PRIMARY CAUSE A SHORTCIRCUIT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 September 1928, Page 5

PRIMARY CAUSE A SHORTCIRCUIT.

■■. V ■ . . STAGE CONVERTED INTO AN INFERNO IN TWO MINUTES. WILD PANIC ENSUES. (By Teiegraph-rPress Assn 'Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. . It is. thought doubtful if the .Madrid death-roll will reach the first staggering estimate. As a story of horror, however, it is the worst in Europe for years. The disaster was all- due to the short-circuiting of one lamp amid the scenery. Two minutes, later the stage was an inferno, bel'ching . black smoke into the auditorium, where the, audience- —fortunately only one-third of -the theatre's capacity—sat momentarily benumbed. Then, there .was a wild panic. They jumped from the galleries, jammed the exits, and bought: with - frenzy* the weaker going down instantly. Many were suffocated .before they were overtaken by the flames. . • • The first rescuers entered by the main door, where a pile of bodies had been incinerated, including seven girls, and two boys, 25 men, 22 women, also sevoti rescuing policemen; > There-were horrible discoveries when the dead,-.- were • reached. Some had revolver wounds* suggesting that they had, committed suicide in preference to a more- awful death. ‘ Others had knife wounds, testifying to a mad struggle for escape.. .. . .