STAMPEDE .AT CINEMA

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 35, 4 November 1933, Page 18

STAMPEDE .AT CINEMA

Eight Children Injured

Nine children were in grave danger of becoming suffocated or asphyxiated in ;i stampede at a matinee at a Glasgow picture-house recently. It was the Premier Picture House, Kirkpatrick Street, Bridgeton Cross. Glasgow. Some child apparently released the cap of a fire extinguisher. This caused hissing, and another child sitting near shouted “Fire.” Before the manager or the attendants realised what was happening the audience of children rose in a body and dashed madly to the exit doors. Within a few minutes men and women swarmed round the doors and attempted to gain access while the children were running out.

Someone broke a fire alarm and the brigade arrived.., / , , Three women and .12 men rushed into the cinema when the alarm was raised. ' . ■ . . Two of the women bad given their children money to go to the mfitiuee. and in their anxiety they rushed in to look for them. ' Mr Burke, the manager, told the "Sunday Chronicle”: “The children just rose aud stampeded for the doors, and despite my appeals they carried on. At the exits they fell over one another.” Eight children were admitted to the Roval Infirmary with slight injuries. A number were unconscious when rescued.