Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-04-15
3TORY OF AN ESCAPE
AN INCIDENT OF THE CHICAGO iRO-
oUOlS THEATER HORROR.
%hs Way . Woman and Her Two
Children Were Saved From tho
| murrscane Of Flame and Panic BY
! . Stranger who Was Intoxicated.

mmrrkcMm@ OF Flame ana Panic ~
q Stranger who Was Intoxicated.
All great conflagra tons that are at
tended with loss Of life have MS rule,
their serio comic as well as their tragic
Incidents Many peculiar escapes have
been recorded, but the following story
Of how one woman and her two chill
dren were saved from death in the
awful horror Of the Iroquois theater In
Chicago where so many hundreds per-
tshed In the hurricane Of fame and
panic, rs told by Miss Elizabeth A.
Reed in the Chicago Record Herald
shortly after the fearful tragedy, IL
unique In many ways:
Mrs Henry Stirling, with her two
children, sat In the fateful IroquoIs
aheater on that dreadful afternoon
Tittle Bob was next to the aisle, then
the mother, and Dorothy sat on the
other side. Beyond the siX-year-old
girl there was vacant seat, but little
heed was given to 1t as the spectacular
drama went on and the wondering lit
ile folks looked open eyed upon the
scenes before them.
AT last IN uncertain step came down
the aisle and well dressed man
Iurched into the vacant seat. The cur
tain was up but he was an old theater
gocr. and as the extravaganza was not
entirely new to him he turned to the
child. Her confding blue eyes an
Bwered his appeal for friendship; there
was wonder in the expressive little
face, but no fear, even when he ven
tured to lay caressing hand upon the
golden curls.
Mrs Stirling shrank from his con
Eliminating touch upon Dorothy's head
He saw or felt her loathing and said
=asrokenly, Don't you be 'fraid-ish all
r4eht-alI rlght-sweetish III girl ever
- -mhaw-sweetish IN girl ever l shaw
The gay drama went on, the crowd
eheered, tle children ciapped their
a@aAands. and their merry laughter mia
waed with the applause, but the stran-
wsw still kept bis bleAred eyes upon the
apvely child Every few minutes his
band would stray lovingly over the
sunny head and some expression OF
andearment would fall from his uncer-
Aain lips At last Mrs. Stirling called
the attention of an usher to the pro-
asnged annoyance, and remonstrance
81 was made, but the answer came. You
20 way-lsh MI right-all rlghtsweet-
inh III girl ever | shaw-sweetish III
GIRL ever shaw"
Again tho big hand touched the gold
en- hair, and this time II strayed down
ward aud took the little hand In low
lag clasp. The child looked fearlessly
anto his face and smiled.
The mother grew more and more
nervous. Again mn usher was called
and II complaint made. The slender
young man looked at the big fellow
and concluded that prudence was the
-'better part of valor," so he went to
consult with another about effective
methods OF getting the intruder ont of
hhe house.
The stranger looked at the stage
again: this time he saw tiny fame
xapidiy spreading to the scenery. Ris-
nag instantly, he took little Dorothy In
asAA arms. Stepping beyond the mother
and unheedlng her frightened remon-
STRANGE. he swung the child npon one
shoulder ana with the other hand
caught up little Bob; then with both
SR them pressed closely In hls strong
sans he walked out Of the houss The
6cssbay frightened mother mvolunta-
roy followed him.
This precious instant was the mo-
snent OF salvation. Another minute
another half minute-and II would
have been too late They had nearly
REACHED the entrance when q CRY OF
Ao~gor rang through the house. follow.
ed by screams OF terror and shrieks Of
PAIN.
without further volition OF their
own they were swept into the street.
Wholly dazed by the awful shock Mrs,
Stirling pleaded. "Put them down-put
ahem Town now
mo, thash all right Where do you
want TO goy'
Right up this way to the Ashland
block" she answered. Then the
strange party pushed on through the
crowd which was already rushing
with helping hands TO the scene of the
disaster
Lurching from one side of the walk
TO the other and apparently in con
sstant danger OF falling, he still carried
Ais precious burden safely. Once
within the protecting doors of the
great Ashland block the elevator car
xaed them TO one OF the higher floors,
where Mrs. Stirling rushed into her
husbands Office crying, "Oh. Henry,
The theater Is burning. and this man
mae brought the children outw
Although not half comprehendlng
the horror, the father put his hand In
bis pocket and drew out twenty dol
Ear bill. which no offered with profuse
tAAnks But he and bis money were
alike ignored. With a majestic sweep
OF the hand the drunken hero answer
ed. "Go way--I don't want your mon
ego way-thash oil right-thash the
sweetish III girl ever / shaw-sweefash
III girl ever I shaw" and then be stag
/. ese., q. I 49, -