davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
FIRST FIFTY TAKEN OUT
OF Them Thirty Were Dead. and Nearly
All Young People.

OF Them Thirty Were Dead, and Nearly
All Young People.
The chief of the city ire department,
Marshal AIusham. who had "alled Il
fire trial board to hear the cases of
six delinquent iremen. left the board
room hastily at the first cell and took
personal charge at the fire. In an
hour after the fire broke out fifty
bodies had been carried from the the
ater into Thompson's restaurant, one
door east. OF these fully thirty were
dead. a number was showing faint
signs of life, and it was impossible to
tell at first glance whether about one
There were mostly the bodies of young
women under 20 years of age. and
children from to l.. The bodies were
placed on the floor, on chairs, tables
and one young woman in dripping gar
ments was stretched along the cigar
case.
All the large dry goods stores of the
city, which are situated with two
squares of the theater-Fields, Man
dels', Carson. Pirie, CcOtt & Co. Schles-
niger & Mayer and the Boston store
AS soon as they heard of the emer-
gency, sent wagon load after wagon
load of blankets, linen. and cotton for
bandages. All of their teams were
plgced at the disposal of the authori-
ties. and were utilized in conveying
the wounded to hospitals or TO the of
fees of nearby physicians. Within tif-
teen minutes after the fire broke out
fully fifty physicians were on the
scene, and trained nurses seemed to
spring from the ground so rapidly did
they appear.
Bishop Muldoon, with prayer upon
his lips. with his coat off, worked
among the injured and dying inside Of
the theater Hewas passing the theater
when the panic started and rushed in
TO lend a helping hand. He climbed
into the gallery and fhere directed the
work of rescue. FFemen and police
men rushed upon hinisto get him out,
but he remained among the suffering
while the smoke and flames came
closer to him. At the top of his voice
he begged the people to put their trust
in God and to calm themselves.
The sight of the bishop gave cour.
age to many while the Roman Catho-
lies who were injured received sacra-
ments from him upon the scene. 1t
was not until after he had been as
sured that all then{njured were taken
out and that there Mere no living peo
pie i'll the place THAI he consented TO
be taken out. Sheriff Barrett, who
saw Bishop MrIldoon taking Off his
coat and going into the theater to help
the rescue work. followed in his steps.
The tiremen and police. after the first
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
MORE NEWS FRoM LIBERIA
Showing That Civilization Has Not Yet
Penetrated to the Back Districts
in That Region.

London. Dec. 31.-Mrs. Allen. Of the
American African Gospel mission. has
sailed for New York from Liverpool on
the White Star lire steamer Celtic aft
CT four years work among the Nanak-
rOos in Liberia. Just prior TO sailing
from Liberia she witnessed severe
tribal fighting between the allied in
habitants of the coast towns and the
bushmen. Mrs. Aliens mission house
was the center of the first conflict. and
the Nanallroo queen sought refuge
there.
Mrs. Allen refused to leave. although
advised to do so by the Liberian troops
sent from MonrOvia to support the
coast towns. During the fighting Mrs.
Allen was not molested. but she wit
messed remarkable scenes of barbar-
ism. There was no actual cannibal-
ism. but the bodies of the slain bush
men were chopped up into small pieces
and the ears, heads, arms and legs
were cut off and distributed among the
various towns as trophies of victory.
The bushmen ultimately We're worsted
and returned to the interior.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
COLOMBIA OPPOSED TRANSFER
Our Position Approved by Pretty Nearly
the Whole Vote.

Our Position Approved by Pretty Nearly
the Whole Vote.
The report then stated that follow
ing the Panama outbreak Colombia
notified the company. Nov. %, that it
would maintain the cOmpany's rights,
but would oppose the transfer of the
concession to any government what
ever On Dee. , Colombia's agent
here, NJ. Samper, notified the company
that while Colombia was ready loyal
Iy to uphold the cOmpany's rights yet
if the company entered into relations
with the separatist government or
transferred its rights TO another gov
ernment Colombia would construe such
action as voluntary abandonment of
the concession, which would thereupon
lapse. The company replied Dec. D
that it recognized the existing condi-
tions on the isthmus and that if Co
lombia resumed possession of the 18TH
mus the company would be glad to
resume relations with Colombia"
During Secretary Lampres reading
of the report the disaffected element
hOoted and cat-called. causing much
disorder. The speech of NJ. GrotOn, n
representative of the old company. was
also hooted. Finally a resolution was
adopted approving the accounts and
the report of the management. the
vote was $3.50 in favor of it to 119
against showing the insignificance of
the opposition to the United States.
The question of approving the sale
of the comDany's property to the Unit
ed States did not come up formally be-
fore the meeting and was postponed
TO a subsequent meeting, but the over
whelming vote sustaining the man.
ayers is considered to be decisive.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
LET US HOPE 1T IS FALSE
Report That the Striking Livery Drivers
Refused Their Help.

