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

caught me and almost threw mo clear.
across the alley to State street.
! IN that alley was the most awful sight
ever saw. The fire escapeS over the
alley were packed with struggling. scream
ing persons, fighting to Jump to the
| ground.
"They were falling like raindrops and
making pile of dead and dying under tha
escapes. One man landed on the MAST
Of people and struggled to his knees, when
a woman fell on his head and struck him
dead.
| "By this time the smoke was rushing out
of the door we had broken open, ana
Dexter and I worked till we were ex-
hausted. pulling out women and children
who were overcome by the smoke and I
horror.
'1t was terrible. The victims were most
ly women and children. Mothers wcro
calling for their little ones. Little girls
were screaming and bcwildered. A masa
of crazy human beings was almost tear
ing each other to pieces trying to crowd
| out of that ono small opening that we,
| had
SAYS CHILDREN BURNED s
TO DEATH BEFORE HIS EIEs.
'I can't realize that 1t isn't all 'horrt-
bic nightmare yet,' said Charles Dexter
who was with Mr.. Houseman.
"whcn Houscman called my attention.
to tho blaze. I did not think there was,
much In II. but while 1 looked 1t seemed
to take the whole side Of the stage.
"'Youd better bring out that woman.
I said to fellow who was in the sans
box with US with girl.
"T guess know my business he ans:
swered. and they stayed behind
"God help these two, for Houseman ana
I did not moro than have time to get
downstairs before the whole stage was
ablaze.
when I reached the exit. three 1itfie
children were clinging to me- Ths fire es-I
capes were filed with nothing but women
and children. They were packed together
SO closely that only a few could break
loose and jump. and some Of them rere
burning to death before our eyes. I took
= the children into a corner drug store and:
hadn't any moro than set them down
when in rushed woman. with her hair
down and her clothes almost torn OF
and grabbed a little girl. screaming
Darling! Darling! Don't you know your
mother?'''
RUSHED INTO THEATER IN
ANSWER TO wOMAN's APPEAL.
William Corbett OF No. SIS California
avenue and Edward Butler, a city ems
ploye, living at No. i1s Wooster avenue.
were met by Houseman and Dexter and
rushed into the burning building at the
Randolph street entrance to help in the
rescue. This is corbett's story:
u did not intend to go into the buiid-
ing. but, as I stood there. an old woman
screamed. Help me! Help me. Ny TIVE
children are in therer
"Well, no man can stand that. That
means u.s. I said to Butler, and We
started. Policeman John Rohan tried to
stop US. You'll burn up sure he said
We made for the east side. intending to.
go into the main body Of the theater, but
in our excitement, We got tangled up In
the dark Railways and the first We knew.
we were up against door at the top OF
the building and everything as dark az
pitch.
I'VE caught hold Of the handles Of the
door and managed to break It open. Piled
up five deep by the door were dead and
dying human beings. grabbed hold Of
an arm and the burnt skin peeled on in
my hands The smoke was suffocating and
the heat was terrible.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
STILL FEEBLY STRUGGLING.
"As We pulled the poor victims out It
seemed to me that could not 20 on.
There were young girls with their clothing
torn of. women and children scorched and