davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
INDEPENDENT TESTIMONY
Evidence from the Audience Contra
xlinfss- -S;fonios, ..nf Stana Eollr -

Evidence from the Audience Contra
diets Stories of Stage Folk.
atrical s. people are practically
a unit In declaring that the fire
started with an explosion, and in this
of people in the audience. who de-
clare that they saw the fire creeping
along the edge Of the curtain for sew
eral minutes before the explosion took
place. fl. s.s3s+ssss
Miss Anna Woodward, who occu-
pied a seat in the second balcony,
gave strong evidence on this point.
She said: gs
t was in the second balcony and plainly
saw the fire. I am a large woman, weigh
ing close to 1SO pounds, and I made up
my mind that If there was going to be
a panic it would be wise for. me to beat
it to the street. left my seat in the ball
cony went down the stairs to the first
balcony, and from there started to pass
out thru the very door In which so many
| people were killed a. few minutes laters q
! Door=Was Closed. egt-
The door was closed, and man stand
| ing on the outside refused to open 1t SO
that could pass out. Whether he was
an employe of the theater or not l don't
know, but he had evidently determined
that no one should leave the theater, and
| in so doing started panic.
I was leaving quietly up to this time.
but when he refused to allow me to pass
out peaceably / determined to get out il
l had to make all sorts of noise went
along the balcony about ten feet to q
| glass partition and smashed it with tho
point Of my umbrella. I went out ant
| down the stairs. When was about hal
| way down heard the roar of the crowt
as it came after me, and hurried with al
! the speed had. They overlook me. how
4 ever, knocked me down, and but for thu
fact that was close to the door thinl
my chance Of life would have been almos
nothing. AS it was, think must hav
walked the last ten feet Of my passag
to the exit on the bodies Of those who ha.
fallen.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01

west side Of the theater and this created
a strong draft. The draft blew the cur
tain out toward the audience. This held
the curtain so tightly that all attempts
to lower it further were fruitless. At
tempts were made by numerous persons
to pull the curtain down by hand, but
without success. From all the information
we have been able to gather thus far, 1t
seems to me as tho the fault in creating
the draft which threw the audience Into
a panic by forcing the flames out over
their heads was due far more to the
action Of the theatrical people In opening
the door at the rear Of the theater than
by the audience opening the doors IN
front The management Of the theater,
1 believe, claims that it was the action
of the audience that made the draft which
was the primary cause of71the disaster.
may be wrong, but from the evidence
now at hand I.think 1t will be shown that
it was the action of the stage hands or
members of the company instead OF any
thing done by the audience in its attempt
to escape.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
MONEY FOR SUFFERERS
Sir Thomas Upton Offers 1000
Subscription List Started.


- Chicago, Jan. Public realization,
Of the horror Of the Iroquois disaster
has led to the opening of a number
of subscription lists to raise funds for
the pressing work Of relief. Sir
Thomas Upton cabled from London
that he stood ready to contribute
$1,000.
President Granger Farwell of the
stock exchange has appointed a COM
mittee of five to receive subscrip-.
tions, and long list of brokerage
houses Immediately pledged them
selves to contribute.
President FarWell said that it would
be wise to get funds pledged even if
no use should be found for the money,
He expressed belief, however, that
much could be accomplished by cash
assistance.
Members of the cast Of "Mr. Blue-
beard, Jr.,'' are waiting instructions
from New York as to their future.
Many of them lost all their clothes
and valuables in the fire.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01

ton, published at Cartagena, shows
clearly that General Reyes and the
government of Colombia are counting
almost entirely upon the nonratif1ca-
ton of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty.
In the interview DR.. Blanco says:
EFF the treaty is passed by the con-
gress of the United States, Colombia
will have to choose between the res
ignation Of weak people or the sac
rifice of heroic people. We. have
nothing to hope for from the atti-
tude of other powers. 1t is no exag-
geration to say that we: are entirely
alone in this matter"
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
CITY COUNCIL INVESTIGATES
Plans Make the Place Look Like Rat
Trap.

