The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-23
PANIC CAUSED
BY CRY OF FIRE
Many Hurt in Mad Rush
From Theatre.
ROLLED DOWN STEPS.
Weaker Were Knocked Down and
Trampled Under Foot.
ONE WILL PROBABLY DIE.
Usters, Theatre Attaches and Actors Dis.
played Great Cooiness aud Prevented
Much Greater Catastrophe
Was No Fire, Scare Being
Caused by Burning
Out OF a Fuse.
ONE WILL PROBABLY DIE.
CBv Associated Press.l

LOUISVILLE, KY, October 22.-Hun-
the Temple Theatre this afternoon be-
cause the cry of fire was raised, when a
little flame was seen about the polyscope
machine. In the scramble scores of peo-
pic were knocked down and thirteen in
jured, three seriously. OF these, one may
die A number of others were bruised
or cut.
Those injured We're: Frank Mcdonald.
head injured, may. die. Mrs. Leonara
Roth, two ibis broken and right eye in
jured; condition serious. Mrs. Charles
Gross, head cut and otherwise injured; !;
cCr0ition serious Omar Pulliam (col-
ored), right ankle broken in jumping
from balcony. l.. Fine, operator of poly
scope, face and head bruised. Frank
Latch, head cut and back injured. Mrs.
Opal Jennings head bruised. Mrs.
George Schmtt. head cut. Four-year-oi
daughter OF Mrs. George Schmitt, back
injured. Mrs. Mary Welsh, leg ana arm
bruised Mrs. Mary Huber, back hurt.
Mrs. Mary Plung, head hurt. Infant,
niece Of Miss Mary Pluns, back hurt.
PANIC SEIZED GALLERY.
It was about $3.50 o'clock just after the
first act of ..Tennessee's Partner and
while the polyscope was being prepared
for its exhibition, that the little flash of
fame came that caused the panic. Many
women ana children made q rulsn for the
door. The panic seized the gallery, and
in a moment the occupants We're plunginS
down the stairway in a heap or We're
taking the swifter method of climbing
down into the auditorium proper. III
beneath. Several We're badly hurt in this
way.
Meanwhile those who had regained
their presence Of mind endsavoreu to stop
the mad rush The ushevs and theatre
attaches acted with great coolness. The
orchestra played airs and Mr.. BacheS. g
member of the stock company, danced.
This was effective in quieting those near
the stage. The great crush occurred
where the stairs come down from tae
galleries. Here the two great croprA
met and We're packed in 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 We're 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-mell through
the doors and literally rolled down the
long fight of stairs.
CARE OF INJURED.
AS soon as the rush was over the care
of the injured began. A big room was
converted into q temporary hospital. The
greatest haste was made in removing the
injured from the building III orcer to pre-
vent a panic when the audience was dis
missed. Every patrol wagon and ambu-
lance in the city was soon engaged in con-
veying the more seriously injured to the
hospitals or their homes. The members
of the stock company showed the great
est presence of mind, and the play was
finished without a hitch.
Thirty heroic men promptly pre-
vented disorder after the panic. y man
closed the wide exit doors as the rush
began. He called q number of men, and
By main force held the crowd back But
for this hundreds might have been in
jured
Just as the doors were closed Mrs. O.
W. Blount pitched her four-year-old child
through the exit to a policeman. He
caught it in his arms, but it slipped to
the floor, sustaining, however, no in
juries except slight bruises. There was
no DANA se from fire.
It is said the cause of the flame was the
blowing out Of q fuse on the polyscope.