davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
Already sci Bodies Have Been Removed From the Ruins
of the IroquoiS Theater and the List Is Rapidly
GrOwing=The Injured Will Number ESQ

/ Ing building. but smoke and heat
drove them back. Companies rushed
10 the rrsr 81 the theatef Ia asaihs
the members ~ the company. but thu
defective curtain. which had been 20
fatal 10 the persons Ia the balcony.
had saved the players and they 80
capped IN thsir stacy costumes with
out serious injury.
When the flames Wrrp under con
tro4 the @rrns became enc that we'll
nigh passes description. Friends
aud relatives who had csrAncd,
mothers and fathers who becafne
separated from the children aud
we're forccd IA the panic Ia leave
them behind. fought with the police
10 gain admittance 90 the eharfcd
wallis OF the theater, ffrcmen
forced their way 60 ths upper bal
comics and the work " bringing out
the dead vas begun, At the central
doorway Of the two balconies the
sceue OF horror ~aa gnr that beEE sru
description. The mass Of dead bodies
reached 20 within two feet Of the top
u the pahaaErsay. They Nrfs near
~ ali those of women AMI children
Mothers we're found burned. tram
Piled apan, their clothing torn 10
HlFHMH fNtfMAAAE AHAHAA ~ N#tl'Hs NAHHftta -
20 their breasts,
rhs ft.rht al this point must have
been frtFhtfal Women and children
dlea IN the effort 10 crawl over the
bodies of those who had ALREADY
been burned to death. All we're faced
ioNard the doof and many whipped
ia their hands parts Of garments
that wrra not thris oNn. Fircfn~ft
and poites us~u worked at the rccev.
cry of the bodi~s ~ a condition OF
semi hvssefta The heads OF both
depArffnenta wsrr compsilcd % seod
r~fava OF fuen 70 the task and relieve
snaas - tsoAe nerves Nese ~ Hhhkets
that they could not continue the
uark. In Hagae instances the bodies
Of Inc women were in a rerni-uuae
raafittasl the clothing having been
camplessiy tofn away from ahexs the
waist. Children we're found with
bodies and faces - rampled and
bruised aA % be absolutely unfcees Z
nlnsbie. Il wH1 some tlrns befoe =
the dead wafe removed from the
psasNaEr say Layer after layer Was
pulled frpm The too BY the ~orssrs.
and the bodice carried down TO the
street below
When IL vas finally possible 20
enter NfAe= Fa1f''AaNtHEa wv -
or0 Of sstuaI horrnr. Thr drnd lay
thr~. and four deep in the aiaies.
wausrn uwrr found with the cloth
ing cosu plsteiy tosn from their bod
les Men w'~re found with their
backs broksu over the nrata. Ffa1eH
~ children and Young KiflA had been
eonrgetsly trampled of BY uhofse
Nho Hsre stronger and had not been
sufforassss by ~. explonioa of gas.
TThs Instances - cofspirts arHfruc-
sfrn Of the means Of rehabilitation
uers go numerous To detail. Near =
ty an the balcnny victims had eva
~ ntiv suffered death BY rufforstinn
when the tanks exploded.
The work of removing tho dead
twoEress.d slowly. a. the nrsFnsn
wished to save AL parts ~ tho bod
80 and clethins which faight aid I'm
idrntificafiun. and Il Vas late
hour last night when the task was
completed.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

sre waorue condition az that OF
Flora Some are worse. The cloth
ing was torn completely from many
Of them and they lie In the mofgus
their distorted limbs and bodies
crushed and trampied until they bear
no sembiance OF human form. In full
view TO the string OF people passing
between the rows Of dead.
There IA the body Of one man with
only q part Of the trunk and limbs
left His head and chest were COM
pletely gone when picked up iu the
balcony OF the theatef. A. careful
search Was made for the missing
mftnbcFs, but they could not be
found and the only Hupposition left
IL that they were trampied and
ground to bits under the heels of the
mass Of humanity that fought and
scrambled over his body after he had
fallen early IN the PERCEPTIONS rush
The Identification - proceeding
quite slowly. because only few
persons can be admitted Ia the
nnorRues NJ a time.
Police headquarters and the cor
oner'n office are littctally besiegrd
with frantic people pleading that
they be given permits Ia enter the
mnrgues ahead Of the long lines that
are being formed at the entrance Of
each.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

