The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-31
ACTORS STORIES
Eddie Foy, the Last to Escape, Acted
Heroically. : 1.t.

. Chicago, Dec. 31.-Graphic accounts
of the catastrophe as seen from the
stage are given by the members of the
theatrical company, being on the first
floor, who had little difficulty in reach
ing the street alth1 their situation e 19,a
speed with which the flames swept
thru the mass of scenery in the flies
and on the stage.
Eddie Foy, principal comedian in
the play, was one Of the last to escape.
He got out thru a rear door after he
had assisted the women members Of
the company to safety.
Mr. Foy attributed the extent Of the
catastrophe to the failure of the fire.
proof curtain to work properly.
1.-The simple fact" he said, "that
the curtain did not descend entirely
was what saved the lives of the COM
pany altho it caused such a horrible
catastrophe in the front of the house,
Herbert CawthOrn's Part.
Herbert Cawthorn, a member Of the
cast, assisted many of the chorus girls
from the stage exits in the panic. After
being driven from the building he
ing room, but both times was driven
back by the f1remen, who feared he
would be overcome by smoke.
There were at least 500 persons be-
hind the scenes when the fire started
I assisted many of the chorus girls
from the theater, and some of them
were only partially attired. 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"
Tried to Extinguish Fire.
John e. Farrell, the stage e1ectri-
clan, was one of the heroes of the fire.
He was the first to discover the blaze
when it was a little tongue of flame
running up the canvas border of the
feet above the stage and sought to ex-
tinguish 1t with his hands. He beat
helplessly until his hands were badly
| burned and the fire had run up the
| canvas border into the flies
AS the frightened actors and ac-
tresses rushed in body off the stage
some, Of them attempted to leap into
the orchestra pit, which would in all
| Then stage manager Cummings ran in
front of them.
'I'll kill the first one that tries to
pass me- he shouted, and the mem
bers of the company shrank back.
With the aid Of Eddie Foy and Far
re1l the members Of the company were
hustled from the rear of the theatel
| into the alley.
Panic Among the Girls.
I Penned below the stage, running
about crazed by the panic overhead
were fifty supernumeraries and mem.
bers Of the ballet. They were shut of
from exit by the crowd wedged in the
stage stairway They were saved by
James J. Hamilton, a trunk handler a
the theater, who led the way to thu
coal hole in the rear of the building
broke off the cover with his bare fists
and stood guard until all had left thu
4 basement. Thru this narrow hole h<
lifted men and women clad in thei
stage costumes, wearing helmets
tights and one tsupe" who insisted
upon carrying his spear with him, un
til Hamilton threatened to brain hin
with 1t unless he dropped it.
Actors Jump From Fire Escapes.
.tYhe fire suddenly burst out OF tn,
back windows Of the theater ant
threw a glare of light into our store,
said Edward Funk, an employe O
Cameron, Amberg & Co. "The EN-
: ployes Of the theater were unable t,
get out fast enough to prevent
panic. I saw five women, one afte
another. jump from the third floo
fire escape. All were injured and on,
Il was killed instantly. For few see
onds the flames relaxed, and it seemed
that the fire had been either smoth
cred or placed under control, but the,