A FEARFUL TRAGEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6745, 17 February 1909, Page 5

A FEARFUL TRAGEDY

EOASTED TO DEATH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BURNED ALIVE. CALAMITY IN MEXICO. P.y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 10, 10.10 tt.m.) LONDON, February 10. Another terrible theatre tragedy, recalling the ono which occurred on December 30th, 1903, at tho Iroquois Theatre, in Chicago—when 587 persons were killed and tho bodies of 300 were never recovered—is reported as having taken place at Anapulco, an important Mexican seaport on the Pacific coast and situated alxwfc 220 miles southwest of tho capital. It occurred during a performance at the Florcs Theatre, when the building was set on tiro by some means at present unknown. Fearful scenes were witnessed, and a great panic occurred among the audiouco in their frantic efforts to escape from the burning building. Tho means of exit became blocked by tho rush of the terrified people, who were roasted to death in scores. Full details of tho calamity are at present unobtainable, but it is known that tho number of those who were burned to death was at least three hundred.

It is impossible to procure further news for the time being, as tho telegraph office was also destroyed by flames whioh spread from the theatre.