The Rhythm Club formerly used to be a church, which was converted into a dance hall. It was located in the business district of Natchez. The club was leased by a group called ‘Money Wasters’, which used to organize dance events here.
Fire in the rhythm club (File Photo)
It is very common for people to go to a club in America’s culture. American people go to the club to party with their friends or spend the weekend on weekends. But today is recorded as a black date in American club history, because on this day a fire broke out in a club in Natchez, Mississippi, killing 209 people and injuring hundreds. This fire was in the Rhythm Club of Natchez. At that time, it was the second biggest fire incident in American history.
The Rhythm Club formerly used to be a church, which was converted into a dance hall. It was located in the business district of Natchez. The club was leased by a group called ‘Money Wasters’, which used to organize dance events here. Many times live band performances were also done here. The Rhythm Club was a one-storey wooden building. It had a total of 24 windows, which were always closed. It is said that these windows were kept permanently closed. There was only one way to get out of this entire club, which was the main door of the club.
An ornamental plant ignited the fire
On the night of 23 April 1940, 746 people were present at the club, including paid members and band members. Most of the people who came to the club were aged between 15 and 25 years. The band was playing and everyone was busy partying when the fire broke out at the main door at 11 pm. To decorate the club, Spanish mousse (a kind of ornamental plant) was kept, which caught fire and on seeing it, the fire spread quickly throughout the club. This mousse was sprayed with insecticide, which was made from petroleum material, to protect it from insects. Due to this, there was a rapid fire in it.
Screaming sounds were heard from inside the club
The fire department got information about this 15 minutes after the incident and immediately reached the spot. The fire department immediately started extinguishing the fire at the main door of the club. At the same time, another car of the department started extinguishing the fire in the windows. The screams of people trapped inside the club can be heard throughout the city. The fire was extinguished after nearly half an hour of hard work. The windows were kept closed to prevent song and noise. But during the fire, it increased the difficulties of those trapped within the club.
Fire due to this
Total people managed to get through the front door of the club, but the rest were not so lucky. The fumes of smoke inside the club were increasing rapidly and people were now becoming unconscious. By the time the fire department could extinguish the fire, hundreds of people had been burnt to death. At the same time, hundreds of people were still counting their breath. In total, 209 people died in this incident, while hundreds of people were burnt down in the grip of fire. People believe that this fire was started by mistake. Someone must have accidentally lit a matchbox or cigarette near a Spanish mousse, which caused the mousse to burn and spark a fire.
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