WILD PANIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 227, 25 September 1928, Page 7

WILD PANIC.

STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

Fierce Conflicts In Theatre

Death Trap.

INDESCRIBABLE SHAMBLES

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDOX, September 24. It is thought doubtful if the Madrid death roll will reach the first staggering estimate. As a story of horror it is the worst in Europe for years. The disaster was all due to the short circuiting of one lamp amid the scenery. Two minutes later the stage was an inferno, belching black smoke into the auditorium where the audience, fortunately only one-third of the theatre's capacity, eat momentarily benumbed. Then there was a wild panic. They jumped from the galleries, jammed the exits, and fought with frenzy, the Weaker going down. Instantly many were suffocated before they were overtaken by the flames. The first rescuers entered the main door, where a pile of bodies was incinerated, including seven girls and two boys, 25 men, 22 women and also seven of the rescuing policemen. There were horrible discoveries when the dead were, reached. Some had revolver wounds, suggesting that they had committed suicide in preference to the more awful death. Others had knife wounds, testifying to the mad struggle for escape. Five bodies were recovered with knives clutched in the hands. Evidently those were the men who attempted to fight their way to the exits. One had a large knife wound in his body, and it is unknown whether he committed suicide or was wounded in the struggle for life. There was another case of a mother who, together with several children, was found in the ruins, the mother having a bullet wound in her head. A Toledo man saw hie wife and four children die. He pulled out a revolver and committed suicide. Many of the injured in the hospitals are not expected to recover. Some were blinded by the flames, others were dumb, apparently with terror. Moet of the bodies were blue and bJack from bruises, due to trampling. In some cases the bodies were found interlocked as though in the last fight for life. The father of a family of eight has been inquiring anxiously! at all hospitals for his wife and children who were in a box. Apparently all have perished. A third husband recognised the body of his recently married wife and six other relatives. The Novedadcs is the seventh theatre burnt down in Madrid in the last 15 years. The authorities had filed seven reports regarding the instability of the theatre. A Cabinet meeting to-morrow will decide on relief measures. Cafes and bars in the neighbourhood of the fire are forbidden to play music for two days. The Spanish Ambassador met King Alfonso, who came from Scotland to Euston and informed him of the Madrid tragedy. King Alfonso was deeply affected and instructed the Embassy to convey his sympathy to the families of the victims. King Alfonso is going to Paris on October 2o; whilst in London he will not. attend amusements. He has ordered a Funeral Mass on October 25 in St. James', Spanish Place. LIKE WILD BEASTS. BEHAVIOUR OF MOB. (Auolrnllnn Preee Assn.—United Service.) (Received 2.30 p.m.? MADRID, September 24. Three engineers who escaped from the fire among the last of the survivors said that men and women behaved like wild beasts. Women and children were hurled to the ground and trampled upon. It was the triumph of the strongest. Apparently the fire hoses did not function nnd the safety curtain was absent. Most of the deaths were due to the collapse of a staircase. Two small children were found to-day unliurt in a lavatory, where they had taken refuge all night. The authorities are of the opinion that it was a mistake to continue the performance with the view of allaying the panic. Two invaluable minutes v ere lost when the flames tlared up in the auditorium. Some bodies bear knife wound* and even bites in the back.