as the magnitude of the calamity enforced itself
by the bitter evidence on mems minds. The scenes
at the Morgue and the old market where the char
red remains were taken were terrible. BY night
fall it was believed that more than hundred
bodies were yet to be exhumed. The work was con-
tinued by the light of torches and lanterns. 1t was
brought ont in the examination, instituted by Fire
Marshal Ready, that there were facilities on the
stage for quenching fire.
Year: 1876

A WHOLE CITY FILLED WITH PITY AND
ALARM.


TIE HORRORS OF TIE BURNING OF THE
BROOKLYN THEATER.


A DISASTER UNPARALLELED ~ THIS PART OF THE


COUNTRY-TnE FRIGHTFUL DISCOVERY WHICH


WAS MADE IN THE RUINS or THE 1HEATER YES


TEEDAY-oCCUPANrs OF THE GALLERY LYING


DEAD IN HEAPs-THE TERRIBLE RESULTS or HE


MAD RUSH FOR sAFETY-TnE WORK OF REMov-


ING THE BODIES GOING or ALL DiY-MosT OF


THE VICTIMS YOUNG MEN AND BoYs-PATHEIIc


SCENES AT TIE IDENTIFICATION or THE RE-


MAINs-THE FULL EXIEST OF TIIE CALAMITY


NOT YET OBTAINED WITH CERTAINTY-LIsTs or
THE DEAD AND MISSING WHICH MAY STILL BE
ExTENDED-MANY HOMES IN SEw-YoEK AND


BROOKLYN FILLED WITH SORROW.


The Brooklyn Theater which was burned on
Tuesday evening was a total loss. Contrary
to hopes entertained at the hour at which
TIE TRIBUNE went TO press yesterday morn
ing, the sacrifice of life was terrible. Three
hundred people miserably perished in the
smoke and flames. The large majority of
them were young men and boys: only few
women and children suffered death so
far as known. Most of those lost were occu-
pants of the gallery, or third tier of the
theater. In descending the stairway they were
met on the second landing or second tier of
the theatcr by binding and sufiOcating vol
ume of smoke, and fell in heaps on the stair
way. This was broken down under their ac-
cumulatcd weight, and they were precipitated
upon the lobby on the first floor of the building.
The flooring of the lobby in turn gave way, and
the entire body of men thus entrapped by the
smoke in their pathway to the street, strangled
and blinded, fell victims to the flames. or
those who occupied the dress circle (ground
foO) and the family circle (second tier, only
few appear to have been lost Two actors
were burned alive, three scene-shifters and
other assistants were seriously if not fatally
injured, and it is possible that several
supernumeraries on duty behind the scenes
perished. The greatest confusion and c0nster-
nation prevailed in Brooklyn, and full and ac-
curate details were not possibly obtainable. The
list of missing persons published below, it is
hoped and believed, contains many errors, in
sDired by the fears and anxieties Of friends
of those supposed to be lost, who re-
ported their names at the statiOn-houses.
These errors future editions may correct; but
the evidence is indisputable that fully 800
persons have persisted. The Brooklyn Morgne
was carly overtaxed in aflording space for the
corpses, and one of the unOccupied market
places was converted into temporary mOrgue.
The scenes at both these places were heart
rending; at the place of the disaster itself the
excitement was intense. from early morning to
midnight
Year: 1876

REPUBLICANS CONFIDENT OF CONGRESSIONAL


APPROVAL


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEEl


NEw-ORLEANs, Dec. 6.-Although the Return
ing Board nominaly completed its work last evening
and fled in the Office Of the Secretary OF State sum
mary OF the vote Of this State full tabular statement
Of the returns will not finished for several days Gen
Anderson, a member of the board, says that when the
report is made the Legislature the returns from each
parish will have attached to them paper explaining
the action Of the board and showing the reasons why
each poll thrown out was rejected. These papers VIII
be accessible TO the Congressional Committee on It's
arrival and it is probable that the information they con-
tain will be substantially the same as that given to
Gen. Grant to-day by Senator Sherman and his associates
ON the late Republican Visiting Committee.