agreed to send all his carriages for
relief of the fire sufferers. the livery
drivers fatty refused to drive them to
the theater to help in the work. Fred
erick w. Job telephOned to Moone, pro
prietor of livery stable at 2O21 Wa
bash avenue. asking that he send his
carriages. Moone assented and later
went to the union headquarters. told
the drivers congregated there that he
had donated his rigs and asked them
to man them. He said that they EN-
phatically refused to do so.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
SCENES BEYOND DESCRIPTION
Horror of the Catastrophe Never Before
witnessed by Old Oficers.

Horror of the Catastrophe Never Before
Witnessed by Old Officers.
Scenes during the progress of the
fire were beyond description by the
spectators. Old policemen said they
had never witnessed anything TO equal
the horror of the disaster Bodies
were found sitting straight up in the
seats where persons had tainted from
fright and then suffocated by smoke
and gases. In another part of the bal
cony where the blaze had been blown
upward and back one little girl was
found dead. Her hair had been burned
off and her face badly scOrched by
the flames. In her lap lay a fur muff
unharmed by the flames which had
swept over and around the upper part
of her body. Some had fallen back
in their seats in utter collapse and met
their fate.
Charles h. Taylor. a janitOr. was
washing windows in the University
building. directly across the areaway
where the theater fire escape was To-
Gated. He describes a terrible scene.
Immediately after the cry of fire was
IalStu. ne Sdlu, Il score or more men.
women and children clambered on 10
the platform of the fire escape. each
crushing the other in the mad flight
TO climb to a place of safety. The
terrible crush prevented any from de-
scending. While the heartrendiug ap-
peals for help rose high above the din
inside the theater. and while the aw-
full fight for mastery was going on
on the small iron platform. two huge
iron doors, which up TO that time had
held the flames inside. burst open and
wave of fire swept upon the mass of
humanity.
With shrieks. mingled with curses
and pleadings, the twenty or more
were swept from the platform. One
woman nearest the outside fell head
long to the pavement. alighting upon
her head. In a moment n pile of hu-
man beings was heaped upon her. Tay-
Tor says he believes all in that terrible
crush were killed.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
OTHER THEATRE DISAS s.
TIERS.
In the United States.

Brooklyn theatre, Dec. ), 1876,
297 dead.
Central theatre, Philadelphia,
April 2s, 1892. dead.
Front Street theatre, Balti-
more, Dec. 2s. 1895. - dead.
Iroquois theatre. Chicago, Dec.
80, 1903, $50 dead.
In Foreign Countries.
Lehman's theatre, St. Peters
burg. 1886. 700 dead.
CarlSruhe theatre. st. Peters
burg. 1S47. 200 dead.
Ring theatre. Vienna. Dec. $,
1881, S75 dead.
Exeter theatre, England, Sept.
), 1887. 200 dead.
Banquet theatre, Oporto, Mch.
21. 1883, 200 dead.
Opera Comique. Paris, May %,
1887, - dead.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Review of Mission Work.

Boston. Dec. 31.-The ninety-third
annual report of the American board Of
commissioners for foreign missions is
largely review of the work which
missionaries in foreign countries have
accomplished. The missionaries in
European Turkey. the report says.
maintained a neutral attitude not tax
ing part in the political agitations eth
er in Macedonia or Bulgaria.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Rival to ..scrupulous Conscience. ;,

st. Louis. Dec. 81. - "ScrupulOus
Conscience" who scattered $1,000,
mostly in $50 bills, among the rail
roads and other corporations as Christ
mas presents, has Il rival in Honesty"
who appears to have confined his gen
erosity to tine Big -Four. Two letters
have been received by the latter road,
each containing $40. From the SINH
larity of the handwriting and other
features, it is thought ''ScrupulOus
Conscience" and Honesty" are one
and the same person.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Has She Been kidnaped ?

