CINEMA DISASTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 September 1926, Page 5

CINEMA DISASTER

DEAD ESTIMATED AT FIFTY FORTY BODIES RECOVERED (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian A N.Z. Cable Association./ LONDON, Sept. 7.

The bodies of ten men, twenty women, and ten children, were recovered from the ruins of the Drumcollogher cinema. A parish priest went round the, village taking a census. 'The havoc was s.i great that there is little trace of many victims, A rough estimate of 50 deaths was established only by the fact that at least this number of people are known to lie missing. It is feared that eleven of the injured will not recover. The cinema proprietor and operator were detained at Drumcollogher. A crowd smashed the windows of the operator's house. rORTV-EIGHT VLCTLMS IDENTIFIED LONDON, Sept. 7 Forty-eight victims of the cinema fire have been identified, including six of one family. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST LACK OF PRECAUTIONS (Rec. Sept. 8, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7. At (lie inquest on the Drumcollogher victims, Forde, the, owner of the picture plant, gave evidence that he used an unprotected projector among the audience. The films wore taken out r/f the metal cases and were, lying exposed on the table, where there was a- naked candle. He had no fire-Ayuenching apparatus. The operator, Downing, gave evidence that someone hit the flames with a cap, causing the fire to spread. The inquest was adjourned. 'Tlie film showing at the time of the outbreak was entitled “The Ten Commandments.'’