in the various undertaking estab~
iishments had succeedcd In nrranR
ing the bodies ~ something like or
der. and the morEues we're thrown
open. under the direction Of the po-
ice. for the Identification Of bodies.
At Hoiston's establishment. e
Adams street. theTe we're tS1 bodies.
These had been dumped here ana
there. reea r,fieAs Of order and meth
Cd. ali In a EreWsorne disafray. yes
tereay evening and last night. NJ
they were earted from the scene u
the fire iu big truck loads.
ny morning the uudertakers had
arranged the bodies regularly ~
rows Of 20 deep with pathways like
burrows betu cen. and great thrUug,
Of people we're admitted. a few ut a
time, under police guidance.
ON account ~ the NurginE MASS ~
humanity that had rtsod without the
doors IN the bitter cold All night.
waiting for "A cfisnce TO claim thu
bodies. the uudertakera had not
taken time to make less grewsone
some Of the horrible sights. and
throughout the entire morning the
police and undertaksrr' attendants
were kent busy reyivinR men and
women who fell faiutiuE ~ the
sful sight that met their gaze.
similar scenes were enacted Az
Jordan's place, on Madison street,
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

Maah. Walter Phacker. James Me
cleiiand. Iauiine Gehry. G. sidnT,
FoE, Mrs. g u. Bartlett. Mr. John
Adeneok Gertrude Ffikensteiu. Mr..
". r. Royce. Mrs. William Dawson.
William liurrtel. Mary D. 0artz.
Louise Hnahs an. Leigh Holland.
Warner s Dill. Herman le1senstadt.
Carrie J sayore, Harry Hudson. y.
v. Gould Mrs W A Spring. Fred
W. Lestin, iieanc Boise. g. NJ Hiek-
ford. Mr.. J ~. gtinRicr, g ". Bar
helm. Esther BARKER onward l..
VaiinEUn Elisabeth Hart Matte
Martin. Mrs Sarah kraur. Winthrop
spring HaNilio. aged ~ Her
gsn Vein. Harriet Volt Huida
1920. -- HeuninE. d boy Wal
trfHl Einlsr. -- Muir. Mrr Emma
nFinukiTY, Richard md Allen Hoist,
Harold Martin. John Holland. Lulu
Standard. W ~ spranK Charles "
Kohl. Mr. nawron. William Butter.
Robert Martin. John Van fnRen.
Walter HraHlnErr. Margaret Buer-
man. Mfu. leo. Wolff. Alice Klaus.
man. Helen Howard Helen Cooper.
n. r. Could. Lester Doiy. a boy
Mrs. A n. Meudei. Walter u. Aus.
tfiAn. aged ~ Mortimer f,idridre
Helen Esyersloth, Bev. Henry T.
Richardson. Louis kisneF. Walter H.
Zsiaier.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

An ordinance providing for the IS
tahlishment OF a city laboratory is no'
being drawn up by George g Cons
don. Herman Chaplin. y. A. Rust III
Farleson and pr Holmes, the Hpes.
committee Of the chamber Of fla
merce appointed to urge the tp1ong
ton 81 the institution which fhe. 80
been advocated by The staIl,~s SO
linance will be presented ~ flitation
eli. through the health Shortly after
committee Of that boets ON the first
the board II health
Monday in lauuaFtroug endorsement
IN view Of iatory scheme has re-
which the lapmsmbers Of the board
ceiyed by IA physicians generally
81 heai'h the city, by DIT Crich'on'
throuehf of the health and sanitation
ohairVtee 81 the city council and a
eonHays ago. hy the conference com
teftoc of local Improvement clubs
here IL little doubt but the the ora'-
rance will pass the council
Al the meeting Of the conference
committee Of the local Improvement
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