The returns from East Feliciana and Grant Parishes
were the only ones wholly rejected The first OF these
parishes formerly Republican by large majority,
but last month 1t voted unanimously Democratic The
board considers the evidence Of general intimidation IN
that parish so full and complete as to vate the election
at every poll. The Grant Parish returns were thrown
out for rregularty and for intimidation The super
visor left the parish and vote could have been poed
there had not the United States supervisors at the re-
quest Of citizens OF both parties, appointed commission
ers and provided for voting paCes The board decided
that this not election under the law The Demo
cratic majority in that parish was only about 60


In Ouachita no boxes were counted except those In
the City Of Monroe where the election was held under
the protection of United States troops Caldwell ono
poll adjoining Ouachita. rejected because the man
who had possession OF the box budoz on his way
to the polling place. The town boxes only in East Baton
Rouge West Feliciana and MorehOusc were counted
In each OF the following named parishes one or more
polls were rejected for intimidation: BosNier, Ca
borne De Soto, Franklin, Livingston, Richland, st.
Charles. Taugpahoa and Webster and perhaps one or
two others


Gen Anderson says that the election law has been
complied with in every particular; that the returns OF
no parish or precinct have been attacked except where
nrofesf by supervisor accompanied the original feturns
aud where testimony was taken by the board and cross
examination followed. He thinks that The Congressonai
Commitee will sustain the legality OF the boards acuOn
The vote OF Orleans Parish not changed NO votes
cast In il rejected
Year: 1876

from their position as found, from the appearance
Of the debris which covered them, and from the
known location of the stairway leading to the gall
leryvtho frightened four hundred must have
rushed in widest confusion down the first
fight of stairs ION the right side of the
diagram) to the landing which crosses above the
lobby and vestibule. Here they were apparently
it is all theory which there none to dispute or
confrm-met by the binding smoke driven by the
wind from the part of the theater then burning, and
falling in heaps on the landing broke it down,
and all were preciptated headlong into the lobby.
The floor of this part of the building unable to sus-
tain the shock and weight, gave way and the human
mass was precipitated into the cellar ten feet below
In this position as indicated in the diagram, nearly
all Of the bodies recovered were found.
Year: 1876

convention with the hurrah that has
been raised for him during the last few
days That much. Mt least. is not mys-
terious about this movement OF the Ad-
ministration 1t means opposition to
the death against tho gentleman from
Maine
Year: 1876

Washington Special ~ tho Baltimore Snnl


It may be mentioned that IL Is under
stood that this arrangement had also
tho eognlzanco. If not the approval OF
Senator Morton. between whom and
Senator Conkliug m understanding had
been arrived at that, whilo each IA ut
liberty to further his own chances as
best he may. the two will march together
against the field. The new deal is look
cd upon as very much in tho interest Of
Senator ConklinE II Is said that in the
event Of Mr.. Gonkling being elected to
the Presidency. the understanding Is
that Mr. Pierrepont is to remain at the
English Court during his term Of Office.
Year: 1876

A Frenchman who had won high rank
among men of science, yet who denied the
God who Is the author of all science, was
crossing the great Sahara IN company with
an Arab guide. he noticed with sneer,
that at certain times his guide, whatever
obstacles might arise, put them all aside,
and kneeling on the burning sand, called on
bis God. Day after day passed, and still
the Arab never failed; till at last one even-
ing the philosopher when he rose from his
knees, asked him with q contemptuous
smile: "How do you know their is God p
The guide fixed his beaming eye on the
scofer for q moment in wonder, and then
said solemnly, Chow do l know their is
God9 How do know that man, and not
camel, passed my hut last night in the
darkness? Was 1t not by the print Of his
feet in the sandl Even so''-and he point
ed to the sun, whose last rays were flashing
over the lonely desert-''that footprint is
not that of man."
Year: 1876

The Sanatarian for November is before
us, would that every member of the Board
of Education, and Of the Board of Health,
had copy and would study the articles
carefully. We build school houses but we
do not study the SANITARY requirements
in school Arithmetic" In this number .
full account is given of the German system
of school architecture in relation to health.
Our medical men will do well to read the
essay of DR.. O'Dea, on malpractice. and
medical evidence. Every parent should
read the article on "School. room poisoning
in New York, and then acertain whether We
are better off in our city. The report, in
brief, of proceedings of the American Public
Health Association, are valuable and inter.
esting. We print elsewhere little slip,
''what plant did," and commend it as q
sermon, short but full of sense. tits an
epitoms of tap to catch sunbeam.
Year: 1876

1t being generally understood that
there will be no tariff bill passed at this
session of congress, there is good deal
of curiosity to know what will be done
about internal revenue matters, espec-
tally with regard to tobacco. The sub
committee of the committee OF ways
and means, charged with considering the
question of tobacco tax, has prepared a
favorable report. In that report they
take strong grounds in favor of reducing
the tax from twenty-tOur to sixteen
cents, and Just here is where the trouble
comes that causes all the compotlon III
the tobacco trade. 1t may be asserted
most positively that even ii the com
mittee of ways and means does lndorse
the report of the sub b-committee on TINS
question OF tobacco tax, and the mouse
should pass it, the treasury department
will exert its energies against it, and inc
probabilities are that the senate VIII
defeat it by an overwhelming majority
II may be certainly stated that by NJ
possibility can there be change OF th'
tobacco tax at this session OF congress
There will be something done with re
gard to details of the spirit and Tobacco
laws. 1t is likely that there VIII b
some change in the tax on wins KY, he
cause Of the accumulating proofs tina
the high tax is beyond the revenue poln,
and has become n premium on fraud
The large number of distilleries seize
each day and the suspicious held by tn
treasury department that there are a
immense number of illicit distillcrles /
operation, favor reduced tax on spirit
Each indication is in the direction {
the passage of an act making col
siderable modification in Tie interni
revenue laws.
Year: 1876

