Le Journal Illustré [Issue 27] Sunday, July 1st 1883
The Sunderland Catastrophe
On Saturday, June 16th, a terrible disaster plunged the city of Sunderland into mourning. Mr. Fay, a conjurer, presented a grand show for the children at a modest ticket price. That price (a penny: 10 centimes) attracted a very large audience; more than 1200 children were present. At the end of the show, it was announced that books, toys, etc., would be distributed and the children who occupied the gallery hastened to go downstairs to receive their gifts. At the bottom of the staircase was an exit with two doors, only one of which doors was open, allowing the passage of children only one at a time; a melee resulted and a great number of the children were trampled underfoot. Before it was possible to help them, a hundred children lay dead, trampled by their comrades who could not resist the pressure coming from behind them. Nothing could stop the later children from continuing to descend unaware of what had happened below. Eyewitnesses report that the scene presented a horrible spectacle. Through the half-opened door one could see the children's small bodies, lying crushed at the bottom of the staircase.
The bodies were in a pile eight or ten deep. One by one they were passed out to the doctors who examined them and directed them for treatment if they were hurt or to the vestry if they had died.
Soon, 186 corpses were laid out. A great number of the children has been seriously injured. The oldest were less than 13 years old. The victims were of both sexes. Many faces were bloated and purple in colour. Others had kept their natural colours and seemed to be sleeping. Some were ravaged and bloody. The scene was heart rending & tears flowed. Those who were present will never forget the scene. A crowd of over 20,000 people gathered through the evening at the disaster scene. All the city was in consternation.
An investigation was immediately ordered. All of the English newspapers stated that the catastrophe could have been prevented if only ordinary precautions had been taken or if police had been there to maintain order when the children exited. It would appear that there were only a small number of women in the hall, unable to direct the children at the beginning of the show. And nobody was in the staircase to regulate the children's departure. Even considering the fires of the theatres of Nice & Vienna, the Sunderland catastrophe is unique. Nothing comes to mind with which it can be compared.
