THE PANIC AT VALENCES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVIII, Issue LXXVIII, 13 June 1919, Page 7

THE PANIC AT VALENCES

MANY DEAD AND HUNDREDS INJURED.

BISHOP'S PRESENCE OF MIND

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYEIGHT

(Received June 13, 12.5 p-ni->

PARIS, June 4 (delayer^. There are 131 people dead as the' resule of the Valence picture theatre l>anic. Hundreds were injuied. The ■ scene was appalling, for a thousand were present. Th e fire was trivial, but the stamped e v terrifying. Piles of struggling women and children were -choked at the turning of the staircase. The Bishop of Valence was present, and tried to calm, the audience. He eventually ordered the orchestra to play the Marseillaise, which gradualy allayed the panic, but death had don c its ghastly work. Blood spattered the wails and stairs, and many were wounded through the breaking of the windows. The men in the audience behaved well in the rescue work. There were heartrending scenes at the,hospital.