davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
GREAT THEATER DISASTERS OF The PAST.

aster in the United States occurred at
the Brooklyn theater during the last
act of the last scene of "The Two Or
phans," of which Kate Claxton was the
star. She was the first to discover the
fame, but made no sign to alarm the
audience The fire was quickly dis
cerned, however, and the panic began.
Miss Claxton and two others, joining
hands at the front of the stage, be
tween the spectators and the fire,
begged for order, and a leisurely exodus
began, but a robust man started the
stampede, and the terrible loss of life
resulted. Eddie Foy's vain appeal for
order in the Iroquois disaster is
parallel. 1t was for cowardice, not for
heroism, that the Opera Comique fire
in Paris was noted. Strong men
knocked down and trampled on women
and children in the frantic rush for
the exits. The official list of dead
in this disaster was put at rs, but many
missing were never accounted for, and
it is possible that scores of bodies were
completely charred in the ruins and
never found.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
Fire Breaks Out During the
Performance and Many
Hundreds Perish.
LIVES CRUSHED OUT IN The FRENzED ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
Almost Six Hundred Souls Sacrificed i'm the Appalling
Catastrophe = Unfortunate Victims Mostly
Women and Little Children.

on the bottom of the piles where fire
and smoke could not reach them.
Awful Scenes.
SO fercely the fire burned during the
short time which hundreds of lives
were sacrificed that the velvet cushions
OF the balcony seats were burned bare
The crowds fought SO in their efforts
to escape that they tore away the iron
ratings of the balconies, leaping upon
the people below.
From $3.50 o'clock, when the alarm
was sent in, to 1880 o'clock, when the
doors of the Quilted theater were closed,
the charred, torn and blistered bodies
were carried from the building at the
rate OF four minute Many blankets
filed with fragments OF human bodies
were taken from the building.
Like Rats in a Trap.
Most grewsome were the sights in
the upper balcony of the burned thea
ter, when the police and firemen began
removing the bodies. There $50 per-
sons, caught like rats in a trap, had
died in fearful agony. Along the rail
guarding the edge of the pit were
stacked the bodies of the hapless vic
tins, their limbs drawn and faces set.
Indications in the highest balcony were
that in the last few seconds of the
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

having been stripped of their clothing
in the rush for safety. The heat Of the
fire and the water thrown in extinguish-
ing it combined to make the bodies
Shiny and most difficult to handle.
There was less difficulty after thou
sand blankets had been brought from
the store of Marshal Field e. Co., half
a block away. Firemen and spectators
worked together in removing the last
200 bodies, which were taken from the
building in less than an hour. AS fast
as the blanketed forms were taken to
the street doctors examined them. The
dead were ordered taken away, the liv-
ing hurried to the temporary hospitals
in adjacent buildings.
Bodies Piled on Sidewalk.
When the dead became SO numerous
that the ambulances could not carry
them away as fast as taken to the street
it was the first thought of the rescuers
to carry the bodies to the shelter OF ad-
iacent business places. Twenty dead
were carried into Thompson's restau-
rant, east of the theater. There they
were piled beneath tables and covered
with tarpaulins and blankets from the
fire wagons. The crush of bodies final
ly became so great that sheltering them
was impossible. Wrapped in blankets,
they were piled along the sidewalk for
a hundred feet, four narrow lanes divid-
ing the piles and affording passages for
the fremen and police.
TI,a Rurnad Thaa4ar
The Iroquois theater was built at
cost of $450,000. 1t was opened to the
public with its first and only attraction
November Is. Managers Davis and
Powers said Wednesday that there was
but $4,000 insurance on the building.
1t was supposed to be absolutely fire.
proof, and little insurance was consid-
cred necessary
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
LATER NEWS.