before II had reached an apprecfa-
BILE flame. and the city fireman. who
u detailed and constantly on duty
when the theater IL opened. noticed
u simultaneously with the eiectr1--
clan.
The fireman Immediately pulled
a TUBE ~ kllfire. OF which there wer.l
many hung about the stage. ancn
threw the contents upon the bfNze,
which would have been more than
enough II the kiifIre had been rr--
fective. and would have extlnguished
the flames at once. but for some
cause IL had no effect. The fireman
and electrician then ordered down
the asbestos curtain. and the fire.
rnsn threw the contents OF another
Z 6be Of kiifire upon the blaze. BUG
with no better result
The commotion thus caused err
cited the audience. who immediately
started for the exits. Of which there
are Is. all opening out and ready ca
the hand OF anyone reaching them.
The audience became panic strsckesys
in their efforts 20 REACH tho cxits
and tripped and fell over each Others
biockin the way. The audiences
was promptly admonished and inn
portuned by persons on the stage
and IN the auditorium TO be caim
and avoid any rush. thar the exttx
and facilities for empiying the thc-s
alter were ample TO enable them alI
TO get out without confusion.
No expense or prs-esution WAS
omitted 20 make the theater as fire.
proof as II could be made. there be-
ing nothing coyubustibie In the strsfc-
TURF, except the trimmings and fur-s
nishinEs OF the stage and the audi-s
toriutn. In the building OF the n
afer sc sacrificed more space
aisIes ard exits than any theats -
America"
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

on the first floor and rcaehed the first
ard second hsslronitH n was here
that the greatest number ~ the audi
encc WIRE seated and u IL probable
that with few exceptions. ali the
dead in the upp~r part % the house
were Killed before thcy even had a
chancs ~ make 4 dash fer escape
These vito wsre the stronger made a
mad rush for the exits. trnmpiinE The
children undrrfooI bat fow reached
the doors Ia the Hecund balcony the
ineiins ia Vrry steep and almost a.
mush 90 in the first Women and
children were unable Ia flEht their
way upward before the Flames cefus
plstsiy enveloped them In the first
ro~s q the first balcony. where the
flames cvidentlY reached fret. scores
% people were found dead SEATED Ia
their chairs facing the audience.
In Tire meantime the peopie on the
first floor were struggling 20 gain the
regular and the rifr ekitn. II = de-
clRfcd BY many % tho survivors that
Eosac ~ the latter were locked and
esr~ws Was onY sainsd Nhrh the
weight 0f the terror STRICKEN p~opie
wta hurled against the doors. burst
inE them from their hinges.
Immediately after the first burst u
flame which KILLED scores M the tsu
hateanlss. che gas reservoirs Of the
house esploaed ~ith a tremendous CON
eunAieu. khattrFtuF the skYtiEht 81 the
huiiainx ard literally Hitting IN. reusf
frpsn she walls ENsrY light IN thr
building WIS cNtiaEuished and dark
ness added horror 70 the aitaH tipn
on ihs kfu-rna floof the people ssraE-
SIZED and fought - gain the doef and.
with few exceptions. no iiSe~ were
loss bat many Wvfe fatally or danger
ausiy injured uyt the time those ahe
escaped haa reached ths street the
hundreds On the tao balconies ~ere
past hslp. Huih u theae baieeHivs
have three daeTs leading aut q the
paasarw~ay. one an esen esds ard the
ihira Ia the center. IN the raHic nrar.
" AL those seeking q eseaps rushed
for the center doorway. The r0nFsa.
ticu that resulted vas ssovn Vhea the
firesuen entered TIE BUILDING Tho
hniI.s ~efs piled thr~s ard four deep
near thia doorway. but ~ showed that
aniY q oesn - atiVsly few had SITE
cssss-i IN r~arhin The halt A. nearly
as ear BE dsterm.ned. there were
aiaout ~ pefsens in the thrater. ard
81 NEfr HNWfFtfF NFa7AFHH AHf% W.T. AeaNsN
IN the upper paFs - thr house
The sccne outside Of the thsater
uAN oue % aid coufuHlun A gen
erlal aiarbFu bad been turned IN and
the fire Apparataa 81 the city was
brought into use Squad after squad
of the reserve police was hurried %
tho zcenr
Randolph street on which the the
ater - located. In narrow amt hrsix~si
~ by tall business blocks The 10
ltc~ lafored TO ciear the street n
order thai the fisrfuen might have a
better chancs to rr>as The trnpsis-
ssed TdaYKoefr and fight the FIRE
fhe cold was Intense and the winr
blew great gusts Of snow around the
buildings,
Fire chief Camplon arrived on the
acsas and called for volunteers 20
rescue the dead and dying. Many
were the valiant attempts OF 10th
police and firemsn 10 enter the burn
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
FIRE CURTAIN
WOULD NOT WORK

