3-070-693 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Fatal disaster at the art-students' masquerade in Munich, 1881. '...many of the dancers at an artists' masquerade ball were burnt to death, by their inflammable fancy dresses accidentally taking fire...Among those present were two young Englishmen, Mr. Darcy Morell, and his brother, Mr. Francis Morell, who distinguished themselves by their brave efforts to rescue some of the unfortunate sufferers, and in attempting to extinguish the flames...Our Illustration, from a Sketch by Mr. Darcy Morell, who is not unknown in London as an Artist, represents the scene at the death of one of the sufferers upon this dreadful occasion...The number of deaths from burning is now stated to be twelve, and twenty or thirty more persons were severely injured. The fire was caused by the fancy dresses of a party of young men, sculptors of the Bildhauer-Schule, disguised as Esquimaux, and covered with imitation skins, made to look shaggy with flax and tow, which were even oiled to have a greasy appearance. They were together in a little hut of light wood, and had a candle with them, which one of them let fall as he was lighting his pipe or cigar; in stooping to pick it up, he set fire to the flax hanging about his arm'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.