A cl~ of fire" at funeral in Chi
| cago created a panic, in which several
peaple were injured.
China prepares to take hand in the
row between Russia and japan.
Samuel Olson instantly killed and
md Frank Divel fatally hurt, his skull
,ushed to sickening mass, is the lat
result of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
background dynamite battles for the
ossession of ore bodies worth thous-
ands of dollars at Butte, Mont.
General James Longstreet, soldier,
statesman and diplomat, and the last
lieutenant general of the confederate
Gordon, died in Gainesville, Ga, from
acute pneumonia.
Z The First National Bank of Storm
n Ike, Iowa, has been closed by direc-
tion of the comptroller of the currency
on evidence of insolvency.
The 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
S. A. Hoveland, residing four miles
east of Randall, Ia, was shot and in
stantly killed by his half brother, u
boy of about his own age.
Princess Matilde, only daughter of
Prince Je- ONE Bonapart, died in Paris
the I'd.
May wheat sold for s735 cents on
the Minneapolis board of trade the
I'd. Dollar wheat is freely predicted.
A band of 100 Fins will leave Fin
land Jan. Is for America. They ex-
poet to settle in Wisconsin and Mime
sofa.
The national convention of the So
cialist party will be held in Chicago
May l.
All the theaters in Chicago were
closed by Mayor Harrison until proper
safeguards against fire were estab-
liShed
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
MINOR NEWS ITEMS.

Chicago democratic leaders will
make determined effort to obtain
the national convention for that city.
Cotton King Brown will erect q
100000 hotel in New Orleans, la,
from his cotton bull clique profits.
Plus x. issued an important docu-
ment, warning the Roman Catholic
laity in Italy from taking part in pol
itics.
Amy Gistrap, who lives in Macon
county, Mo-, is 100 years old, and says
she was never angry in her life.
Ministers Of Lincoln, Neb., adopted
a resolution that the number Of
churches in the state ought to be re-
duced so per cent.
Mayor Jones. Of Toledo, o., has INF
tiated a movement to abolish capital
punishment in Ohio.
The crown prince Of China will
come to the United States next sum.
mer and will witness the Harvard
boat race.
The crew Of the United States
cruiser New York has presented Rev.
John P. Chadwick with a loving cup
as a token of esteem.
Whitechapel crimes are recalled at
New York by the finding of Sarah
Martins mutilated body in an East
river sailors resort.
Count Won Bulow, in a Berlin news
paper interview, declared Germany
has no asnirations in Panama and
will not aid Colombia.
Senator Hanna would rather be
head of the National Civic federation
than president Of the United States,
said Oscar Strauss at a New York
dinner.
Alexander Half, the suspended SUI
perintendent Of foreign mails in the
New York post office, who was to
have been brought to trial before the
federal court for robbing the mails,
killed himself.
An obelisk 20 feet high, built of
concrete, with two embedded tablets
upon opposite sides, now marks the
spot at Old Chitambo. close to Lake
Bankweolo, in Africa, where Living
stone, the explorer, died.
According to the results Of an in
vestigstion made by Prof. w. e.
Thomas, of Columbia, the medium age
of graduates from IL representative
colleges from 1890 to 1900 was %
years and five months, while from
1850 to 1860 it was % years and nine
months.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07


