TRAPPED IN BARN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 September 1926, Page 9

TRAPPED IN BARN

VILLAGE HOLACAUST. FORTY PEOPLE BURNT FIRE AT CINEMA SHOW. BY CABLE—TRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 12.50 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Sept. 6. Fire destroyed a barn which was used as a cinema theatre at Drumcolloglier, County Limerick (Ireland). There was only one exit, and the audience was trapped. So far forty bodies have been recovered, 20 men and 20 women. Ten children are still missing. Nine persons were seriously -injured. The barn was used by a visiting cinema company, which was a noveltyin the village. An old wooden room above a garage was improvised for the occasion, and it was packed to full capacity, 125 people. The fire originated in the film, and spread with the utmost rapidity to the old timbers, instantly enveloping the hall. Scenes of indescribable confusion ensued. The entire audience rushed for the only exit, a narrow ladder to the garage through a. smaii passage. Here panic reigned, people shrieking and fighting as they found themselves trapped. Women and children fainted and were trampled down. Meanwhile the flames were roaring a yard or two away. Then a portion of the floor collapsed, carrying several persons with it. Others further from the passage endeavoured to escape through small windows, but were unable to do so before they were caught by the fierce flames. ’ One or two jumped fifteen feet to the ground. The cries and shrieks of terified mothers were heartrending. Now and again blazing beams fell amidst the struggling throng. Those outside made frantic efforts to subdue the furnace, hut without avail. Dense smoke made it impossible to work at close quarters. Within half-an-hour the entire barn was razed. Many bodies were recovered charred beyond recognition, and identification was only nossibte by articles of clothing or jewellery. There were pathetic scenes all night long a-s frantic fathers and mothers" sought amidst the dying embers for the remains of their children or nther relatives. One whole family of six was wiped out. There was hardly a household in the village that had not lost someone.

A GRIM SPECTACLE

BODIES WAITING IDENTIFICATION. Daylight brought a grim spectacle, bodies stretched on the ground awaiting identification. Forty-one have now hen identified, but little remains of the others beyond heaps of charred holies. It is practically certain that many we re trampled to death before they were consumed by- the flames. The nearest fire brigade was at Croon, thirty-six miles away, and to this town the injured people had to be xe moved.