The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-31
ocontInaea from PAGE oae]

rccuy across the alley from the thea
ife ano- noticing smoke. went down 10
ascertain it's cause. when ne reached
tfe street the women were already
dropping into the alley. and Dir. Elliott
Immediately rushed for ladder I'm the
effort 20 save as many as possible.
no Ladder Available.
so ladder was available. and the only
method of assistance they were able
TO devise was to- hurriedly lash some
l-ianks together and throw them across
10 the frightened women on the plat
forms, with Instructions TO place the
end firmly on the iron work Before
this could De done fearful loss or
time pnsued. the women were being
pushed every instant into the alley
and by tho time the bridge was cOu-
structCd few persons remained TO. take
advantage of it. However, about two
dozen, it is believed by Mr. Elliott
made their way across this narrow
causeway.
The members OF the theatrical COM
rany being ON the first floor had COM
paratively little difficulty in reaching
the street. although their situation was
for moment highly critical because
on the speed with which the flames
swept through the mass Of scenery in
the flies and on the stage.
Comedians Story.
Eddie Toy. principal comedian in the
PLAY was one OF the last TO escape, by
getting out through @ rear door after
assisting the women members Of the
company 30 safety. Tie went into the
Sherman house En- his stage costume
and with his face covered with grease
paint. in order to secure surgical at
fention for some burns he had sus-
tanned. I'm describing the commence
meut of the fire, FOy attributed the
cause of the catastrophe TO the failure
OF the freprOOf curtain 10 work prop
erly. Because of this. ne said. the
flames readily obtained access to the
main part of the theatre. and were, by
the draught, carrying with it gas as
well as fire. swept up TO the two bal
comics. where the loss of life was
greatest.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
"The fire began IN the middle Of the
second act" said Mr.. Foy An cleo
tric wire broke. was grounded, ana
from this the flames were started IN
the rear Of the stage. The stage was
unusually wide, and there was SO great
draft that the flames spread rapidly.
They soon attacked an the scenery in
the rear of the house. / never believed
81 possible for fire 10 spread so quickly.
When it started 7 went TO the loot
lights. and, 90 present alarming lne
audience. said that there was a shght
tiaze. aud that 10 would be better for
I'm fo leave quietly. Then / stepped
hack and called for the asbestos cur
tain TO DE lowered. This curtain, when
about half way down. refused 10 go
further. and thus an additional draft
was created.
Theatre Was Doomed.
"This swept the flames out into the
auditorium and I knew that the the
atre was doomed. / hurried back TO
the stage and aided in getting the Wo-
ulen members of the company into the
alley. Some OF them were ina dressing
rooms and were almost overcome by
smoke when they got down to the
stage and 10 the doors. The simple
fact that the curtain did not descend
entirely was what sawed the lives OF
the company. although it caused sucn
horrible catastrophe in the front of
the house.
Actors All Escaped.
carter The curtain had refused TO
descend there came the explosion OF
mo gas tanks. auC with the curtain
down. all the fire and gas would have
been confined 10 the rear wall of the
theatre and the hreprOOf curtain iu
front of the stage. Under these cir
cumstanCes &c would not have been
possible FOR "a single membmer Of the
company go escape alive, unless ne OF
she had been standing immediately IN
front OF the door Leading into the alley
AS 90 was the draft carried an the gas
and nre out beneath the curtain and
the company was saved. although then
salvation was the deaths of so many
people I'm 'front.'
Chicago Appalled,.
Rarely i'm the history of Chicago hos
ils people been So stirred as by the
calamity OF today. 10 frs. next to the
big Chicago fire. the greatest catastro-
phe that has ever occurred here. anG
tho speed with which IL came and went
seemed Tor q brief period 20 appall the
business section of the city. The news
spread with great rapidiry. and in a
snort time hundreds OF men. women
and children Were rushing toward the
theatre. The building I'm which the
calamity occurred stands midway be-
tween state and Dearborn streets. on
the north side OF Randolph street. All
though every available policeman with
iu call of the department was immedi-
ateig hurried to the spot and mel
placed in lines from the ends OF thJ
block. allowing nobody 90 enter Ran
Colrh street from either Dearborn ol
state. IS was found Cor "a time almos
Impossible 90 hold h5ck the frenzicC
crowd tnat pressed forward. many OBJ
th-m having friends or relatives in th'
theatre and being anxious TO learn
something 90 -a-u.
Good Work Of Police.
The conduct ~ the police vas beyon,
all praise. The officers held thei
Eraund hrmly and gently pushed bacl
al who sought t0 gain an entrance q
tho theatre, although in some iD
stances frantic men. anxious TO l0ol
Tor their loved ones. actually beat Tn