Meridian. Miss. Dec 31.-NO trace
has been found of Miss Ethel Rovelle.
the missing heiress who disappeared
from Meridian a week ago. Her rela-
tives both here and in Birmingham
now fear that she has been kidnapped
and is being held for ransom. 1t has
been learned that Miss ROvelle had
been shadOwed by unknown praties
ever since it became known that she
had become an heiresS
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Richard Smiths widow Dead.

indianapolis. Dec. 31.-Word is re-
ceived here that Mrs. Emma Smith, 90
years old widow of Richard Smith,
former editor of the Cincinnati Com
merciaI-Gazette, is dead of heart trou-
BILE in Cincinnati. She leaves three
daughters and one son, Richard, of In
dianapolis. The daughters are Mary,
Laura and Mrs. Andrews of Yokoha-
ma, Japan.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
The Struggle.

An athlete is not made in an hour,
and the giant oak is only a specimen
of endurance after its hardy conflict
with the elements. So it is with the
character of a man and Of a woman.
1t is the struggle of the years that
makes the heart heroic.-Schoolmast
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Woman Adiudced Insane.

Cleveland. o., Dec. 31.-AIiSs Julia
Kicks. who some time since created a
sensation in New York by demanding
q large sum of money from Mrs. May
Harrington StallO, the eX-wife of Dan
r. Hanna, has been adjudged insane
by acting Probate Judge Schwab, and
committed to the state asylum for the
insane at Newburg.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
IOWA GETS TWO TROPHIES
IN COLLEGE COMPETITION

Chicago, Dee. 31.-The Spoor trophy
was today awarded to the Iowa State
Agricultural colleges competing. The
standing of Iowa was first. Ohio sec
ond. Minnesota third. Kansas fourth.
In the students contest as individuals
for the Clay Sanders specials. {. y.
Howard. of Iowa. was first
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Rice Cooker PLAYS Havoc.

Quincy. ILL.,. Dec. 31.-By an ex-
plosion of a rice cooker in the main
building of the Dick Brewing COM
pany the building was almost COM
pletely wrecked. Parts of machinery,
brick work and girders We're hurled
100 feet or more. Leo j. Goorres, d
watchman. was the only person in the
building at the time. and was badly
hurt, but will live. Loss, S60.0OO.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
SIGN TREATY WITH
ANOTHER COUNTRY
Friendly Commercial Relations Es-
tabIished With Epiothia
in Africa.

Jibutil French SomaIiland. Dec. 81.
Emperor Meuelik and Consul Gen
eraI Skinner today signed Il treaty be-
tween the United States and the en-
pire Of Ethiopia. opening for the first
time commercial relations
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
HIGHER EDUCATION
Theme. at Meeting of State
Teachers Association at
Springfield.
DO THE TALKING
Draper FavOrs Admitting Students TO
Colleges on Ger
tificates.

Springfield. H., Dec 31.-Presidents
of the Illinois universities addressed
the 1000 teachers attending the morn
ing meeting of the Illinois Teachers
association. President A. :. Draper. of
the University of Illinois; President h.
J. james, of Northwestern university,
Evanston. and President \. r. Taylor,
Of James Millikin university. Decatur,
were the speakers, and the general top
ic was problems in Higher Educd-
ton" President Darper pleased the
teachers with the announcement that
he favored the admission of students
to the university on certificates from
schools on the accredited list without
examination. even if the policy is con-
trary to that of eastern colleges.
1sy Long Time to Complete.
''Beginnimg with the Kinder gdrten
and finishing with ii complete univer-
sity education will keep Il student AT
his studies until he is past 2G years of
age, said Dr. Draper That is too
long time to spend III school: but if
any curtailment is TO be made in the
course il must he at the top. in the col
legeS. and not in the elementary school
ing" In closing President Draper said:
College athletics as conducted today
really make some of the biggest uni
VerSitieS in the coHntry."
PRESIDENT james in his address ad
vOcated establishing in Washington a
national university to be supported by
the federal government. In speak
ing of the relation of religion to educa-
ton, he asserted tha> the clergy of no
church. in his mind, is or has been
qualified to educate children as they
should be educated.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Ex-Rass BAN PLAYER Killed.

