Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-31
down and trampled under foot as they
fought for life.
Bodies Piled in LAYERS.


sight became so sickening that police
men and firemen. hardened as they are
10 horrible scenes. turned away IN nor
ror The bodies We're in such an mex
tricahle mass, and so tightly were they
damned between the sides of the door
and the walls, that it was impossible
to lift them one by one and carry
them out. The only possible thing to
do was to seize leg or arm or piece
Of clothing and pull with main
strength, dragging several entwned
bodies away together.
Policemen and fremen worked a,
the task with tears running down their
cheeks, and the sobs of other rescuers
could be heard in the street A num-
Der of men were compelled to abandon
the work and seek the open air, while
others, whose nerves had not as vel
been shaken. proceeded with the un-
tangling. AS the bodies We're dragged
out of the water-soaked, blackened
mass of corpses, more horrifying sights
We're disclosed.
There We're women whose clothing
was torn completely from the bodies
above the waist. whose breasts had
been trampled into a pulp and whose
faces had been marked beyond 'ndenti-
fication.
In the auditorium there was no such
number of dead in any one srot, hut
bodies lay in the first and second bal
comics in great numbers.
In some places corpses were piled up
\. IT. \, a 4, nt.r
one had fallen and Others tripped over
the PROSTATE forms. These had dice
as they fell, evidently suffocated by
gas.
Awful Sights in Theater.
Others were bent over backs OF
seats where they had been thrown by
the rush OF people for the doors and
Killed without chance to escape from
their seats. One man was found bent
backwards nearly double, his spinal
column having been fractured by the
rush. A woman was found cut nearly
in two by the back of seat over
which she had been forced. face down
ward. before She could enter the aisle
In the aisies. as they approached the
doors, the bodies hecam. more numer-
Gus. Bodies lay in every attitude
Some We're half naked. with looks o!
agony and terror on their faces.
The faces of dozens of people had
been trampled In by the heels OF
scores of others who rushed over them
In one aisle the body of a man was
found with not vesnge of clothing
flesh. hair or bone remaining above the
hips; nothing but bones. Even the
skull was gone. The upper portion OF
the body had been cut into mincemeat
and carried away by the feet of those
who trampled him.
The skull at late hour had not been
discovered. The clothing on the lower
limbs Is in such condition as to be
hardly recognizable. The theater had
been opened only short time, and all
equipment had not been placed. A fire
escape in the rear of the building was
not up. Small iron balconies to which
the iron ladder was to be attached.
were in place. but the ladder had not
yet been attached.
Escapes Death Traps.
A great number of women ran for
these escape platforms. only to find as
they emerged from the doorway on the
platforms that they We're from thirty to
forty feet from the ground. with fire
behind and death below. Those who
reached the platforms first endeavored
to mold their footing and keep back
the crowd that pressed on them from
the rear. The effort was useless
In few moments the iron Lodges
We're jammed with women who
screamed. fought and tore at each
other like maniacs. This lasted only
short time. for the rush from the in
terror became so violent that many
were crowded off and down to the
granite paved alley below. Others
leaped from the platform, fracturing
legs, arms and skulls. Two were killed
instantly.
George H. Elliott, secretary of the
Ogden Gas Company, was in build
ing opposite the theater across the al
ley, and noticing smoke, Went down TO
ascertain the cause. When he reached
the alley women were dropping to the
pavement Elliott Immediately rushed
for a ladder to save as many as posi-
Bile. No ladder was available. and with
other men he hurriedly dashed some
planks together and threw them across
from his office to the affrighted women
on the platforms with instructions to
place the end firmly on the iron frame
work. Before this could be accom-
plished costly loss of time occurred.
Women were pushed every instant into
the alley. and by the time the bridge
IN IN a
advantage of 1t. About a dozen. ii
is believed by Mr.. Elliott, made their
way across this narrow causeway.
The members of the theatrical COM
pany, being on the first floor. had little
difficulty In reaching the street, al
though their situation was for mo-
ment highly critical. because of the
speed with which the flames swept
thru the mass OF scenery In the flies
and on the stage.
Eddy Foy's Bravery.
Eddie Foy. principal comedian in the
play, was one of the last to escape.
He went out thru a rear door after
assisting the women members of the
company to safety. He went into the
Sherman house in his stage costume
and his face covered with grease paint
in order to secure surgical attendance
for some burns which he had sustained.
In describing the beginning OF the
fire. Foy attributed the extent OF the
catastrophe TO the failure OF the nre-
proof curtain to work properly BE-
canse of this he said, the flames readily
obtained the draft. swept up to the two
balconies, where the loss OF life was
Aorf