Millionaire Isaac Stephenson, or Ma
rinette, gave each Of his eight children
$4,000 as Christmas gift and distrib-
uted $4,000 more to grandchildren and
other relatives.
Mrs. Mutter, mother OF James Nut
ter, of the board of public works, one
Of the oldest women in the state, aged
101 years, fell at her home in Racine
and broke her arm.
Mrs. Mary Kavarit, aged 20, lost he1
way in Oconto and persisted in the
binding storm. Heir body was found
by her son.
State Bank Examiner M. G. Bergh
has approved the articles of incorpora-
ton of the Pittsville SKATE bank, of the
village of Pittsville, Wood county.
James Howard JenkinS, one of the
four men who first gave prominence to
the immortal war song, John Browns
Body" is now president Of national
bank at Oshkosh, Wis.
Edgar Schellenberg, aged 40 years,
2. travelling salesman of Chicago, com
mitted suicide in a Main street hotel
in Kenosha by drinking carbolic acid,
Mrs Calista Chamberlain Elliott died
in Baraboo, aged 81 years. Until short
time before her death she did house
work regularly and read the daily
newspapers.
Violet Sylvester, aged 18, of Oconto,
attending school at GAINESVILLE, heard
chat death by freezing was painless.
"a Of ffn 4rfo
was found in a snowdrift unconscious,
but will recover.
Notices of a reduction in wages OF
an average of ten per cent. were posted
at the Bay View mills of the Illinois
Steel company, in Milwaukee.
Fire caused loss of over 81 900 to
the Ruha Bros. Manufacturing com
pany at Boscobel.
August Everett, Belgian, who left
his native country last May, and who
last week sent $50 to his wife that she
might join him, is dead of pneumonia
at Racine. 1t is feared his wife is. on
her way to this country by this timea
In accordance with a custom he has,
followed many years, A. J. Aikens, pub
Usher of the Evening Wisconsin, gave a
a Mayfower Goldfish dinner at the Mil
waukee club, to some 30 persons, many
of whom, like Mr. Aikens, ere descend
ants of Mayhower families.
Attorney Solomon r. Simon at Mil.
waukee was granted a divorce from
Flora Cook, whom he married in Chi
cago five weeks ago. Judgment was
ordered on the ground of cruel treat
ment
Ole o. Kulstad, aged SIS years, was
found dead in the wood four miles east
of Thorpe, having hung himself. He
disappeared November 2. No reason is
for his act.
Assistant State Veterinarian Clark
killed II head of blooded cattle in Cal
edonia, on a farm owned by Fred Reit-
brock, of Milwaukee. The were aff1ict-
ed with tuberculosis.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
Assets Divided.

The Lindeman-Rusk bank case in
Viroqua has been decided by Judge
Fruit, in the circuit court in La Crosse.
The property in dispute was the assets
of the old Bank of viroqua, in which the
parties to the case were partners,
amounting to $4,000. The court Ge4
cided that $1,000 be set aside for ex-
penses and that the remainder be divid-
ed equally between the Lindemans and
the heirs of the late Gov. Rusk.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

In Chicago Mayor Harrison closed
IS theaters and concert halls because
of imperfections.
The Identification of the unknown
dead reduced the number OF unideEti-
fed Iroquois theater victims at the
various morgues in Chicago to Fl out
of a total of 582. New Years day was
given over to burial of the dead, more
than 100 funerals taking place.
John Alexander Dowie departed
from Zion City on his world trip,
which is expected to take six months.
Frederick Pabst, noted among the
brewers of the United States, died at
his home in Milwaukee, aged 67 years.
Flames destroyed the Louvre hotel
in Chicago and three persons persisted.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
RuIIRt In His Ernfn

Otto Spengler, cashier of the bank OF
Portonville, committed suicide by
shooting himself in the head at the
summer home of his father-in-law, ST.
las Bultard. His body was not discov-
cred until several days afterwards
Spengler was 20 years old. His bust
ness affairs are said to be straight in
all respects.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

A Jersey City IN. J) police captain
says that pickles and other sour edibles
are responsible for large proportion of
the attempts on their lives made by peo-
pie in his district. Pickles will send
anyone insane" he said, eff enough of
them are eaten" The captain went on
to state that there are more suicides in
Germany than any other European ma
ton, and that medical statistics show
the sour food of Germany to be respon-
sible for the suicidal mania. If you
wish to retain your mental balance cease
eating pickles, is the captains ad-
vice.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

From a town in Indiana comes the ex-
citing tale of man who filled his pipe
with tobacco from pocket in which he
had placed some cartridges. OF course,
he got one of the cartridges in the pipe,
the pipe exploded, he was wounded, and
his great-grandchild barely escaped
death. This is only a pipe story, to be
sure, but it teaches that we should care
fully examine our tobacco for high ex-
plosives before using.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Leading sentiment in Russia is that
war with Japan is inevitable. Newspa-
pers say the country should assert itself
and not let little nation dictate to it.
Three more warships left San Fran
cisco to join the feet under Admiral
Glass at Panama.
A diplomat in South America says
Colombia must fight to preserve her in
tegrity, and that the feeling toward the
United States and Panama is growing
more bitter
1t is said that an American warship
sunk the Colombian gunboat General
Pinzon in a naval battle in the Gulf
of Darien.
The Georgia republicans will hold
their state convention il Atlanta on
March %.
In the Iroquois theater disaster in
Chicago 81 women teachers in the city
schools are among the dead and miss
ing.
In Havana Fargo Squiers, eldest son
of the United States minister to Cuba,
accidentally shot and killed himself.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

