APPALLING DISASTER IN A THEATRE.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1384, 30 December 1884, Page 3

APPALLING DISASTER IN A THEATRE.

An appalling accident, resulting m the de\th of 14 persons and the serious injury of fully as many more, oecui'red on Saturday evening, Nor. 1, m a music hall known as the Star Theatre of Varieties m Watson street, Glasgow. The cause of the disaster was one of those groundless panics with regard to which so muck apprehension has been entertained since a similar catastrophe took place at the Sunderl md Theatre. In the course of the performance a cry of '■' Fu-e !" was raised, which carried consternation throughout an audi* enee numbering fully 1000 persons. A rush waa made to the several entfanoea. The occupants of the gallery and pit met on the pit landing, a block m consequence took place, and the lamentable loss occurred m the fierce struggle for escape from the building which ensued. Accounts differ as to the exact quarter from which the cry proceeded, but the preponderance of evidence seems to show that it was raise by a man seated m the second row of seats m the balcony. Prom thin point it is impossible to get an exact account of what took place, but it is clear that a panic seisjed the audience m every part of the building, and that there was a' wild rush to the doors, The people continued to shout that the place was on fire, and m the the midst of the confusion not hi :!<* could be done to allay the alarm that had taken hold upon almost e\eryoue m Lhe house. In their desperate efforts to escape upwards ot sixteen men and lads thiew themselves over the front into the ocrobats' net, fully twenty feet below. It is believed they were en« couraged to do this by seeing one of the; exhibition making the leap. The first of the audience to fall into ,the net was a young lad, who dropped over the front of the gallery immediately after the performance. No sooner was it seen that he had alighted safely than others followed his example, and ultimately succeeded m making their escape. Meanwhile a terrible scene was being enacted on the staircase leading from tho gallery. The crowd rushed headlong down tre narrow staircase. Some one stumbled and fell, and imp mediately the passage became blocked with a etruggling mass of human beings. The stronger and more vigorous succeeded m extricating themselves, but the weak and feeble became inextricably jammed underneath. The attendants on the staircase were swept out to the street m front of the crowd, and no one was left to take the lead m the work of rescue. By this time it was discovered; that there was no foundation for 'the alarm that had been raised, Mr Carlton, one of the artists, and Mr. Cole, the stage manager, had gone upon the stage, and made an attempt to calm the audience ; Mr Robert M'Kay, the manager, who had made an attempt to reach the stage, but had been driven back by the mass of people who were forcing an exit, now entered the paywbox. and by his directions a number of people were passed through the window, and made their escape by way of Watson street entrance. By this means upwards of 20 people were rescued, but still comparatively little progress was made m relieving those who had first fallen m the struggle to gain the street, the places of those pulled through the window being at onoo taken by others who rushed down staiis from above. But it was on the pit landing that the chief loss of life occurred, for at this point the mass of struggling human beings was at one time piled as high as six or seven feet. Success m allaying the panic was even* tually achieved, and the work of carrying out the dead and injured was then completed. Seven pergonß were found to be dead, and seven succumed to their injuries m the Royal Infirmary, whither they were removed. In the course of the evening, a man named James Turner,, residing at 20 Northburn street, was taken into custody charged with having raised. the. false alarm of fire* He was formerly an employee m the music hal 1 , but was dismissed a fortnight before the disaster.