KIRIN HOLOCAUST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 136, 21 March 1930, Page 5

KIRIN HOLOCAUST

A TERRIBLE PANIC.

DEATH-ROLL SAID TO BE 120

CROWD THREATENS LYNCHING

(United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day 10.5 a m.) 1 - SHANGHAI. March 20 Additional details of the fire m the cinema at Changchun (Kirin) x a f ns ed electric wire ignited the flimsy makeshift structure during the pG j s*believed that 120 person* perished. Sixty-five bodies have been recovered and many more are still among At* the first sign of fire the Targe audience stampeded, in a terrible panic? rushing to the single .narrow passage which was the sole exit. Most were women and children, many of whom were crushed to death. A stiff breeze was blowing and soon the building was a mass of flame. , more than. 100 being trapped within the blazing furnace. . The antiquated fire brigade was ui - able to do anything. .< +housHarrowing scenes folio .iedj tnous ands of Chinese shrieking and. wailing as the fire completed its, terrible wo k. The police and militia were compelled to resort to the severest tactics to prevent the relatives lynching the Chinese proprietor and operator, vlio eventually escaped. The recovery of the bodies was a ghastly business. Thousands of Chinese hovered on the outskirts others were engaged digging in the ruins and examing the charred bodies. It is understood that warrants lni\ been issued for the arrest ot the pioprietor and operatoi\^^^^^