FEARFUL OCCURRENCE AT STOCKHOLM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 2

FEARFUL OCCURRENCE AT STOCKHOLM.

Eighteen Persons Trampled, to Death. New York, October I.—A cable apodal to the "World" from Stockholm says: — " No event in many years ha? so profoundly agitated the Venice of the North as the reception to Madame Nilsson by hor countrymen here on Thursday last. Siuce the occurrence, Nilseon has beon so completely prostrated that she had felt obliged to cancel many engagements. King Oscar, who has taken very deep interest in the matter, has been active in extending sympathy and relief to the afllicted families. So great was the confusion follow log the calamity that the officials have scarcely yet recovered from the dazed condition produced by its awful suddenness, and it is only to day, for the first time, that I am enabled to cablo tho particulars with any degree of definiteness. Owing probably to the fact that Mdme. Nileon rocontlo bought a handsome house in London and announced her intention of making her home in England, permanently hereafter, the great singer's visit to tho boautiful capital of her native land was regarded as a farewell ono and the popular excitement attending her arrival was intense. Crowds of enthusiastic countrymen welcomed her at the railway station on Thursday morning and closely attended hor carriage to the Grand Hotel. She gave three concerts, delighting the populace after oauh performance by singing home ballads in front of the hotel. As early as 7 o'clock in the evening people were streaming towards the Giand Hotel When Nilsson arrived shortly after 9 o'clock, it is estimated that the masß of people numbered no less than 40,000 perßons. Deafening cheers greeted the diva's arrival. Unable to reach tho principal door of the hotel, ehe with difficulty managed to gain admittance at a side entrance, and was presently bowing to probably tho largest and most oxcited audience she ever looked upon. After Madam Nilsson had sung two songs the crowd began to disperse homoward. The first movement of the mass caused a frightful crush, which was horribly intensified by tne pressure of a numbe- of fresh arrivals on the outskirts of the town. A rascally gang of roughs helped to still further precipitate a calamity by trying to work their way through the confused and chaotic multitude. With a rush like the flow of a mighty river the excited mass of people directed itself towards some newly bmlt houses. The pavement in front of the houses had been torn up and tho ground was strewn with buildinc stone lime and sand. Just beforo this uneven place was reached the stone pavement ended at an abrupt descent in the grade of the Btreet. Here those in advance of the crowded baited an instant, but being pressed forward by the thousands behind stumbled and fell. The crowd awarmeJ on with the entire absence of reason or control, characteristic of such a crowd in an imergency. Men, women and children were instantly piled one upon

another in ono groat crushed, bleeding, shrieking and undistinguiahablo mass of humanity.

The horror of the sceno was increase 1 by the demoniac yells of the roughs, who took | advantage cf tho moment to attack and plunder people right and left. To add to the confusion, the only lamp that illuminated that part of tho street waa turned out by o boy who saved him-' self by climbing tho post, while many others saved themselves by breaking windowß and entering new houses. They were severely cut by broken glass. When the police finally forced a passage and removed the dead and injured they found that 18 persons had been killed in tho rush. Most of these were women, Many people are beHoved to have been uoriousiy injured early in the panic by being trampled under tho feet of horses. A prominent citizen was soparated from two daughters, aged 10 and 12 years. Ho afterwards found tho bodies trampled almost boyond recognition. A. woman excitedly soarching for her child broko into loud cries on seeing tho row of corpses and it was found that she had gone mad. The police, numbering 200, were utterly powerless to prevent the accidont or govern the crowd.

[Mail News continued on pages 7 and B.]