The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-10-25
Many People Injured in a Rush
to Escape. -.
STARTED BY CRY OF FIRE
Afternoon Performance in Temple
Theater Was On When a Flame
From Polyscope Machine Burst
Forth and Panic Followed.

Louisville, KY, Oct 23-Hundreds
of people at, mpted to rush out of the
Temple theater yesterday afternoon
because the cry of fire was raised
when a little flame was seen about the
polyscope machine.
In the scramble, scores of people
were knocked down and 13 seriously
injured. OF the latter, one may die.
number of other persons were
bruised or cut, but their injuries were
slight
The injured:
Frank Mcdonald, head injured; may
die
Mrs. Leonora Roth, two ribs broken
and right eye injured; serious.
Mrs Charles Gross, lead cut and in
ternally injured; condition serious.
Omar Pulliam, colored, right ankle
broken in jumping from balcony.
l.. Fine, operator of polyscope, face
and head bruised.
Frank Latch, head cut and back in
jured.
Mrs. Opal jennings, head bruised.
Mrs George Schnitt, head cut.
Four-year-old daughter of Mrs. Geo.
Schnitt, back injured.
Mrs Mary Welsh, leg and arms
bruised.
Mrs. Mary Hulser, back hurt.
Miss Mary PUNK, head hurt
Infant niece of Miss Mary PUNK
back hurt.
1t was about $3.50 o'clock, just after
the first act Of "Tennessee's Partner, -
and while the polyscope was being pre-
pared for its exhibition, little flash
Of flame came that caused the panic
Many women and children made a
rush for the door The panic seized
the gallery and in a moment the oc-
cupants were plunging down the stair
way in a heap, or were taking the
swifter method of climbing down into
the auditorium proper. In their haste,
mary fell, landing on those beneath
Several were badly hurt in this way
Meanwhile, those who had retained
their presence of mind endeavored to
stop the mad rush. The ushers and
theater attaches acted with great
GOODNESS. The orchestra played and
Charles T. Bates, a member of the
stock company. danced. This was eff
fective in quieting those nearest the
stage.
The great crush occurred where the
stairs come down from the gallery.
Here the two crowds met and were
packed into a space not large enough
for half Of them, and all were trying,
with a desperation born of fear, to
reach the street.
The weaker were soon knocked
down and trampled under foot Those
who realized the state of affairs were
trying their best to check the rush.
but the crowd went on pell mel
through the doors, and literally rolled
down the long fight of stairs.
AS soon as the rush was over the
care of the injured began. A big
room was converted into a temporary
hospital. The greatest haste was made
in removing the injured from tn
building in order to prevent a panic
when the audience was dismissed. Ev
cry patrol wagon and ambulance in
TIC city W 10 oOOu tnSdStl III COINty-
ing the more seriously injured to the
hospitals. or their homes. The mem
bers Of the stock company showed the
greatest presence of mind and the
play was finished without a hitch.
Thirty policemen promptly prevent
ed disorder after the panic
Clarence Meffert, an attache of the
theater. 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, hundreds
might have been injured.
Just as the doors were closed Mrs.
o. W. Blunt pitched her 3-year-old
child through the exit to a policeman.
He caught it in his arms, but il
slipped to the floor, sustaining. how
ever, no injuries except slight bruises
There was no damage from fire. It
is said the cause of the fame was the
blowing out of a fuse on the poly
scope.