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New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5173, 15 June 1878, Page 6

Farragut has kindly come to the fore through a spirit medium, and settled forever the question a* to why that corpulent old sea-dog lashed himself to the mast. In response to a query, his spirit rapped oat, "Because I didn't regard the deck as healthy just then."

DREADFUL PANIC AT A CIRCUS. On the 3rd February, an Italian circus from Milan, belonging to Messrs. Priami and Pierantoni, constructed of wood, and capable of accommodating between 3000 and 4000 persons, was erected on the Grande Place, Paris, where the biannual fair is being held. Last night it was crowded. Upwards of 1500 persons were refused admittance. Reserve seats face the entrance ; the firstclass seats are in the front rows, the secondclass are in the back and in the gallery. During the whole of the performance a number of young workmen in the gallery kept making a noise. Towards the end of the performance, during the representation of the pantomine, "Le Medecin de Campagne," this band of young men rose from their seats, causing those near to follow their example. At this moment an unknown person shoted "Au feu!" causing an immediate stampede down the inclined plane on either side of the circus serving for the entrance and exit of the second-class. The persons who first reached the bottom of the staircase, instead of making for the door by which they had entered, attempted to open an extra door reserved for cases of emergency. This door opening inwards instead of outwards, a block immediatly ensued, people jumping down from the gallery upon those jostling below. Monvoisin, Commissaire de Police, with M. Durette, Commandant, and other officers, used their utmost endeavours to calm the audience. Many kept their seats, but others in a panic burst open the outer enclosure and jumped into the street. Others, again, occupying second places, broke down the partition dividing them from the first, and pushed into the front rows, then into the arena, and so out through the stable and the stage door. Four firemen always on at the stables, one of them a bugler, hearing the first alarm of fire and seeing the people rushing out, shouted out " Fire." The watchman at the adjoining belfry immediately rang the note of warning, alarming the town and garrison. The infaDtry and artillery were soon on the spot. Though not needed to extinguish fire, they did useful service in conveying the wounded to the Hotel de Ville. From a pile of bodies around the doors were taken nine corpses—two men, four boys, one woman, and two girls. A quarter of an hour later another boy died. Next morning two were found mortally, three severely, and forteen slightly wounded Among the victims are a father and a little girl, the father struggling to save the child; both were'ultiuiately bruised to death.