[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 01 Mar 1823 - Local News (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 01 Mar 1823   (p. 2, col. 6 and p. 3, col. 1-2 + 6)     [continued] 

 

Deplorable Accident.—On the evening of Wednesday the 19th inst., a shocking catastrophe took place in the theatre-royal, Newcastle,
through a groundless alarm of fire, during the performance of "Tom and Jerry, or Life in London," when the gallery was full. In the
hurry to escape, the spectators in the gallery rushed to the stairs, and before the check-taker could open the second barrier
downwards, the space was completely blocked up, and seven persons crushed to death, besides many others seriously injured and
bruised. The sufferers on the melancholy occasion, were—John EDWARDS, an elderly man, cellarman to Messrs. JOHNSON and Co. wine
merchants; Thomas HANDYSIDE, aged 19, son of Mr. C. HANDYSIDE, bookbinder; Mrs. Ann ROBSON, wife of Mr. Riddell ROBSON, of
Westgate-street, builder; Isabella PARKINSON, aged 12, an adopted child of Mrs. GREEN, of Pilgrim-street; J. J. WILKINSON, aged 12,
son of Mr. W. WILKINSON, of Pilgrim-street, veterinary-surgeon; Mary JOHNSON, aged 16, daughter of Mr. Joshua JOHNSON, of the Manor
Chare, millwright; and Dorothy HEATON, aged 16, daughter of Mr. George HEATON, of Gateshead, tailor. Thursday at 11 in the morning,
a coroner's jury was impannelled at the Theatre tavern, where the body of John EDWARDS remained, and after viewing the other bodies
at their respective homes, proceeded to enquire into the cause of the accident. D. VINT, who lighted the gas lamps in the theatre at
¼ past 6 o'clock, deposed, that he did not perceive any smell of gas at that time, nor did he let any spark fall from the paper with
which he had lighted. About five minutes before seven, Mr. DE CAMP, the manager, perceived a smell of fire, and instantly had the
whole of the back part of the theatre examined, and found it perfectly secure. About the end of the second scene, a small flame was
discovered in the partition between the boxes and the lobby, on the west side, a few inches below, and nearer to the stage than the
gas lamp which lights both the boxes and the lobby on that side. The cause of this is entirely unaccounted for; but it may have
arisen from a breach in the gas pipe which fed the lamp, and was inclosed in the double partition, the gas probably being pressed
from the aperture in a stream into the lamp itself, or had accumulated in the hollow of the partition to the firing point. However
this may be, the flame was immediately extinguished by the manager and others, with a small quantity of water; but at the same
moment some persons pulled the lamp down, supposing the fire to originate there, and by so doing, twisted the pipe, and left an
escape of gas where the lamp had been. Mr. DE CAMP conceiving that all was safe, then returned to the stage to announce that the
danger was over; but he had scarcely finished, before some person approaching the damaged pipe in the lobby with a candle, and a
slight explosion took place, the flame of which passed through the crevices of the boards into the gallery, and completed the alarm.
The fatal rush then took place as before described. The manager instantly ran round to the gallery stairs to endeavour to allay the
fears of the audience; but found he could not get up that way, and then proceeded to the boxes, whence he clambered to the gallery,
and used his utmost exertions to calm the agitation, and prevent additional calamity. The check-taker had opened the upper barrier,
and in his endeavour to open the second, as above stated, was thrown down the stairs. It is thought fortunate that he did not
succeed, or the mischief would have been more dreadful, by a large body of people being dashed down the steep stairs below the
barrier. The following is the Verdict—"That on the evening of yesterday, the 19th February inst. at about half-past seven o'clock,
an alarm took place at the theatre-royal, situated in the parish of St. Nicholas, in the town and county of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in
consequence of a fire of a trifling extent (which was almost instantly extinguished) being discovered in one of the boxes. That on
such alarm being given, several of the spectators in the gallery, being panic struck, endeavoured to make their escape therefrom;
that in such endeavour the said (deceased persons) received such injury by being bruised or suffocated by the pressure as to
occasion their deaths." It is but justice to Mr. DE CAMP to state, that not the smallest blame can be imputed to him. He, and such
of his company as could be useful, made every exertion to prevent the confusion which arose, and it was owing to such exertions in
getting the people back from the stairs, that many lives were saved. Several surgeons also promptly attended, and bled and assisted
those whose injuries were not fatal. We have not been able to obtain an authentic list of these latter; only one, Henry SLOANE, a
boy, was taken to the infirmary in convulsions, and is expected to recover. Mrs ROBSON was killed in the arms of her husband, who
was himself much hurt. 

 

Last week at Newcastle, a quack doctor, calling himself George COOK, the seventh son of a seventh son, was convicted by Alderman
SURTEES, under the vagrant act, of being a rogue and vagabond, he having imposed upon Ann JENNAWAY, a sailor's wife, by pretending,
that he could cure her of her lameness by means of certain mystic charms, and by a certain spurious medicine with which he furnished
her, and for which she paid him 4s. 6d. The liquid was examined by a chemist, at the request of the magistrates, who gave it as his
decided opinion, that it was nothing but an infusion of some simple herb, and that it was not calculated to relieve any complaint
whatever, and could not have cost him more than one halfpenny. The doctor was sentenced to be kept to hard labour upon the
tread-mill, for two months. 

 

The Phœbe, FULLERTON, from St. John's, New Brunswick, to Liverpool, totally lost on the 19th near Tralee. Crew saved. 

 

The Scipio, BOADLE, sailed from Whitehaven on Sunday week, coal laden, for Dublin, and on Tuesday was struck by a sea off the Calf
of Man, which shifted her cargo. Captain BOADLE immediately made for Douglas, which port he reached about seven o'clock that
evening; but not being able to procure assistance, the vessel was driven ashore between St. Mary's Rock and Douglas Bay, and has
since been obliged to discharge. She has not sustained much damage. 

 

On this subject, the Isle of Man Advertiser of Thursday last says, "The brig Scipio, BOADLE, of Whitehaven, noticed in our last as
having been driven on the beach behind Douglas pier, was, (after much exertion in discharging great part of her cargo, and buoying
her with empty puncheons,) got off on Sunday night last; but, we are sorry to state, in the attempt to get her into port, she broke
her hawser, and drifted out to sea! The persons who were on board at time, were fortunate enough to get into the boat, and reached
the shore in safety. This extraordinary occurrence is rather unaccountable—although we must suppose it in a great degree owing to
the absence of the master, who has been confined to his bed by illness ever since the arrival of the vessel. It blew such a
hurricane on Sunday night that there appears some degree of apology for the seeming want of attention of those who had the care of
the brig.—We understand that several small craft have been sent off in quest of her, and hopes are entertained that she may yet be
recovered." 

 

The Marathon, BOYD, from Belfast for Jamaica, on the 8th inst., put into Lisbon, in distress, with loss of boats, bulwarks, sails,
&c.; part of the cargo thrown overboard—Crew and passengers all well—The cargo must be landed. 

 

The schooner Aberdeen, SMART, from Liverpool to Aberdeen, with a general cargo, and the Lady Caroline sloop, FRAZER, also from
Liverpool, are on shore on the sands of Luce, both having grounded there, in the night, under the idea that they had rounded the
Mull of Galloway. 

 

Capt. MANN, of the Mary, the vessel mentioned in our last as having been wrecked near Crasswell Point, gives a shocking account of
the conduct of many of the inhabitants of that neighbourhood. The wreck which he and his crew had collected together during the day
was regularly stolen in the course of the night. 

 

 

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