tcf1cAGo. Dec n -Eddie Foy. prin-
oiPai comedian Ia the play was one II
the last 10 escape, BY getting out
through a rear door after assisting the
women Numbers Of the company 70
safety.
~ describing the commencement 81
The fire Fuy attributed the cause u
the catastrophe 10 the failure % the
nre- proof Cuateln 10 work properly
THE fire began tn the middle - the
second act said Mt Foy. An cleo
trio wire broke. grounded nns from
this the flames were started Ia the
rear ~ the stage. The stage b. nnust-
ally wide and there WAS 70 great a
draf that the flames spread rapidly.
They soon attacked all the scenery ia
the rear of the house.
When Il started I went 20 the foot
lights and 10 prevent alarming the
audience said that there was slight
blaze. and that u would BE- better for
ali 20 leave quietly. Then I stepped
back and called for the asbestos cur
tain % be lowered This curtain went
about half way down and refused 90
20 further and thus an additional
draft waa created THE swept the
flames out into ibs auditorium aud 1
knew that the theaier was doomed
hurried back 70 the stage and aid
ed In getting the women of the com
pany into the alley. Some Of them
we're In the dressing rooms and we're
almost overcome b. smoke xhen they
got down 20 the stage door The sim
pie fact that the curtain I'D tot de-
neend enttr~ly was what saved the
lives u the company. although II
rauaed such a horrible catasirophe In
the front Of the banse
After she curtain had refused 90
drNosnd there came tho explosion ~
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
In
MANAGERS SAY THAT ALL
N light have Been SAVED

CHICAGO. Dec. 3, win ]. Davis.
one n the proprietors OF the iheater
made this statement last night
There sss no need, a. far as |
know, q single life being lost
There we're over forty exits 20 the
thcater The building II fireproof.
and " somebody had not screamed
Fire ] think that all could have
reached the street Ia safety.
A. FAR az we have learned. ever5'-
body on the flrs, floor except three
escaped. although some sustained
bruises ard other minor injuries. The
great loss Of life was IN the first
and se-noad balconies. These com
htned VIII seat about 800 persons
and as far as I can estimate, the bal
comics held between $50 and MO peo-
pie. The gallery. where the ciscatL
eat seats were located. Was the most
crowded. and IL IN here the crowd
found the most difficulty in Strug-
Cling toward the exits"
~ was declared by the manage
rn~nt 81 the thester that the FIRE was
not caused by the grounding Of an
electric wire or to any defect In the
equipment OF the theater. ~ started.
they claim nv the bursting Of cal
cium light apparatus. The concus-
sion was so great that II blew out
the .skyiiRht over the stage and au
ditorium-
This statement % the theater man
agpsnent " coutradicted by many
peopie who were In the theater ana
gho declared that when the explo-
sion occurred they saw flames IN n
narrow streak crossing the wall near
the upper part Of the drop curtain.
Harry J. Powers. another proprie-
tor. made the following statement
1T appears thai one of the scenic
dfapcries was noticed 10 have ignited
from some cause. II WAS detected
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