Chicago, Jan. Twelve mem
bers of city council yester-
day inspected the theater, and
after doing so returned to the city hall
and called on the building department
They asked to see the plans of the
theater. and Mr.. Stanhope produced
them.
How about sprinklers?" demanded
Alderman Jones, who was one of the
investigating committee.
."The way the theater is built, they
can be left out" Mr.. Stanhope replied.
rapidly that no sprinkler system would
have ayailed anything" s:.-s 80
+ Exits Not Marked. Z. ,ssa {,
Alderman Jones then remarked
that the ordinance requires all exits
to be marked.
.aThat will be looked into" Mr..
stanhope said. Remember, however,
that the lights were out and that
many of the people were killed in
their seats"
Pointing to the diagram Of the the
alter, Alderman Herman said:
Here is a passageWay on the south
side of the first balcony which looks
as tho titled to a stairway. But in
the darkness the people scrambling
thru it were caught like rats in a
trap They could not get either way.
The confusion of exits was such that
no one could find his way in the dark.
IF those things are considered exits,
I don't know what constitutes an exit
that would be of any use.' 5
1 Could Not Get Out.
Mr.. Stanhope told the alderman
4 that he had made an inspection of
the building, and that structurally it
was good,
| aYou cannot convince me-" de-
clared Alderman Herman, IF you talk
for hundred years, that people could
get out of that place. I do not care
what they call the exits, they did not
work There were not enough of
them open and the people could not
get out. These plans show aisles at
the end of the first floor, but we were
over there: and saw the seats run bang
up against the railing, leaving no
aisle at all. Now, what I want, to
know is. did these people in building
this theater live up to the plans they
a submitted to the city building de-
partment? Here there seemed to be
ample exits on paper, but number
l!,of friends of mine got badly scorched
just the same"
} ION the first floor they got out, >
said Mr.. Stanhope.
. my friends were on the first floor
but they got burns on their backs
. just the same,'' Alderman Herman re-
Joined. 81
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
C0L0MBEI B in
PANAMA VILLAGE
q. S. CRUISER OLYMPIA SENT TO
INVESTIGATE.
Bogota Government Attempting to
Secure Support from lndians-Pro-
posal to Change Constitution Meets
with Disfavor-Only Hope Left to
COlOmbians Is That Congress Will
Reject Panama Treaty.

Colon, Jan. News is anxiously
awaited from the United States gun
boat Castine, which was dispatched
with the cruiser Olympia to investi-
gate the report brought here on
Wednesday of Colombian troops hav-
ing landed at Cart, a village near the
Island of Pines, in Panama territory,
Dec. FL, and conferred with the Indian
chief, Inanuquina, who afterward was
taken aboard a vessel and, 1T is
thought, conveyed to Cartagena.
Chief Inanuquina is regarded here
as a sympathizer with Colombia, be-
cause he was made a Colonel In the
Colombian army during visit to 30
gotta. He speaks English, and is said
to have 5000 or more Indian follow
ers.
Admiral Coghlan did not accom-
pany the Olympia, but transferred his
flag to the Mayfower, which is the
only warship in Colon harbor to-day.
The republic of Panama evidently
has reliable sympathizers turnout the
San Bias district Governo Or Mele a3ese
favor Panama, but that their chiefs
are unwilling to allow any persons be-
sides their own tribes to cross their
territory. Governor Melendez does
not believe Chief Inanuquina will al
low Colombian troops to cross his
land.
on the border of Panama, parties in
sympathy with the new republic are
closely watching every movement OF
the Colombian troops IN that VICINITY
President Marroquin's Proposals.
! President Marroquin and his cabi
/ net at Bogota are evidently fearing
/ the possibility of losing their grip or
/ the Colombian people. Documents .s
4 sued by them under date of Dec.
/ contain proposals for the municipali
q ties to hold plebiscites as to whether
the constitution will be changed, de-
4 centralizing Bogota's powers ant
4 greatly increasing the powers OF mu
inequalities ana departmental govern
ment5.
I'll Porvenir of Cartagena, the lead
ing newspaper on the Central Amerl
!. can Atlantic coast, has started tn
discussion of the proposed measure
which shows that the people of Co
lombia are thinking far more Of tn
Il dangers in regard to the situation
= than of any efforts to take militar
i steps against Panama.
Interior Peace Threatened.
The municipality of Cartagen
5 passed resolutions that, first, consid
l ering the countrys greatest need ]
interior peace, anu, oeGoHu, lite'. -,
abolishing of the constitution woul
inevitably bring on agitation agains
). national peace and concord. and dis
! cussing the constitution would endaI
: per its entirety and its cardinal prir
ciples, and, third, that a change
!. the constitution would establish
!, dangerous precedent, it was resolve
Z that administrative decentralizatio
= be obtained thru legislation, but witt
Z out changing the constitution.
IS Have Nothing to Hope For.
An interview with DR.. Antonio
! 4 Blanco, one of the Colombia comlni
: tsioners who recently visited Washing
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
Vim. Mclaughlin succumbs.