The New York post Office reports at
least ton of letters addressed by chill
dren to Santa Claus" which had to be
forwarded to the dead letter office at
Washington. This does not mean that
Santa Claus is dead, for from a child's
point of view he is very much alive, but
that the postal authorities could not To-
cate him. 1t is pity that so much child
Ish confidence should be buried in the
dead letter ofice-and there are many
other cities besides New York to hear
from, too.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

struggle for life the agonized people
had crushed forward, intent upon
throwing themselves to the floor below.
Their arms were interlocked and the
muscles set SO hard that much force
was necessary to separate them. In
the end of the gallery nearest the stage
the fire had done it's most awful work.
There were found bodies charred be-
yond the possibility of recognition,
some with shreds of clothing still
clinging to them. A number of the
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

The election of Rev. Edward Everett
Hale as chaplain of the United States
senate is a graceful compliment to a
grand old man and one of the most YER
5atile, prolific and popular of American
writer's. Probably no other American
living has done so much literary work of
uniformly wholesome and elevating
kind as Mr.. Hale has. He is in his eighty
second year and minister of the Uni
tartan church.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

Three persons were seriously injured
near Campbellsport by a runaway team
which overturned the rig, throwing its
occupants out. Farther on the team
collided with a buggy, in which were
Mr.. and Mrs. Dengel, both of whom are
about 20 years old. Mr.. Dengel had
three ribs broken, and his wife is so
injured about the spine that her recov-
cry was doubtful.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

After all Prof. Langley's experiments
In the way of aerial navigation, he has
been outdone by two brothers, Wilbur
and Orville Wright, of Ohio. These two
young men gave a demonstration near
Norfolk, Va, which was a complete sue
cess. Their machine is not balloon,
but operates on the principle of a box
kite. 1t was propelled by gasoline
motors, and it flew under perfect con-
troll in the face of 21-mile breeze.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
WISCONSIN STATE NEWS.
r.nft to the Guard.

Grant Thomas, secretary OF the Wis
consin state board of managers OF the
st. Louis fair, conferred with Adjt.
Gen. G. r. Boardman in Madison re-
garding the question of taking the
Wisconsin national guard of $500 men
to st. Louis for the Wisconsin day
ceremonies, June 20. The adjutant
general said the matter was one for the
officers of the guard to decide. The
Wisconsin state building at st. Louis
is practically completed.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

Twenty years ago Marvin N. Fsnner,
of Westfield, was convicted Of murder
ing John l.. Hesler, of the slime place.
He pleaded not guilty at the time, but
was sentenced to prison for life on cir
cumstantial evidence. Now he has
made confession of his guilt and has
applied to Gov. La Toilette to change
the sentence to murder in the second de-
gree, thus setting him free.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
Denth of Cant. Pnb.t.

Capt. Frederick Pabst, president of
the Pabst Brewing company, died at his
residence in Milwaukee, aged 67 years,
While the members of his family and
his friends knew that he was suffering
from an incurable disease, and that he
could not live more than a few months
.onger, his death came quite suddenly
and Unexpectedly.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

The Mothers club, Of Des Moines, Ia,
has declared that the legend of Santa
Claus and other fairy tales are necessary
for the best development of the child
mind Hurrah for the mothers! There
is enough hard, cold reality, and it istelt
early enough, in all conscience, without
depriving a child of this stimulant of the
youthful imagination. Back to the
dreams of childhcod-back to Des
MOines.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