A SAFETY rail has been put down on
the several trcstlcsand important bridges
on the New York & Long Branch rail-
road. 1t consists of an additional rail
ON each side of and about four inches
from the main track.
Year: 1876

The law is not always infallibc.
Charles and Mary Fisher were sentenced
to Sing Sing last November, the former
for seven and the latter for four years,
for an oiense which the prosecution has
now become satisfied they did not com
nit. The Opponents of circumstantial
evidence, however, can expect no COM
fort from the case for the defendants
were convicted upon direct and positive
testimony. They have been pardoned
by the governor; but there is no state
ment anywhere that they will be com
ponsated by the great state OF New
York for the injury and injustice done
them,
Year: 1876

We again recur to this subject, be-


cause it is of utmost Importance to the


cotton planter. The difference in


price between low ordinary and mid


ding cotton, has been throughout this
season from six to seven cents per
pound. A vast amonnt of cotton
sold this year has been of the grade
of low ordinary. By caIefull handling
and packing a great proportion of this
cotton might have been graded as
middling.


Will the cotton planters look to their
interests this year and have their cot
ton picked and packed, and keep it
clean of trash and dirt2 Let no stained
or trashy cotton be packed in bale
0f good, for it is always sold by the
lowest sample. Planters can easily
add from three to seven cents per
pound To the price of their cotton, by
porper handling ane careful attention
to the picking and packing of their
crops.


We have often heard planters say,
/" it does not pay to handle cotton so
bnt the experience of the
past season, must assuredly convince
them of their error and folly. We
intend to keep this matter before |
the planters, until the cotton of the
south west will rank higher in grade /
than that of any country. 1t is folly /
tocompete with India in the low priced |
eotton.-FdYmefs' Vindicator.
Year: 1876

ToLLY's FLAT, Dec. 2Sth, 1876.


DEAR JoURNAL.-Some social genius
has writtnn and others have sung, of "the
snow, the snow, the beautiful snow" but
we are now all singing of the rain. the
rain, the glorious rain, and well NAV we
be joyful of the rain when we look back
on the last few years. 1t has been long
time since the prospects of Trinity Coun-
ty looked as favorable as at the present
time. Although there is not a great deal
OF snow on the mountains, still the ground
is better soaked with water than it has
been for many long year this early, and
we have lots of time for snow yet. see
at the big fume on Weaver Creek thew
appear to be doing 'egular "land- office
business" conveying great amount of
Mother Earth to other parts. The last
rains give them fine head of water and
they seem to be making the most of it :;
and ii this don't stop old Davidson's in
cessant growing for water l don't know
what will. He seems to always have
some idea of a scarcity of water in the
dim future, and, by the by, can't he and
the man that owns the bridge at Douglas
City do some tall growing


Speaking of Douglas City, | happened
there Christmas evening, and saw some
thing of a gathering at the hotel kept by
that prince of landlords, H. w. Leon





ard. Upon inquiry | learned that the
District school kept by Mrs. Fannie
Warren had just closed, and that there
was 10 be an exhibition by her pupils, of
singing, acting, defamation etc. The
greater part of the children were young,
ranging from six to ten years, some few
years older, and when the small chance
they have had to acquire knowledge and
practice is considered, it is wonder that
they all acted their parts as we'll as they
did. 1t is seldom that we see it done bet
ter in much older schools, with much
more practice, and was led TO the con-
clusion that in Mrs. Warren they had
secured the services of ten ner of re-
markable ability, and rare qualifications,
and L think that greater results in SO
short time cannot be found in any Dis
trict. l think the Trustees would do
well to secure her services again. A
good teacher is hard to find and when
found should be retained. | found that
she had given general satisfaction and is
a general favorite with old as we'll as
young.


Where so many took part and all did
well, it is impossible to particularize.-
Several acts were performed by older
persons, and we saw very old woman
ou the stage who would pass anywhere.
The music was excellent. Upon the
whole it was one of the most pleasant
evenings | have ever enjoyed. MAX.
Year: 1876

ONE typo quit tho business recently and
another is laid up for repairs days are
short and holidays numerous times are
dull and nothing going on; money is
scarce and the boss is disgusted other
excuses for the poor appearance of this
paper will be given, if desired, on appli-
cation at the office.
Year: 1876

F In the year of 1857, which was
quite a severe one as Il great many
Of my readers still remember the
Delaware river at Philadelphia was
frozen over for the first time in many
years. The people made good use of
it while it lasted, in the way of skat-
ing and sleighing; which attracted
crowds to the ice. The vendors of
refreshments were well represented
as they always are on such occasions,
and one of them is the subject of my
story:


He had erected a booth for the pur-
pose Of dispensing alcoholic and malt
liquors. To have everything handy,
he had cut hole in the ice behind
the bar so as TO have water without
the expense of having it carried there
from the shore.


