Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1883 — THE POLISH HORROR. [ARTICLE]

THE POLISH HORROR.

Four Hundred Persons Burned In the Circus at Berdlcteheff—Frightful Scenes During the Holocaust. A St Petersburg dispatch gives the following particulars of the recent burning of a circus structure at Berdictcheff, in Russian Poland, by which several hundred human beings were incinerated: The fire broke out toward the end of the performance, and was caused by the careless handling of fireworks on the stage. The curtain ignited and the flames quickly spread to the walls and roof. The members of the orchestra were the first victims. The audience, numbering 800 persons, rushed to the front door, butlt opened inward, and as the crowd pressed forward itoouldnot be opened. A rush was then made to the two side doors, both of which were nailed up, thus compelling the people to take to the windows, from which many sprang into the streets with their clothes a sheet of flames. The fire brigade arrived within half an hour, but it was impossible to extinguish the flames, as the water in the tanks was frozen. The fire lasted two hours. Eye-witnesses state that when the doors were finally opened a mass of burning persons was visible within. The horses and properties of the circus were all destroyed The ice broke while the fire brigade was crossing the river, thus preventing them reaching the fire more promptly. 'The victims include a Colonel of Police and-the Vice President of the Berdictcheff Bourse. The audience consisted mainly of Jews Another account says the fire was caused by a groom having thrown a lighted ciguret on the straw in the stables, setting it on fire. Another groom tried to stamp out the fire, but a strong draught fanned the flames and caused them to spread. The author of the fire perisjied, also two clowns, believed to be Englishmen. A man, whose wife and three children were among the victims, stabbed the senior member of the Merchants’ Guild In the street, and then tried to cnt his own throat The supposed murdered man abandoned the assailant's wife and children in order to effect his own escape from the' burning building. The circus was a wooden structure. Horses running about wildly increased the confusion. It is stated now that 400 persons wore suffocated, crashed or burned to death