About one hundred and ten boys are…

About one hundred and ten boys are killed during a stampede at the Convent of the Minori Osservanti in Valletta, Malta, on February 11, 1823.

Malta is experiencing a famine at the time of the tragedy, and it has become a tradition to gather eight- to fifteen-year-old boys from the lower classes of Valletta and the Three Cities to participate in a procession during the last few days of carnival.

After the procession, they attend mass, and are given some bread afterwards.

This activity has been arranged by ecclesiastical directors who teach catechism, and its main aim is to keep children out of the riots and confusion of carnival.

This activity had been organized on February 10, 1823, when children attended mass at Floriana and then went to the Convent of the Minori Osservanti (now better known as ta' Ġieżu) in Valletta where they were given bread.

Everything had gone as planned, and the same procedure was planned for the following day.

The same procedure takes place on February 11, 1823.

Children are gathered and attend mass at Floriana, but the ceremony lasts an hour longer than usual.

The children's procession to the convent in Valletta occurs at the same time as the carnival celebrations end, so they meet with many people who are returning home.

At this point, some adults and children from the crowd mix in with the boys in order to receive some free bread.

The boys enter one of the convent's corridors from the vestry door in the church, and are to be let out through another door in St. Ursula Street.

The bread is to be distributed at the latter door.

Although the vestry door is usually locked to prevent boys from reentering to receive more bread, this time the door is left open since the boys are late.

Due to this, more men and boys enter without anyone realizing.

Those who had entered begin to push the boys queuing in the corridor, who are shoved to the end of the corridor near a half-open door.

At this point, a lamp goes out, leaving the corridor in darkness, and the people inside begin to push forward even more.

The boys at the front fall down a flight of steps, blocking the door in the process.

Those who are distributing the bread as well as some neighbors rush to assist the children after they hear screams.

They manage to open the doors, and many boys get out and are revived.

However, a number of boys have already died due to suffocation or being trampled upon.

The exact number of casualties is not known.

Records of the Sacra Infermeria show that ninety-four bodies of boys aged between fifteen and sixteen were brought to the hospital on February 11, and they were buried the following day.

However, contemporary records such as The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle reveal that "no less than 110 boys perished on this occasion".