London, Sept. 6.
A fire broke out in a cinema at 27|Drumeollogher, County Limerick, Ireland, as a result of which 47 people are stated to have been killed and 11 injured.
The cinema belonged to a local man, who started it only a few weeks ago.
The fire started last evening in the operator's box, close to the only exit, access to which was gained by a ladder from the ground.
The whole structure was soon in a blaze and the ladder collapsed. The audience fought wildly for the exit which became choked. About 100 persons escaped. The remainder, shrieking wildly, were trapped. They tore vainly at two barred windows.
In the wild rush for the exit many were trampled down and owing to the mad confusion and disorder many of those who escaped were seriously injured.
The dead include the entire family of a teacher, namely the man bim-self, his wife, child, brother, sisterin-law and maid, also a child from London, who was visiting the village, and several mothers with children.
Ambulances were very busy all night removing the dead and injured. Most of the charred remains cannot be recognized.
It transpires that the building }was entirely of wood and thus, when the film caught fire, the flames spread rapidly.
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