HUNGARIAN HOLOCAUST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 847, 20 June 1910, Page 7

HUNGARIAN HOLOCAUST.

OUTBREAK OF A BALLROOM. HUNDREDS OP DANCERS KILLED. An appalling tragedy which occurred in the villago of Oekvorito, in Hungary, is related in recent English papers. The coachhouse of tho inn had been fitted with a dancing floor, and was being used as a ballroom when liro broko out, and tho guests, numbering several hundreds, many of whom had their clothes in flames, trod on ono another in their endeavour to-escape. To mako matters worse, the blazing roof fell in, burying a largo number of people, -100 of whom were killed ami hundreds injured. The disaster took place under circumstances which wero only too favourable lor tho rapid outbreak of a terrible conflagration, for the great barn-liko erection where dancing was going on was still copiously decorated with pine branches which had been put up for a previous entertainment, and were now as dry as tinder, to which, decorations wero added— Chinese lanterns with candles burning in them. The building was not only packed with villagers, but escape was rendered more difficult by the fact that just before the ball began, all ticket-holders having already arrived, tho single narrow door to the building was nailed up to prevent unauthorised persons gaining entrance. Dancing was in full swing when ono of tho pino branches caught fire. The flames spread with astounding rapidity, and a dreadful panic ensued. Losing their heads completely, tho revellers, many 'with their clothes afire, rushed towards the exit, whero they at once becamo jammed together in a pushing, swaying mass, many falling down and being tramnlcd underfoot, wbilo thoso who. hnd reached tho door first, crushed helplessly against it by the pressure of those behind, wero unable to open it. i Jfeanwhile the fire spread with morciless speed. Tho roaring anil crackling of tho flames mingled with tho despairing shrieks of tlio doomed throng. Then tho roof crashed in, blazing wrcckago falling, and people who had so far escaped tho flames wero struck down by beams or buried under debris. Somo four hundred beings, old nnd young, grandparents and grandchildren, girls in tho flower, of their youth and burly rustic swains, lost their 'lives, while the number of badly injured is set down at even higher figures. The whole neighbourhood was stricken with deepest gloom. Hardly a locality in the district but had 'been afflicted by the disaster, as tho festivity was attended by pleasure-seekers from tho whole surrounding country.

Of tho members of two bands' who wero playing tho danco music only threo- escaped. Some of tho dancers who, with burning clothes," managed to get clear of tho. ruined barn. ran out into tho open, but collapsed before they had got far. ■