The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-31
MARVELLOUS ESCAPE
OF 4 THEATER PARTY

CHICAGO, Dec. 3O.-One of the marvellous
escapes was that made by the members of
a theater party given by Miss Charlotte Z.
PlamondOn, of Chicago. The party was
made up of a number of prominent society
people of this city, Miss Elsie Elmore, of
Astoria, Ore. Miss Mary Peters, of Column
bus, O., and Miss Josephine Eddy. of Ev-
anston, Ill Miss PlamOndon was the first
of her party to notice the fire, which crept
along the top of the drop curtain. She
called the attention of other members of her
party to the blaze, and they all watched
it, Miss Plamondon said: II could see lit
tie girls and boys in the orchestra chairs
pointing upward TO the slowly moving line
of flame. One of the stage hands, wearing
overaIls, appeared before the footlights and
requested the audience to keep their seats,
as there was no danger. Eddie Foy then
hurried to the front of the stage and COM
manded the people TO remain calm, saying
that If they would keep their seats the
danger would be averted. The curtain
however, still burned, pieces of the Smol-
dering cloth falling into the orchestra pit
An effort was made by the stage hands to
arrange the curtain so that the blazing
fragments would not drop into the pit. L
looked over the faces of the audience" said
Miss PlamOndon, land remarked how many
children were present. L could see their
faces filled with interest and their eyes wide
open as they watched the burning curtain.
Just then the people in the balcony rose 10
their feet and crowded forward TO obtain a
better view of the fire. Eddie Foy rushed
to the center of the stage again and waved
his arms in gesture, meaning Tor the peo-
pie to be seated. AT that instant a woman
in the rear of the place screamed Fire.
and the entire audience of women and chill
dren rose to their feet filled with uncon-
was a confused roar made by the people as
they rushed madly from the impending
danger.
aroused my admiration because of their eX-
hibition of presence of mind, turned TO flee,
but many of them were overcome before
they could take step. Several of them
fell to the floor and | saw the men in the
cast and the stage hands carry them off the
stage. Miss Elcie Gilmore was the first TO
leave our box. The uphostering of the rail-
ing was then on fire and we were compelled
to brush fragments of the burning curtain
from our clothing in order to prevent them
catching fire. Then there came great roar,
and great draft of air and the flames shot
out over the parquette of the theater until il
seemed to me as though they must reach
the very front walls of the building. There
were but few men in the audience, but saw
several OF them pulling and pushing women
and children aside. They fought like ma
MACS to reach the exit.
II saw number of little children tram
pied under foot and none of them arose
again. In the balcony the scene beyond
my power to describe. There was a big
crush Of human beings, each one apparently
fighting everybody else. The balcony was
SO steep that many fell before they had left
the first four rows of seats. The exits TO the
fire escapes were choked and those in the
rushed with all the strength they pos
sessed upon those who were nearer the door
way.
1T was almost incredible, the speed with
which the flames ran through the scenery,
and although | was but a second after Miss
Gilmore in jumping over the railing of our
box to the aisle in front, the stage was a
mass of flames. AS L started up the aisle,
a man rushed into me and Knocked me
down. / was so stricken that 1 grew weak
and sank into one of the orchestra chairs,
and after that hardly remember anything.
In some way reached the main entrance
where men were kicking against the doors
and SCATTERING the glass and panels in their
attempt to afford a larger space for the exit
of the people. Many fell as they reached
the doors where a few steps more would
have carried them to fresh air and safety.
AS L look at it now must have been walk
ing on PROSTATE bodies as 1 struggled
through the opening.
"All of our party escaped in about the
same manner as l did, but all of them suf-
fered so terribly in the matter of clothing
that the first thing they did to rush
to the stores to buy wraps TO cover them
selves"