PANIC AT A PICTURE SHOW

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3005, 16 February 1917, Page 5

PANIC AT A PICTURE SHOW

FILM CATCHES FIRE

ONE BOY KILLED, AND MANY INJURED

1 wu-i c, Sydney " February 15. While a film was being shown at the ■Boys■ Bngado Hull at Surrey Hills, it caught alight, caiming a, panic. The ■audience stampeded down a flight of steps, tho result being that a boy. aged ■seven, was killed., and twenty-five boys ■* nd l , a woman and a girl were taken to tho hospital. A number of others were slightly injured. When-tho film took fire a terrible scene occurred, tho. hoys fighting liko maniacs near tho stairs. A couplo of ./tho leading division fell, and in a few ■minutes th.6 landing was piled with a ; seething mass of hoys slowly suffocatiing under the weight of those on top. Meantime tho fire, which lasted a few j&nhrutes, and.did not «iuse any damjago, was extinguished, and tho work ,of rescue Association.

ONLY ONE SERIOUS CASE IN HOSPITAL. ' (Hoc. February 15, 7;40 p.m.) February 15. With tho. exception of half a dozen, !*JI tho victims of tho stampede at the iPioture Theatre have left tho hospital. Only one case is serious. The chief contributing cause of the- mishap was n. sharp turn in the narrow stairway. • lAfter the first rush those in. charge succeeded in inducing many of the boys ito return to their seats. This action ■and the methods adopted by the rescuers prevented imuch worso results. Some of tho children attempted to escape by the windows, a drop of thirtyfeet. Lucidly those' were locked as isoon as.the outbreak started. —Press Association.