Knoxville, Tenn, Dec. 31.-Dennis
Teahy, for several years a player in
the Virginia League and at one time a
member of the Cincinnati team. was
shot and killed here by Frank Ragan.
Ragan was arrested.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31

Chicago, Dec. 31.-With the an
nouncement that one jury of repre-
sentative citizens would listen to all
the evidence regarding the fire and
find a single verdict for all the vic
Tins, Coroner Traeger today promptly
impaneIed a jury. The deaths of Viii
liam NJ. Hoyt's daughter, Mrs. T. Nor
ton Fox, and her three children, will
be taken as basis for investigation.
FIf any persons are responsible for
this fire" said the coroner, they will
be prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law. We will leave no stone un-
turned in our efforts to fix the respon-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Gold Democrats Missed It.

indianapolis, Dec. 31.-Having cap
tured the city organization and secured
the election of their mayOralty candi-
date, the gold Democrats of this city
and county tried to get control of the
congressional district but were badly
beaten Joseph T. Tanning, the pres
ent district chairman, was reelected.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Hard on the Mother and rather.

MulIiken, Mich, Dec. 31.-The re
mains of L. Baldwin, wife and son,
arrived here and were met by the sew
eraI orders to which they belonged
The mother and father of the Fald-
wins are nearly prostrated- 1t is feared
the mother will not survive the shock.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
ESCAPE OF ACTOR EDDIE 10Y
Tells How the Fire Started and the As
bestOs Curtain Failed.

Eddie" Foy said after his escape:
THE fire began in the middle of the
second act. 1t was when the moon
light scene was on. An electric wire
broke and was grounded, and from
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
At Meeting of Panama Canal
Company at Paris
Yesterday.
FEW OPPOSED ENDORSEMENT
Vote on the Question was $3.50 fol
and 119
Against.

Paris. Dec Glowing to the recent
events at Panama the annual meet
ing of the Panama Canal company de-
veloped unusual interest and excite
ment Prior 10 the opening efforts
were made to secure enough proxies
to overrule the existing mana cement
of the company. which is favorable to
the sale of the companyS property to
the United States. The meeting took
place in the Hall of Agriculture, which
was crowded with officials, stOckbOld
ers and prominent financiers. At the
opening of the meeting the manage
nent submitted Il report of the recent
events on the isthmus and the course
taken by the company.
They Wait on Our Senate.
The report set forth that the repub-
lie of Panama today exercises sover-
eighty over the isthmus, displacing Co
lombia's former sovereignty: that the
United States, France, Russia, Great
Britain, Germany and other countries
had recognized Panama's supremacy,
and added: I'm view of the accom-
plished fact. and in face of superior
force, we can only maintain and con-
tinue the existing engagements with
the United States" The report also eX-
planned that the fact that the United
States senate had not ratified the
treaty with Panama deferred the eX-
ecutiOn of the company's engagements
with the United States.
Threatened the COmpany's Rights.
''It is under these circumstances.
the report continued. that we cOnvoke
you to give to our agreement with the
United States your detinitive apprOy-
al The report further disclosed Co
lOmbia's recent vain efforts TO induce
the company to continue dealing with
the old government of the isthmus,
saying: Prior to the Panama upGis~
ing the committee of the Colombian
congress recommended action which
would have eXtinguiShed the COM
pany's rights. 1t proposed to insert an
item of S1.OOOOOO in the Colombian
budget to reimburse the company for
its losses. The agent of the company
at BOgOta resisted and the French
government gave assurances that it
would do all possible to prevent the
sacrifice of French property and in
terests."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
;. .nusn nnd rwo chnd.en seorched.

Galien. Mich, Dec. 31.-The dwell
ing house of William Morley burned
with contents. Mrs. Morley and two
children We're badly burned, but will
TacGYer
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
CORONER PREPARES TO INVESTIGATE.
FIFTY-sEVEN UNIDENTIFIED GIRLS.

siderable time before Il large number
of the people could leave the building.
Meanwhile special calls and gener
al alarm had summoned an eXtraordin-
airy number of fire engines.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31

Great men are the commissioned
guides of mankind. who rule their fell
lows because they are wiser.-Carlyle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Sister and Cousin Dead.

ililma Berry. sister. and cousin
of F. +. Berry. a travelling salesman
for HartZ X Rahnsen company. are
among the dead. Mr. Berry received
the sad news here this morning and
left for Chicago at noon.
Miss Della Stoddard and her brother
Donald. of Minonk. H.. who were de
stroyed in the Iroquois theatre. were
children Of a sister of Mrs. W. :. Mar
quiS, Of this city. They had been Wis
iting in Chicago. Miss Stoddard had
many acquaintauccs in Rock Island,
where she visited her aunt occasion
ally Mrs. Marquis Jeff today for
Minonk
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Miss rlamondon Hnrt slightly.