the gas tanks. and with the curtalra
down. ali the fire and gas would havo
been confiBed bstWeen the rear vnr
Of the the4ter and the proof cur
tain IN front.
Under these circunsta noes IL would
not have been possible for single
member ~ the company 10 eacaps
alive unless hs-or she had been stand
las imediateiy IN front Of the door
leading into the alley. - IL was. tho
draft carried All the Eaa and fire out
beneath the curtain. and the compaHy
was saved although their salvation
was the death u "a smany poor Deopis
IN front"
". A. G Sellers. the house fireman,
who WAS severely burned IN trying 10
lower the asi.eHtoE curtain says.
II was standing Ia the wings shen
heard the explosion. Looking np. I
sag that the curtain was abaze. 30 Z
rang for the fire curtsin We got Il
half way down. when the wind rush.
ing IN from the broken skYiiFht. bel
lied Il out 80 that Il canght and ws
could not bulge H. with tn. stage.
hands I climbed 60 where It vas sus-
pended and. together We tried to push
II down.
Our efforts were futile. and turneH
my attention toward warning the ac-
tors and trying TO save them Tho
women wers frantic and the men not
mach better
Il Etoed at the stairway leading to.
the dressing rooms. where th-ehoru 4
people were located and kept som9
from going up 70 get their street.
clothes. A. others came down fonosds
them Go leave the building don n
know how they ever got out all thoss-
girls and men Sho came crowding
down the stairs. for the stage entrance
was blocked b. a mass q flanes'
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
-spza<k
MAINLANDER HAS
CHANGED HANDS

The steamer Mainlnnder has been
pnre haaeda1y the Pacific Coast Steam
ship company. rrotrpcted ucgoiiatioas
were closed yesterday between that
cooperation and the Western Steam
Navigation company, which has been
Operating the vessel for the pssi four
yearr The price paid was tae 90
The Maiulandcr was owned by " G.
Cook. ~ cock a Co. % this city
Evans. Colman a Evans. q Naneouv-
er. T. G.. and Tom Graham. Of san
Francisco. She was built by Crawford
& Risd ~ Tacoma, in is'o at IA cost
Of tas90
The Mhinnudcr will hereafter be on
Grated on the Whatcom run. In place
~ the state OF Washington, for the
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
GOES TO
ST. LOUIS

Captain ]. n. Mcclellan. corn.
mander OF tho revenue cutter Man
ming. loft the city last night for 81
Louis. He goes there under instruc-
tions Of the treasury departments "a
take charge Of the government lif,
saving service exhibit at the I,outsi-
ana exposition.
Captain Mcclellan II the greatest
living authority ON life saving serv-
lce. He has invented Scores OF de-
vices for life saving, most OF which
are now IN use by the government.
and written books on the subject
lie had charge OF the life saving ex-
hibit at the exposition at Chicago
and Buffalo.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
LABORATORY ORDINANCE. :,
rs I'M PREPARA7Sn
MEMBERS OF OF CO MmERcE spEcl .nv eos CITY
WHO ARE DRAWING 1T UP, WILL HAVE
COUNCIL EARLY NEXT MONTH

IN chamber Of commerce last
clulay ia ructions were sent out TO-
TYNE cluY 60 do their utmost 10 Sc
lyfre the pa4sage Of the ordinance. ana
a. This end use all their Influence upon :
the councilman who represents 'heirs
district. -,
The need Of laboratory Tor ctSs
this size. as was frequently poinseo
out tsSrhe Star during the totn''eus
hyde fight Is unquestoned' an o'ui.
nance providing for the es,anhsh'nene
~ an. laboratory would have been
,,,ssed hy the council months ago had
NJ Councilman James. the treasury
watchdog" as chairman Of the finance
committee. defeated the appropriations
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
CONTRACTORS FRIEND

city Engineer Thomson has sent a
communication 20 the board OF works
recommending that an extension OF
time b. granted 20 The Washington
Pipe a Foundry company for LAYING
the water main GA North Forty ninth
street Tho bi1a were received octos
her "a, and the contractors we're or
der~d 60 begin work November ~
The time expired ecember H. leaving
y DAYS tn whieh TO DO the work. In
vie wuf the stormy weather. etc
Engineer Thomson recommended that
IN. extension be granted
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
PARTIAL LIST OF the DEAD

