CINEMA DISASTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 September 1926, Page 5

CINEMA DISASTER

TERRIBLE OCCURRENCE IN IRELAND FORTY killed and forty MISSING AUDIENCE TRAPPED IN RAR.N (By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian <fc N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rcc. Sept. 7. 11.20 a.in.) LONDON, Sept. 6. A fire destroyed a. barn used as a cinema theatre at Druniooiloglier, Limerick. There was only one exit and the atnhtnce were (rapped. So far forty bodies have been recovered. Twenty men. ten women and ten children are still missing. Nine persons were seriously injured. The barn was used by a visiting cinema, winch was a novelty in the village. It was an old wooden room above garage improvised for the occasion and was packed to its full capacity—l2s people. Che lire originated in the film and spread with the utmost rapidity to old t,milters, 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 small passage. Here panic reigned, people shrieking and lighting as they found themselves trapped. Women and children fainted and were trampled down. .Meanwhile the. flumes were roaring a yard or two away. ’Then a portion of the floor collapsed, carrying several persons with it. Others farther from the passage endeavoured to escape through small windows, but were unable to do so before being caught- by the fierce flames. One «r two jumped fifteen feet to the ground. The cries and shrieks of terrified mothers were heartrending. Now and again blazing beams fell in the midst of the struggling throng. Those outside made frantic efforts io 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. A FAMILY OF SIX WIPED OUT PATHETIC SCENES SEARCH FOR. MISSING RELATIVES LONDON. Sept. 6. (Roe. Sept. 7. 11.45 tun.) Many of the bodies recovered from the Druinor/l logher fire were chaired beyond recognition, identification being only possible by articles of clothing or jewelirry. There were pathetic scenes all night long as frantic fathers and mothers sought amidst the dying embers for the remains of their children or other rein--1 ires. One whole family of six was wiped out. ’1 here, is barely a household in the village that litis not lost someone.