Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1889 — CRUSHED TO DEATH. [ARTICLE]

CRUSHED TO DEATH.

A Dozen More Johnstown People Killed, the Result of a Panic. There were-500 or 600 men, women and children in the Main Street Opera house at Johnstown, Pa., Tuesday night to witness an Uncle Tom’s Cabin perlormance.i The fire bell was rung causing a frantic,' scramble for the exit. To gain the street: It was necessary to pass down a narrow,', Walled-up staircase and, through a very] narrow door. The people from the streets! rushed into the door from the outside, andj many were crushed before they could bej forced out. It was necessary to turn the 1 hose on the crowd at the door before, the rescuers could get at the dead! and wounded. When the crowd was' driven away it was found that, twelve persons were dead upon the; Stairs. About fifty others were injured, i two or three of whom will die. TheJ screams were terrible, and it was shocking to see small children knocked down by big: men and trampled upon. The fire was potj near the theater. ! This theater has always been noted as a' death trap, and was condemned twelvej years ago, but the other theater was! washed away in the flood, and this one hasi been in use sinee. The manager tried to; crewdf butitwas of nouse. Onei man jumped from the third-story window and was seriously injured, and many more would have jumped but for a few coolerheads. It is reported on good authority that the police clubbed several to death.