Following IL partial lat u the
dead.
Horteass Lang. AIRED 10: Irene
lang. aEsd n, p. A. Wilson. Ann
Fitzstbbon. Mrs. W. T. Marsh. Miss
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

past twelve years. The deal gives the
pArific e-bast company \ monopoly Of
the Vancouver run.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

The Pacific Coast Steamship Com,
panv's steamer city of Topeka, ~
soon 60 go ON the ways at Morans
for repairs TO her hull and ma
chmery that will cost Ia the neigh
borhood OF $4,000. The vessel VIII
have new boilers and the rest OF her
machinery viii receive a geherh
overhauling.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

Hattie straitou. Louise Bushnell,
Mrs. A. Lake. aged r.. Miss a. Don-
aidnan. aged Is. Mrs.. Patrick y.
o. Donnell. ". VI. Couits Miss HoN-
ard, Miss Ross, Florence Axnam.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

CHICAGO. Dec r-wh~n the fass
day az the year dawned. this grief.
STRICKEN eity. stunned By the appalling
magnitude of the holocaust At the fro-
auu5s fhcateF yesterday afternoon.
realized thai fer the Second time u
had received a baptism 81 fire. ard
that hundreds Of itH men. young wo-
men and children had had their lives
snuffed out In less thar half an hour.
When the department finally Sue
eees1r1 IN extinRtfi~hinx the flames In
the Inflated playhouse the result ~as
seen 20 be much more appalling than
wss az first reported Every minute
every hour. brought forth news u
frssh diRaster. Of added horror and the
list ~ the dead CONTINUALLY Increased
until various estimates placed II be-
tween sea ard 50 Pre- depart neus
coroner and newspapers all differ Re.
ports ~ the missing failed to agree
and u will - some ttr1s before the
number ~ the dad can be positively
determined. The number Of the In
fured is also a matter o. dousr AZ this
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31

z...~x~N IA ~ q a. a
-. ,s 80 ~, - -
~ sn,s '''9''',"s V'e pe"es Nv.
h - ', ,'os''
VIE ,'Ss.s ae'osAeN eIs
$3.50 -, 49, $500 " .''''eS
ee''.' uesse ~ e.s sse
S-e '@' ,"s "s"'os' WIZ
1890 ~ -. -,
~ss - oe,'sss &'
~ 80. ~" go W, - s''s sAse
49, sss -.
ss 80 49, s "sse "o'
- e"e sssr ~ 49, 'ne ss's o.
$500. $500 - $3.50 ps,s"s " see VI
-'s.''se 49, ~ se."s sos'p',se'
sa e"''''e' ''''V"s 'oe
se.en ".. 'e''s &sesa % of
wnee we ~
100 "e po"ee DC
s ~ Us, - vi. .'is'ee'
"ps ~ fse5 ." we oss"-
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
LITTLE HAPPE NiNGS

&. =. Thomas instituted divorce
proceedings yesterday against hin
wife. Mrs. Hope Thomas. lie alleges
drunkenness and deser,ion.
Miss Julia G. Iathrup OF Hull
House. Chicago. will address the
washington conference OF charities
and corrections, which Is 20 be held
here the third week Ia February.
Miss I.nthrop. It Is said. knows more
about organized charity than ans
woman VA America.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1903-12-31
scors Mill cEIERRATE

Scotch residents of Seattle Will
celebrate Hog1nanay tonight, by an
entertainment and ball at RAM.
hill The affairs will be under 'e
auspices OF clan Mackenzie.