The wooden theatres at the Katsheli are som.e of them very large. One in particular generally surpasses all the others in this respect, and is capable of holding 5000 persons. In this it was that the fire took place when the scene was to represent some firework or illumination. At first those behind the scenes, hoping to extinguish the flames, said nothing about it ; as they increased, the audience applauded loudly, supposing it to be the promised spectacle. Suddenly the Bajozzo rushed forwards, witli a look of horror, shouting aloud, " We are on fire, save yourselves, you who can !" The audience answered by loud laughter, at the admirably feigned fear as they supposed it to be. Thereupon, as it was impossible for him to make himself heard, the director ordered the curtain to be raised, and a mass of flame and smoke became \'isible. Screams of horror burst from the thousands of throats whence loud laughter had issued just before. Each grasped convulsively those dearest to them, and rushed to the doors. These were but few, the size of the place considered, and a fearful length of time elapsed before the foremost gave way to those beliind. The flames ui the mean time gained rapidly upon the pine planks around them, leaping fi'om slip to sHp, and already showing their fiery tongues among the dense mass of spectators. Most unfortunately it happened that one of the large folding-doors opened inwards. By the pressure of the throng it was flung to, and could not be moved one way or the other. On the outside tlie attempts to rescue the poor victims were at first feeble, for who in the nildst of gaiety dreams of such a fearful chastisement ? Those witliin, in the mean time, compressed the anguish of years into a few minutes as tliey stood breast to breast shrieking in vain their frantic " Forwards !" to those in advance. The whole mass were stifling, the flames leaping threateningly over their heads, yet they were only separated by a few thin boards from the free bright air, and in a few minutes more they might have rent asunder their fragile tomb with their hands and teeth. Fancy sickens at the contemplation of the suffering of those minutes ; only one risen from the ashes could truly paint occurrences that rent asunder the chords of life when suddenly awakened from the slumber of thoughtless enjoyment to the wildest pitch of terror and despair.
The police would not at first allow of any individual effort for the rescue of the sufferers ; a merchant who had seized a spade succeeded, however, in defiance of them, in dashing through a plank, and bringing nearly sixty half-suffocated creatures from this harlequin's hell. The worthy man was afterwards rewarded for his act of courage and humanity by an order, and, as he was poor, by a pension of 2000 rubles.
The terrible news soon spread through the town that Lepmann's theatre was on fire, and thousands strugghng with the most horrible of deaths. The anguish became universal. The consternation of the city, the scenes of agony and transport that followed must have been seen to be understood. The emperor, who had left the Winter Palace opposite at the first news of the fire, was met by shrieking and despairing women calling on him to save their husbands, sons, and brothers ; he could only answer, " My children, I will save all I can."
When the fire was got under, and life and flame within were extinguished together, the dreadful task began of digging out the bodies. The sight was beyond all conception terrible when the fallen beams were removed, disclosing the heaps of charred and stifled bodies, which were dragged out with hooks, like loaves out of an oven. Some were burnt to a cinder ; others only roasted ; of many the hair of their heads was only singed, while on others it was burnt off; their eyes were destroyed, their faces black and calcined, yet some still were decked with the gaily-coloured handkerchiefs and holiday clothes, which the thickness of the pressure had saved from injury ! These were far more terrible to look on than those entirely burnt. In one part of the building that remained standing a crowd of dead were discovered in an erect posture, like an army of shadows from the lower world. One woman was found with her head leaning over the front of the gallery, her face hidden in her handkerchief. A gentleman who saw the bodies brought out told me that he was unable to touch food for three days after, and a lady who had glanced at the terrible spectacle from a distance was quite out of her senses for some days.
The number of those who perished was officially announced at 300, but I was told by one person that he himself had counted fifty waggons, each laden with from ten to fifteen corpses ; and some people, who had every means of obtaining correct information, made an estimate, whose amount I am unwilling to repeat, lest it should be thought improbable.