THE LOSS OF LIFE IN A THEATRE AT GLASGOW. (From the Daily News, Feb. 21.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 324, 5 July 1849, Page 3

THE LOSS OF LIFE IN A THEATRE AT GLASGOW. (From the Daily News, Feb. 21.)

A coußF^i-ONDr.NT, under date Glasgow, Monday, says: — "There is little to add to what is already known regarding this frightful affair. Tlh'b morning the hlieritT's procurator fiscal commenced an investigation ; the thentre was inspected, and witnesses examined. The inquiry is still in progress. Ai there is no coroner's inquest in Scotland, proceedings of this kind which do not go to trial are merely reported privately to an official designated crown counsel. In t is in Unce, however, the univers.il demand is that the investigation of the authorities should be madu public. From subsequent inquiry, it is 6aid that the money-taker for the gallery is deeply reprehensible. This man's position was close to the spot where the great struggle took place ; by removing his box he had the means of opening an outlet of escape cither behind the scenes or to the street in front. But though implored to do so, he rclused on the ground ihnt his cash would be in danger. It is stated that had this means of escape been given, many lives might have been saved. At length this sentry-box was knocked down, and many of the dead and wounded were removed by ibis passage. It is only char i. able to believe that the man did not know tho full ex'ent of the work of death which was going on around him. A number of the dead were buried to-day. The theatre is to be opened in a few days, with two benefits for the sufferer* and their relations. The greiit msjority of those killed were youths— principally apprentice boys who had saved threepence out of their week's wages to go to the theatre. Their circumstances may he known from the fact, that on the persons of the whole 61, at the Clyde.street Hospital, there was only found a total of 17»< Id. The highest sum was 4s. o£d.» never*! had only Id., and the majority had nothing. The ages of the tnajori yof those killed ranged from 16 to SO. No similar calamity to appronch this in Scotland has arisen since the alarm of insecurity in Kirkaldy Church, on an occasion, soire 25 years since, when the late Ilcv. Edward Irving was preaching. On this occasion, we believe, about 20 were killed by a senseless and causeless rush upon the doors. This painful event just pioves what every sensible person is acquainted with, viz.— on any alarm in a crowded building, sit still. Even had the theatre been ieally on fiic all might have gone out with great composure had they waited till the proper persons pointed out the way, as they would lure dotie. The following is the narrative of a gentleman who was present, nnd exerted himself to rescue the sufferers : " As 1 wos present during the whole of the awful panic which terminated so fatally at the Theatre Royal, Dunlop-streeti on Saturday evening, a short narrative of what came under my own observation may be intercitia^. The piece was the ' Surrender of Calais/ The precise time 1 did not think of noticing, but the fust act had just closed. Almost at the instant when the curtain descended, a horrid outcry wai raised in the upper galleiy. As that part of the audience in this theatre is not usually remarkable for its quietness or order, I imagined that there was no cause, more than ordinary, for the distuibuuce. Soon, however, the fearful words * Fire, fire 1' were heard above the oth< r noises. I then leaned forward from the box where I was sitting, but could not discover any appearance which could lead me to believe that any portion of the woodwork of the gallery had become ignited. Still the cry of ' Fire I' grew louder and moie in eirnebt; and distinct cries 'water!' were fiercely intermingled. ! There was now no possibility of mistaking, as the uu- ' dience began to push away from tho spot where the woodwork of the breast of the upper gallery had taken fire. Duting this, Mr. Alexander came on the stage ' for «n instant, seemingly to discover the cause of the alarm. He spoke some word* which were very indistii ctly heard in any part of the theatre, and, from the I n> ise, 1 should my not at all in the gallery. What he said was to the effect that there were men tent up to extinguish the fire. Juit at this momcut a young mau, dressed in a blue jacket and fustian trow*ers, put one of bis feet over the fiout of the gallery, using his heel

