Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-10-24
MANY ARE hurt m
A THEATER PANIC
False Alarm of Fire in Louis.
vile. KY, Causes a Wild
Stampede.
MAD RUSH FOR DOORS
Scores Are Trampled Under Foot and
Number Are Fatally injured
Names Of Those Most
Seriously Hurt.

Louisville. Ky, Oct. 24.-Hul.areds Of
people attempted to rush out of tho
Temple theater yesterday afternoon
because the cry Of fire was raised when
little flame was seen about the poly
scope machine. In the scramble scores
Of people We're knocked down and moro
than twenty We're badly hurt. While 1T
IS feared that two or three will not
survive their injuries.
AS serious as the panic proved, how
ever, it is miracle that many were
not killed. The following were seri-
ously injured:
Frank Mcdonald, head injured; may
die.
Mrs. Leonora Roth, two ribs broken
and right eye injured; condition seri-
Gus.
Mrs. Charles Gross, head cut and in
tured internally: condition serious.
Omar Pulliam. colored. right ankle
broken In jumping from balcony.
I. Fine, operator Of polyscope head
bruised
Frank Latch, head cut and back in
jured.
Mrs. Opal Jennings. head bruised.
Mrs. George Schneitt. head cut.
Js
Schneitt, back injured.
Mrs. Mary WEIGH, leg and arm
bruised.
Mrs. Mary Hulser. back hurt.
Miss Mary PUNK, head hurt.
Infant niece of Mary PUNK, back
hurt
1t was about 1880 o'clock, just after
and While the polyscope was being
made ready that the little flash Of
flame was seen that caused the panic.
Many women and children, who MAIN
ly composed the audience, made q rush
for the door. The panic seized the gall
lery and Ill a moment the occupants
were plunging down the stairway in u
heap or We're taking the swifter method
Of climbing down into the auditorium
proper In their haste many fell. land
Ing on those beneath. Several We're
BADLY hurt in this way.
Meanwhile those who had retained
their heads had gone to work to stop
The mad rush. The ushers and theater
attaches acted With great GOODNESS. The
band played and Charles T. Bates q
member of the stock company. danced.
This had much effect in quieting those
nearest the stage.
The great crush occurred where the
steps come down from the gallery. Here
the two crowds met and We're packed
INTO a space not large enough for half
Of them, and all We're trying with des-
peration born of fear to reach the
street.
The weaker We're soon knocked down
and trampled under foot. Those who
realized the state of affairs We're trying
:heir best to check the rush, but the
crowd went on pellnell through the
doors. and literally rolled down the
long stairs.
AS soon as the rush was over care
IF the injured began. A big room was
converted into temporary hospital.
The greatest haste was made in remoy-
ing the injured from the building in
order to prevent a panic when the au-
Hence was dismissed Every patrol
wagon and ambulance in the city was
soon engaged in hauling the more Sc
riously wounded to the hospitals. or to
heir homes. The members of the stock
company showed the greatest presence
ST mind and the play was finished
without a hitch.
Clarence Meffert, connected with the
heater, closed the wide exit doors as
the rush began. He called a number of
men and by main force held the crowd
back. But for this the rush would
have carried everything before it and
hundreds might have been injured.
There was no damage by fire. 1t is said
che extent of the fire was the blowing
out of fuse on the polyscope.