Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-23
PANIC IN A A[A|[R
False Alarm Of Fire Starts Stam-
pede Of Playhouse Crowd at
Louisville.
Women and Children Tramped
Under Foot in Mad Rush
for Exit.
Many We're Injured. Some Of
Them Fatally-.-Cool Heads
Save Life.

L
people attempted to rush out OF the
Temple theater yesterday afternoon be-
cause the cry of fire was raised when q
| little flame was seen about the poly
scope machine. In the scramble scores
of people were knocked down and more
than twenty were badly hurt, while it Is
feared that two or three will not sur
vivs their injuries. AS serious as the
panic proved, however. 1t Is miracle
that many were not killed. The follow
ing were seriously injured:
Frank Mcdonald, head injured, may
die
Mrs. Leonora Roth. two ribs broken
and right eye injured; considered seri-
Gus.
Mrs. Charles Cross. head cut and in
jured internally; condition serious.
Omar Pullman, colored. right ankle
broken In jumping from balcony.
l.. Fine, operator Of polyscope, face
and head bruised.
Frank Latch, head cut and back
iynjured.
Mrs. Opal Jennings, head bruised.
Mrs. George Schnitt, head cut.
Four-year-old daughter of Mrs.
George Schnitt, back injured.
Mrs. Mary Welsh, leg and arm
injured.
Mrs. Mary Huber, back hurt.
Miss Mary PUNK, head hurt.
Infant niece of Mary PUNK, back
hurt.
1t was about $3.50 o'clock, just after
the first act of "Tennessees Pardner,''
and while the polyscope was being got
ten ready that the little flash of flame
came that caused the panic. Many
women and children, who mainly COM
po.ed the audience. made rush for
the door. The panic seized the gallery,
plunging down the stairway in heap.
or were taking the swifter method of
climbing down into the auditorium
proper. In their haste many fell land
ing on those beneath. Several were
batlly 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, a
member of the stock company, danced.
This had much effect in quieting those
nearest the stage. The great crush oc-
CURED where the steps came down from
the gallery. Here the two crowds met
ana were packed into a space not large
enough for half of them, and all We're
tr,tirg with desperation borne of fear to
.eIlch the street. The weaker were soon.
down and trampled under foot.
Those who realized the state of af-
fairs were trying their best to check the
ru an, but the crowd went pell nell thru
Thu, doors and literally rolled down the
lorg stairs AS soon as the rush was
over care of the injured began. A big
room was converted into temporary
hospital. The greatest haste was made
in removing the injured from the build
ing In order to prevent panic while
the audience was dismissed.
The members of the stock company
Showed the greatest presence of mind
and the play was finished without a
hitch. Clarence Meffert, connected with
the theater, closed the wide exit doors
as the rush began. He called 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 from the fire. II
is said the extent of the fire was the
blowing out of a fuse on the polyscope