The St. Louis Republic., 1903-12-31

q theater there are so many articles Of
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..was a thin column OF smoke which
foated from the stage. This was followed
by a sheet of fame which mounted to the
ceiling and enveloped the hangings about
the front of the stage. The people in the
parquet started for the door in an order
ly manner.
"The people or the stage, the ushers
and number of spectators arose to their
feet and shouted for order and did ey-
erything in their power to prevent a
Panic.
"Then somebody screamed and every
body apparently lost all control Of them
selves, and ran for the doors. l was
knocked down twice by men who seemed
10 have lost their minds. Men sprang 10
the stairs apparently regardless Of the
women and children who were. going down
at the time Many women and children
were knocked down in this way who might
have been saved had they not been pushed
TO one side by men who thought Of moth
ing but themselves
CAwTHoRNE THINKS FIRE
WAS CAUSED BY CALCIUM.
Herbert Cawthorn, member OF the
cast, assisted many of the chorus girls
from the stage exits in the panic. After
being driven from the building, he made
two attempts TO enter his dressing-room,
but both times was driven back by the
firemen, who feared he would be over
come by smoke. Mr.. Cawthorn said:
II was in a position to see the origin OF
the fire and 1 feel positive that it was an
electric calcium light that started the
blaze. The calcium lights were being used
10 illuminate the stage in the latter part
of the second act when the song I'm the
Pale Moonlight" is being sung.
II was standing behind wing on the
left side of the stage when my attention
was attracted by peculiar sputtering Of
enc of the calciums.
Above the stage, perhaps twelve feet
higher than the top Of the curtain, ex-
posed to the audience, was q swinging
platform, from which twelve calciums
were operated. 1t appeared to me that
one of the calciums had fiared up and the
sra.ks isnited the lint on the curtain.
INSTANTLY. I turned my attention toward
tho stage and saw that the song was be-
ing carried out and that many OF the
actors and actresses had not yet discov-
cred the blaze.
SAYS STAGE FIREMEN MIGHT
HAVE AvERTED HOLOCAUST.
Just then the fireman. who is kept be-
hind the scenes rushed up with some kind
of patent flre-extinguisher. Instead Of
the stream from the apparatus striking
the flames. it went almost in the opposite
direction.
''Up TO this time the flames had not
been in sight of the audience. While the
stage fireman was working in an endeavor
10 use the chemical. the flames suddenly
swept down and out.
Eddie Foy shouted something about the
asbestos curtain and the fireman at
tempted 10 use it and the stage hands
ran to his assistance. The asbestos cur
tain refused TO work and then the stage
hands and players began 10 hurry from
the theater.
In my opinion the stage fireman might
: have averted the whole affair if he had
not become so excited. The chorus girls
ard everybody else, to my mind, was les,
excited than he.
There were at least 800 persons behind
the scenes when the fire started. 1 as
sisted many of the chorus girls from the
theater, and some of them were only par
TALLY attircd. Two of the young women in
particular were naked from the waist up
They had absolutely no time to throw a
stitch OF clothing over their shoulders"
About a score of people in the second
balcony were saved by firemen, who tool
them through the roof and carried then
down ladders in the rear of the building.
Two bodies tightly locked in Nsch other.
arms. young ladies apparently about .
years Of age, were found In one end of th
orchestra pit. They must have fallen ther,
from the balcony above.
The body of dark-haired girl, appar
emily Il years old, was found impaled OIL
the iron railing of the first balcony. sh
evidently having been thrown over frcn
the second balcofsS above.
DEAD BABE NUDE But
FOR ITS TINY SHOES.
With all of its clothing torn from |
but a pair OF baby shoes, the body of
child about / year old was found in
far corner of the second balcony. 1t fa
evidently been knocked from its mother
arms and was trampled beyond all recos
milton.
William A. Brady, the well-known Ney
York theatrical manager, and who wa
in the audience at the time the fir
started. said tonight: