HEMMED IN BY FLAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8885, 23 May 1892, Page 5

HEMMED IN BY FLAMES.

TERRIBLE PANIC IN A BURNING THEATRE. A MAD RUSH FOR DIFE. Philadelphia, April 27. Trie most sensational tire that has visited this city for years broke out to-night on the stage of the Grand Central Theatre, and before it was brought under control nearly £200,000 worth of property has been destroyed, including a massive eight-story annex to the building occupied by the Times. There was u panic in the theatre, and nearly fiftv persons, most of them occupants of the galleries, were hurt, none, however, seriously Just before eight o'clock, while the stage hands were lowering scenery from the flies, a portion of the setting became entangled in the border lights, Tongues of fire shot up to the roof and the blazing scenery fell to the stage, and in a short space of time the entire rear portion of the theatre was a mass of lire. A large number of female chorus singers and ballet dancers stood in the wings Waiting for the performance to begin. They were thrown into ti panic and rushed about, scarcely knowing which way to turn to avoid the quickly-spreading flames. All, it is believed got out safely, although there is a report that three ballet girls are missing. A scene of even more intense excitement was enacted before the footlights. The house was only partially filled. When the audience realised that they were face to face with a theatre lire everybody started for the exits. The weaker ones were borne down and crushed under foot. One individual, maddened and brutalised by excitement, drew a pocket-knife and cut his way through the mass of people. Half-a-dozen or more people were found at the hospital who had been victims of his frenzy. None of the wounds, however, are of more than a painfui character. The members of the company who lost their lives are : Thomas Lorella, grotesque, and his wife, Flora, a ballet dancer; \ incentina Chitten, premiere dauseuse, one of the Chitten sisters ; Francheon Conitres, juvenile; Sarah Golden, ballet dancer ; William L. Brooks, leading man ; Samuel Wallace, a boy of 15, who attended the " Devil's Auction" performance at the Grand Central Theatre last night is reported missing, and it is believed that he also is buried in the ruins, making the seventh victim to the fire. The injured who are likely to die are : Harry McCloskey, aged 16 years ; James Pigeon, 14 years; Amoer Hinchliffe, 16 years; Rand Patterson, 15 years; Albert Cluembacker, 6 years ; Thomas Atchison, 37 years, Ralph Frazer, 16 years. Lorella met death in a heroic attempt to save the life of his wite. He escaped safely from the theatre, supposing that his wife had preceded him. Not finding her he returned to the theatre, and without heeding the remonstrances of those about him, plunged into the dark, smoke-filled alley, and did not reappear. A. J. Clark, who occupied a seat in the parquet of the Central Theatre, and who escaped unscathed, says The first intimation of danger I had was the cry of fire, and the cry was echoed from all parts of the house. I looked and saw the upper part of the curtain in flames, and behind it could be seen a ruddy glare. I seized my hat and overcoat, anil when I looked up again the flames had leaped out and caught the balconies. The uproar was terrible. Beside me sat a man with a. little child, and I saw several women in the audience, and more in the private boxes. _ I don't think the women got much attention. Men clambered over the backs of seats, and fought one another in the mad struggle to get away from the flames. I saw a number of people who were burned about the head and arms. How I got out on Walnut-street is more than I can tell. I was carried with the throng. There was a tremendous crush at the doorway, and I felt myself walking over prostrate people, and then was carried by the rush out into the middle of Walnut-street. Had the house been filled I have no doubt ' many Would have been killed, because it was i hardly three minutes after the first intimaI tion of fire until the interior of the audi to- ' riuin was filled with flames."