A SHOCKING DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1923, Page 3

A SHOCKING DISASTER.

SEVENTY-FOUR BURN ED. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. this dav at 8.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, -May l« At Cleveland, South Caroline, seventy four bodies of men, women and children were recovered from the ruins of a school house destroyed by fire, when an oil lamp fell from the ceiling during a school entertainment. The small building was packed l>v some 400 persons who. when the blaze started, stampeded for the narrow staircase leading to the street. Many wore trampled to death, the bodies jamming the doorway and (rapping others who perished in the flames. Scores were badly injured.

76 REPORTED DEAD. vßijccived this day at 9.26 a.m.) NEW YORK, May IS. At the Cleveland fire, in numerous instances entire families perished. The survivors tell! terrible stories. The Building possessed only 0110 exit to which the entire audience, parents and school children rushed. Many stairways collapsed and precipitated the human burden into tt heap against a door, which they were unable to%pen. The structure which was an old "colon one, was a. blazing mass in a fewminutes. Those who escaped injury on the stairs leaped out of the windows, several* breaking their backs, hut the trampled victims of the panic were burned to cinders.

Cleveland is a small village niul practically every home is affected. Iho latest cheek reveals sevent.v-six dead, including forty c-liildicn. and sixteen mothers. So many of the bodies are charred beyond recognition. A general funeral will he held to-night, all the remains being buried together.