The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-31

DUE
TO The PANIC
Illnesses sax NEARLY ALL
NIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED.
Wild Rush of People in Balconies to
the Stairs Is Responsible for Greater
Number OF Fatalities-He
Scenes In and About Theater.
Chicago, Dec. 31.-Witnesses of the
fire said that nearly, if not quite all
the persons killed might have been
saved if the audience had not become
panic-stricken. The greater number
of those killed in the balconies were
crushed in the jam caused by the mad
rush for the stairs.
William A. Brady, the well-known
New York theatrical manager, who
was in the audience at the time the
fire started, said:
Il was standing near the door when,
looking up, I saw that the calcium
light apparatus was out of order. Some
one came on the stage and assured
the audience that there was no danger,
and for them to keep their seats. Then
a ballet dancer came on and per
formed, but in another second. the
whole balcony. seemed to be in flames.
Every one down stairs rushed for the
doors, and as far as know no one in
that part of the house was killed. 1t
was upstairs where the smoke was
blown by the strong draft that came
perished before they realized what
had happened.
-'Such a panic as followed the first
cry of fire I have never seen. The
stairways and exits became jammed
with fighting humanity in a moment,
and the shrieks and means of the poor
people cut off from all escape was the
most awful thing imaginable.
with two companions I tried to
reach the balcony, but we were driven
back by the smoke, and were unable
to accomplish anything until the fire.
men had extinguished the flames. Hun
dreds of persons Joined the rescuers,
and from one Of the entrances to the
balcony we removed $50 bodies by ac-
tual count. They were jammed and
twisted together in all shapes. Many
stripped almost naked in their mad
efforts to escape from that living tomb.
If the audience had not become panic
stricken I am sure not more than fifty
persons would have been killed or in
jured, as all the bodies I helped to
remove from the place were those OF
persons who had been killed in the
horrible JAM
Alexander H, Revell, whose little
10, Nor ysaf Wi
friend, went in charge of a, maid to
see the performance, five minutes
after the fire started heard of it in
his store. He called a carriage and
drove madly to the burning theater:
BY the greatest good fortune one OF
the first persons he encountered was
the hysterical maid, who informed
him tl1at the two children had been
saved without injury. Mr.. Revel1 then
hastened into the theater and par
ticipated in the rescue.
"I worked in the upper balconies, .
said he "The sight of those poor
women and their little children, with
clenched frsts. raised as if trying to
beat their way to safety and stricken
down in the. attempt, IS too terrible
to Gescribe." ,~ -
Tranple on yemen and Children. 9
-.
ing the injured Srom the theater to
the hospital, said that many of the
deaths were caused by falling from
the balcony steps in the efforts Of the
crowd to reacI the exit.
"The first evidence of the fire." he
said, was 4 thin column of smoke
| which iioateG from the stage. This
was followed by a sheet of flame
which mounted to the ceiling and en-
velored the hangings about the front
of the stage. The people in the par
| quet started for the door in an or
derby manner. The people on the
spectators arose to their feet and
shouted for order, and did everything
ir. their power to- prevent a panic
| Then somebody screamed, and every.
body ran for the doors. I was knocked
! down twice by men who seemed te
| have lost their minds. Men sprane
to the stairs apparently regardless Of
the women ard children who were
| going down at .he time. Many WON.
in this way who might have beer
saved had they not been pushed tt
one side by men, who thought O.
nothing bur themselves"
William Fl. Eeyer, an usher in thu
| first balcony. said:
| MY balcony was crowded and there
| We're a number of people standing
when the fire broke out. It all came
so suddenly that I barely had timt
to oren the fire exits before the audi
| tOrium was in flames. I tried to quie
the crowd, but it was no use. Tn.
worcen screamed and the men Tough
to ge1 to ..he doors, tranpling OF
women and children. If they hat
been quiet everybody could have go
out of my balcony"
Women Saved by Plank Bridge.
George H. Elliott, secretary of tn
Ogden Gas company, was In a build
ing directly opposite from the thea
smoke and went down to ascertain it
cause. When he reached the stree
4 women already were dropping int
the alley, and ;. Elliott immediatel
rushed for a ladder in an effort t
save as many as possible.
No ladder was available and tn
some pianks together and throw ther
across to the affrighted women on tn
platforms, with instructions to p1ac
the end firmly on the iron framework
Before this could be done fear
fun loss of time ensued, the wome
were being pushed every instant int
the alley, and by. the time the bridg
was constructed but few remained t
take advantage of it. However, abou
two dozen, it is believed by Mr.. ri
liott, made their way across this nar
row causeWay.
Bishop F,allows, who happened t
be passing the theater, made his wa
thru the darkness, which was inter
sified by the volume Of smoke ths
filled the auditorium to the top of tn