Miss Charlotte Plamondon. niece
of Rev. Father Mackin. pastor of St.
.Joseph'S church. who visited here dur
ing the summer. was i'm a box in the
lower tier when the fire broke out. and
was injured slightly in the crush for
the main exit. She tells one of the most
graphic of The stories printed i'm the
Chicago papers about the panic in the
PLAYHOUSE.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
DEAD PLACED AT 564, 157 HURT
MOrgues Filled With Disgured COrpses Which Attempts to
Identify are vain--COrOne Prepares to Investi-
gate Cause of the Fire.

g De The late %o o the H H h o ' myn H. IqquGst rat
IS 40 al o 1t 81 rnrw w INJURED
ptby hire o whom cannot H I o m g is pdt b it fele mau uhee
vi b counted 70 Dyr m h % % o ~ There
h wives 70 h m parents hk of los
n ON n fdH lott o n ,grn& dis
in arc O AT OF mt
BY ord O Coroner T e arm pI % Hg poll gua
person write i o WI n @ t kp thea
~ ding int h @ con nh in WI vi by he po o ne flames Details police fire
UNIDENTIFIED
100 De- - lis o dph o "a " a epI ep i'll the e o m f
d ages o the f d from b p years numb o % f h tn isl
VIZ For several o the girl % ~ lent t given was color bit mof shoe e ar tm
H men td s a a ldTi ion m
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Jumps From window.

Daniel Phelan jumped into the alley
through Il window and was killed
Another workman is reported burned
The building was soon a mass OF
flames.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31

rush was over tried 10 get the pre-
late to leave. but he would not
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Combine to Cause An
other Panic at
Chicago.
AT LEATHER FACTORY
Man Leaps FromFourth
Story and is
Killed.

Chicago. Dee. 31.-An explosion oc-
curred today on the fourth floor of
the United States Leather companN's
factory. Twenty to thirty men were
at work at the time.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Davenport victim.

d. {. james. of Davenport. was to-
day identified among the dead He
was travelling salesman. and his
home was in the Andersen flats on
West Third street
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
1900 In House.

The house was crowded. 1,2OO per-
sons. it is estimated, mostly women
and children, being present to witness
IL performance of Blue Beard" which
has been running there since the open
ing.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31

The fire broke out i'm the flies of the
stage. presumably from Il defect in the
electrical display. In an instant the
draperies and flimsy stage settings ha6
burst into flames. The actors and
actresses ran wildly about the stage,
as the audience fought and jammed its
way to the front doors. In short
apparently mass of flames, and smoke
was issuing in clouds from the front
of the house. 4 dozen women and a
number Of men with faces and hands
fearfully burned We're soon taken into
a neighboring drug store. where the
worst injured were hastily attended
to.
Women and Children in the Rush.
Women and children We're piling out
of the doors, but the flames apparent
ly gained rapidly, and it was con
time the interior of the .theater was
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31

Mort Freer. wire chief for the Cen
tral Union Telephone company. WAS
also Il passenger ON the noon Rock
island train, going in response TO the
distressing announcement that his
mother. Mrs. Frank \. Freer. wife of
the postmaster at Galesburg. and his
sister, Mrs. Henry. had perished i'll the
fire. Capt. Freer. who is well-known
here. left Galesburg last night for
Chicaon.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Mrs. E. c. Hart Seriously Injured.

Mrs. Nellie Hart. wife of Emerson
{. Hart. 1910 Twenty-tirst street. was
among the seriously injured. The was
removed to the Home hospital. She
attended the theatre i'm company with
her cousin. Mrs. Fred Smith. who was
killed. Mr.. Hart. accompanied by II.
Il. Hubbard. left at noon for Chicago.
Several telegramS were received 10y
Mr.. Hart before his departure. but he
was unable to gain the real extent of
his NNifp'S iDiuripS
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31
Victims of IrOquOis
Fire From
Here.
HART INJURED
Davenport Man Killed
---SeVera1 Lose
Relatives.

There were heartaches among
Rock Island people having relatives
and friends in Chicago last night when
the news of the appalling tragedy at
the Iroquois theatre was chronicled
through The Argus and later by Win
dow bulletins.
Scarcely day passes that number
of persons do not 90 from here TO
Chicago. and ii was not until the
morning papers brought the list of
the dead. injured and missing hat the
anxious ones here were given facts
concerning those near To them.