Everything went along smoothly
for some time until an Irishman en-
tered the booth and called for a glass
of ale. The dispenser of that bever-
age turned around to draw it from
the keg, which by the way, was
standing just back of the hole in the
ice. The ice had become thin about
the hole, and the barkeeper stepped
directly in the opening and sudden
ly disappeared.


The trishman waited and waited
for some time, when in came another
customer and inquired of the thirsty
Irishman for the bartender. The
Irishman answered:


Gle wint down in the cellar for
glass of ale for me some time ago, and
if he dosn't soon bring it, begorra |
won't wait much longer"


Do you think the lrishman got his
ale? No, as that was the last ever
heard of TODD the dispcnscrof alchol-
ic beverages.
Year: 1876

TO the EditOr Of The Tribune.


SIR: We Liberals either made a mistake in
leaving the Republican party IN 1872, OF we make
greater in going back the present time for there
has change except in the national nominees. II
the men unobectOnable, they have the party
behind them who deserve credit for the nominations
Year: 1876

a their physiognomies and phrenology.
If nature intended them for great and good
men she hung out the wrong signs. Did
not every man of them seek his present
position for his olon more than his coun-
try's good? Does any man suppose
in his widest imagiuings that these
balf-Aedged goslings, with conceit
enough for peacock, have more brains
than necessary for a pettifoggtng
lawyer before country Justices court!
And these are the men who object to the
purity of the ballot, to the slightest derelic-
ton in that direction. They were willing
to spend money in opposing freedom and
purity in Kansas, but not cent for purity
in New York or any place where they have
the power. 1t was one of their party,
Northern Democratic leader, who pro-
claimed from the steps of the Capitol in
Richmond, Va, that for every regiment
raised in the South Northern Democrats
would raise two to JOIN them; thus showing
that many of the leaders were willing to
betray their country for mess of political
pottage Now there are scores of these
men, with their oienses prematurely con-


doned, fed and fattened at the public crib,
who are denouncing the men who stroVe
for their country and resisted the efforts of
these very men to overthrow it. They pre-
tend to political honesty. When and where
did they practice ii? When compelled, not
otherwise. They pretend to statesmanship,
and do not understand single elementary
principle underlying the science of society.
They pretend to personal honesty, and are
taking pay for services they have sworn to
perform and are unable from want of capa-
city. Look at them. In what do they
differ from other men, unless in their brszen
impudence and hypocritical pretenses?
Year: 1876

divine behest. The troubles and discon-
tents of the average Southerner may now
be directly traced to the results of the war.
They see in the late slave an imaginary
value, and believing that they were wrong
fully dispossessed of him and his labor,
they have learned to despise him and
never cease to maltreat and abuse him.
DR.. Richard Fuller, late of South Caro-
lima, now of Baltimore, had the sagacity
thirty years ago to foresee the ills
which slavery was destined to inflict
upon his native State, and in one Of
his sermons at Beaufort, in the summer OF
1S45, incurred the lasting enmity Of his
parishioners by advising them to manumit
their servants. So effectual, however,
was the ostracism which his friends and
relations practiced upon him that he prac-
tically receded from his liberal views and
prostituted his talents by entering into an
elaborate controversy with Or. Wayland
in defense of the peculiar institution. The
above are cited with view of showing
the incentives and motives of the unrecon-
stIucted Southerners in expressing the
black race. 1t is part of their religion to
abuse and wrong the colored people.
Never was Moslem more devoted to the
memory of his prophet than are the
Southern people 10 the idea that Demo-
cratic supremacy will again give them
the right to enslave their fellowmen.
At present the State government of
Missouri is issuing certificates of
Indebtedness TO late slave owners
which are made payable "when the Gov
eminent becomes ready to pay for them;"
i. e., when the Democracy obtain control.
1t is not surprising, then, in view of all
these facts, that the colored race have per
sistently refused to identify themselves with
the Democratic party, and that to coerce
them it became necessary for Lamar and
others to inaugurate the shotgun policy.
For the past fifty years the best talent of
the South has been systematically engaged
in debauchiag and misleading their follow
ers, and it will require few more years of
Republican rule TO educate that people up
to a standard that will enable them TO i'm
part equal and exact justice to all.