an a hammer to force out the pnnnci, crying nt the same time 'It is the gas! It is the gas!' Then a 1 ttle smoke appeared over the front of the gallery, not more lhan if a penon had been smoking a pipe—then a slightly luminous glare — and then a few sparks. One or two persons in their shirt fleeves, like carpenters, now appeared, and the boarding vns wrenched from the inside the breast- work of the gallery, and the fire wa^ extinguished. While n'l this wris Uking place gcvrral people had found a way out of the gallery, arid were seated in the upper boxes. AH seemed restored to order. As it appeared from the boxes, the people had returned to a state of joy and happiness, and hundreds of voices cried out * All's right.' Ihe young man I have already mentioned lifted a piece of the wood which had been removed, and, Houmhing it over Ins head, gave the time for a hcaity and joyous three cheers. The orchestra had commenced to play, and everything looked like a continuanre of tho performance. Every face was beaming with smiles, when all at once I heard a gentleman in the next box cry out, as if in mortal anguish, • There are peoplo bcinsf murdered on the sturs 1* I rushed out, und by & piivate staircase which lends to the little office where the people pay for admission to the guile ries, I came in sight of a scene of agony, such as woids arc powerless to desci ibe. Though the simile may eeem harsh, the people young and oLI were lying wedged upon each other like hei rings in a barrel. Upwards and downwards on tho staiicase was one continuous mass of human bodies dying and dead. Diieclions were instantly given to send for as many surgeons as could bo found, and cubs to remove the sufferers. At thii time there was no want of air; every aperture that could admit fresh air had been 4hrown open, and all the nearest windows bad been broken open. Fifteen minutei had not elapsed from the first outcry of fire. At this time a number of flrvmen were in the theatre, but they seemed for a moment to be panic struck. Those who know the theatre are of course aware that there is at this part of the itiircase a low barrier about th(ce feet in height. The firemen wore requested to remove this obstruction and assist some of tho people from the fatal crush, as there is a passage here out by the box lobbie s. Immediately three youths were removed, one of whom moaned out, ' Let me die where I am.' He wus laid down on the floor, as were the two others removed at the same time. Only a moment wm left to look at or assist them, and they were past the reach of all human aid. Seeing that it was in vain to think ,of removing more of the sufferers by this «ay, as, when one was taken away, the superincumbent persons only -411 with increaitsd weight on those beneath them, I left this place to find some people to go with me to the private staircuse which leads from the pit lobby up past the end of the stage, and on to the stage end of the upper gallery, I found Mr. M'Kny of the police, who gave me four of his men. They at once followed me to the top of the main flair of the gallery, where the awful catastrophe bad just taken place. Here I found Mr, and Mm. Alexander together, with Mr. F. Younge and Mr. Langley, members of the Dunlop'itrect company, and two other persons, who had the appearance of uadesmen, actively engaged in lifting up thoie who could not help themselves. And I may add, that tbos<- who escaped death were mainly saved by the persons I have ju»t named. Those who were taken thus from the top of the mass were carefully removed to the various diess« ing-rooms, where a young medical gentleman, whoso nnmo I do not know, administered all he could to the sufferers as long as li.'c remained. Out tho most of them who had received injuries died i.lmost on the instant that they were lilted from the awful press of crushed human beings. By this time the stair had been cleared of the wounded, mid dead, and dying Every ptade where bodies could be placed was immediately tihrown open. Among these I may mention two houses immediately opposite to the thea're, wheic Dr. Lindsay, of Stockwell-streef, with hit assistant, had been engaged from the time that the first pcrion had been tiken out of the staircase, I will only add, in conclusion, that every possible egress fiom the upper guilt ry had been thrown open by Mr. Alexander and his company, an.l had those who were in the gallery taken advantage of the different exits, of which there arc three, the gallery could hare been emptied, without acu<!ent, in three minutes. You will, of couise, have got a correct report of the number who pciislud on that fatal evening ; but I may mention to you that I myself saw twenty-nine dead, and nine more or less severely injmed.''