FORTY ODD DEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1926, Page 9

FORTY ODD DEAD

CINEMA HOLOCAUST, IN

IRELAND!

VILLAGERS TRAPPED IN

BLAZING BARN

FRANTIC STRUGGLE FOR MtC EXIT

(United Prat Association.—Copyright) (Beceived 7th September, 11 a.m.) LONDON, 6th Sept Kre destroyed a bain used for * cinema show at Drumolologher, near Limerick. There was only one erft, and the audience was trapped. Otw forty people lost their lives. Forty bodies so far have been Mcovered from the debris of the Unl, which was used by a visiting ein«na show. The bodies include thoae of 90 women, ten men, and ten children. Sen persona are still missing. Nine were seriously injured. The cinema was a novelty in the village. An oM wooden barn, wetted over a garage, vai improvised ft» Mm occasion and packed to its capacity (2 a hundred and twenty. The fire originated in the film in* spread with the utmost rapidity to fta old timbers, instantly enveloping tt» hall. Scenes of indeseribabVconf*rushed the only exit, a narrow ladder to the garage through a small passage. Here panic reigned, the people shrieking and fighting as they found themselves trapped. Women and children fainted and were trampled dpwn. Meanwhile, the flames were roaring a yard or two away. When a portion of the floor, collapsed, carrying several people with it, the others further from the passage endeavoured to escape through small windows. They were unable to do so before they were caught by the fierce flames. One or two jumped fifteen feet to the ground. The cries and shrieks of terrified mothers were heartrending. Now and again blazing beams fell in the midst of the struggling throng. Those outside made frantie efforts to subdue the furnace of flame, but fn vain. The dense smoke made impossible work at close quarten. Within half an hour the entire barn was rued to the ground. Many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. Identification was only possible by article* ■of clothing and jewellery. There were pathetie scenes all night long, when frantie mothers and fathers sought in the dying embers the remains of their children and relatives. One whole family of six was wiped oat. There is barely a household in «5 village which has not lost someone. Daylight brought the grim spectacle, the bodies being seen stretched on the gronnd awaiting identification. Fortyone have now been identified, tat there is but little remaining of tfee others beyond a heap of charred bon*. It is practically certain that may were trampled to death before betfe consumed by the flames. The nearest fire brigade k at Croon, thirty-six miles away, whither all tboie injured have been removed.