The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-23
PANIC IN A THEATRE
SMALL JET OF FLAME ERICH
 TENS sPEcTAToRs.
Employees of the Play House Dis played Great Coolness-An Actor Danced in Order to
 Calm the Panic-stricken

Louisville, Ky, Oct. 22.-Hundreds of people attempted to rush out of the Temple Theatre today when the cry of fire" was raised when d little flame was seen about the polyscope. moving picture machine. In :he scramble scores of people were knocked down and thirteen injured, three seriously. Of the latter one may die. number of other persons were bruised or cut but their injuries were slight.
 As serious as the panic proved, how ever. 1t is a miricle that many were not killed. The injured: Frank Mcdonald, head injured, may die. Mrs. Leonora Roth. two ribs broken and right eye in- iured condition serious; Mrs. Charles Cross. head cut and injured internally, condition serious; Omar Bullian (colOred) right ankle broken in jumping from balcony; L. Fine, operator of the poly scope, face and head bruised: Frank Latch. head cut and back injured; Mrs. O. Jennings, head bruised; Mrs. George Schnitt. head cut; 4-yeaD-old daughter of Mrs. George Schnitt, back injured; Mrs. Mary Welsh, leg and arm bruised; Mrs. Mary IIuEer, back hurt; Miss Mary PIung head hurt; infant niece of Miss Mary Punk, back hurt.
 If was about 3:30 o'clock just after the first act of "Tennessec's Pardner" and whiIe the polyscope was being gotten readv that the little flash of flame came that caused the panic. Many women and children who mainly composed the audi ence made a rush for the door. The manic seized the gallery and in mo- ment the occupants were plunging down the stairway in heap or were taking the swifter method of climbing down into the auditorium proper. In their haste many fell, landing on those be- meath several were badly hurt in this way.
 Meanwhile those who had retained their heads had gone to work to stop the mad rush The ushers and theatre attaches acted with great coOlness. The band nlaved. and Charles T. Bates, a member of the stock company, danced. This had much effect in quieting those nearer the stage. who kept their heads.
 The great crush occurred where the stens come down from the gallery. Here Inc tuo crowds met mad were packed into space not large enough for half of them and all trying with desperation horn of fear to reach the street. The weaLer were soon knocked down and +rannIed under foot. Women tainted Those who realized the state of affairs were trying their best to check the rush, but the crowd went on pell mell through inc doors and literally rolled down the long flight of stars.
 Ae soon as the rush was over the care of the injured began. big room was converted into temporary hospital. Every patrol wagon and ambulance in tba cIt, WAS soon engaged in hauling the ,,,ro ...rintsly wounded to the hospitals =. ,hotr homes. The members of the stock company showed the greatest nresence of mind and the play was finish ed without hitch
 Clarence Mcnert connected with the ,hoatre closed the wide exit doors as the rmsb hogan. He called a number of ,oa, and bv man force held the crowd hack But for this the rush would have carried everything before 1t and hun dreds might have been injured. It Is said the extent of the fire was the blowing out of a fuse on the polyscope'