The farm value of the crops of corn,
wheat, rye, oats, hay, barley, potatoes,
flaXseed, buckwheat and tobacco raised
this year is estimated at 81, 500 900 900 by
the bureau of statistics of the depart
ment of agriculture. To that great sum
may properly be added about $500, 1000, 900
for the value of the cotton crop. This is
an amazing aggregation of quick as
sets" which can be turned into money
whenever it is needed. 1t is a gigantic
pile of commodities. If America is still
in debt to Europe the means with which
to pay the debt are at hand, thanks to a
generous soil and unwearied cultiyators.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
ENW AAAnIa

Paul J. Lewis, receiver in the Henry
Herman bankruptcy case in Milwaukee,
said that when hnal settlement was
made the assets would not be sufficient
to pay the creditors even one per cent
The total assets are under So 900, while
the liabilities were 100000. Herman
is missing.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07
Divorce Granted.

Another sensational chapter to tho
Holmes shooting case was added at APP
pleton when Mrs. Mary E. Holmes
walked into Judge Goodland's court
and asked for divorce from her hus-
band, who is in states prison for an as
sault with intent to kill. The divorce
was granted, and Mrs. Holmes was re-
stored to her former name, Mary e. Wal
tiers. Holmes was her former husbands
coachman.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

A new application of electricity has
been made in France, and now tho power
is actually used for telling trees. .
platinum wire is heated to white heat
by an electric current, and this is simply
pulled through the trunk, which it cuts
like big cheese.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

Senator William A. Clark tolls from
ten to Is hours every day merely for the
Joy of the working. Um-m-m, well, a
man might get some fun out of it il he
had few hundred millions, as Bill has,
and didn't have to do it every time the
alarm clock said Col"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

The kaiser is said to have picked out
Princess Margaret of Connaught as a
wife for the crown prince of Germany.
The prince himself is not enthusiastic
about this choice, as he is already in
love with another" but the prince has
not been consulted in the matter Royal
matches are not directed by such trivial
things as love affairs
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

Possibly the teachers who advocate
phonetic spelling are inspired by their
failure to turn out good spoilers with the
present fad method of teaching that
branch. In the old days of spelling
down" and leaving off head" there were
few complaints.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition
stamp Of the denomination of ten cents
will have a map OF the territory en-
graved on (which will, of course, be
convenient for our foreign visitors when
they get lost
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

Father Chadwick, probably the best
known chaplain the navy has, will re-
tire as soon as the necessary form can
be observed. Secretary Moody has re-
ceived letter from him rendering his
resignation. 1t is the understanding
that when the chaplain puts off the uni
form he will be given an important
charge in New York city. Father Child
wick was chaplain of the battleship
Maine, which was blown up in Havana
harbor February Is, 1898. 1t fell to bis
lot to say the funeral services over as
many of the bodies of the 260 dead as
were found
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

An Iowa man has gone insane be-
cause he could not sell an ear for
SIS 600 Why didn't he raise Iowa corn,
then he could sell all the ears he
wanted.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

There is a cult in Boston that main
tains that speech will eventually become
useless; and when we reflect how much
of it is useless now there seems to be
some basis for the idea.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

A western man claims to have discov-
cred new way of making cigars, straw
being the material used. The common
cabbage leaf of commerce would better
look TO its laurels.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-01-07

planks. Across the little bridge thus
formed were transported the booleS of
80 dead. Twenty injured were also
taken across the chasm. Many OF the
rescuers on this bridge were stage
hands who gave little heed to the drop
Of rs feet which would follow false
step. While in transit across the chasm
the bodies of the dead and injured were
steadied by the use OF rope by the
rescuerS.
Removal of the Bodies.
Coroner Traeger and his two physi-
clans, Joseph Springer and Otto Lewke.
arrived at the fire early. The coroner
took personal charge of the removal Of
the bodies, $50 policemen and 200 fire.
men working under his orders. In their
first efforts to take out the dead, the
rescuing parties had much trouble.
Numbers of the dead were nearly nude,