Chicago, Jan. 1.-Surrounded by
friends and relatives William Me-
Laughlin, nephew Of DR.. F. w. Cum
saulus is, dead at the Presbyterian hos
pital, as result of the injuries he sus-
tanned at the theater fire. He came to
Chicago from Buenos Aires, South
America to attend the wedding of Miss
Martha Gunsaulus, daughter Of DIR.
Gunsaulus, and Henry III. Schueler
which was to have been celebrated at
the .Gunsaulus home this evening. The
cards summoning guests to the we'd
ding were recalled and the wedding
held in the afternoon.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
New York. to Investigate.

New York, Jan. Stirred by the
Chicago theater horror, the author
tiles Of this city are about to insti-
tute a thoro investigation of all
amusement places in order to most
thoroly guard against a similar hap
pening However, the managers of
all the leading theaters declare that
they already have taken every means
for insuring the safety of their
patrons.
Nicholas j. Hayes, who to-day be-
comes fire commissioner, announced
that his first official act will be to
order an investigation of all the the
Or not they are SO constructed and
so equipped as to safeguard human
life in case of fire or other causes OF
panic.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
"U, Honor Man a Victim.

Chicago, Jan. 1.--Walter B. Zeisler,
one Of the first victims to be identified,
was a well-known student at the Uni-
yersity of Chicago. Just two weeks
ago he was elected to the Phi Beta
Kappa fraternity, the highest honor
for scholarship. His father, DR.. Jo-
seph Zeisler, is connected with Rush
Medical college, and the pianist, Mrs.
Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler, is his aunt.
DR.. and Mrs. Zeisler left New York
Wednesday afternoon, and only
learned of their sons death yester-
day, when they arrived. DR.. Zeisle1
is almost crazed with grief over his
sons death.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01

H. Jenner-F'ust, captain of the first
Cambridge cricket eleven that played
against Oxford, is still living at the
age of 81 years. The match was
played in 1925, and he is the sole sur
vivor of the players OH both sides.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
INQUIRY COMMENCED
States Attorney Declares Stage Hands
We're to Blame.

Chicago, Jan. IA preliminary ses-
sion of the coroner's jury was held last
night to start the inquiry into the
cause Of the calamity.
William G.. Sellers, the fireman en-
ployed at the theater. was the first
witness. He said he did not know how
the fire began, but added that he saw
1t shortly after it broke out. He threw
extinguishers on the blaze. but with
out effect. He tried to pull down the
drop curtain or to tear loose that por-
tion Of it which was blazing, but with
out success. The fire then spread with
such rapidity that he was unable to-
do more.
Inspection of Theater.
The jury went to the stage and
Deputy Coroner Buckley pointed out
the spot where the fire was discovered.
The seats in the first rows on the first
floor were burned, but back of that
the orchestra chairs We're in good
condition.
On the first balcony the plush COW
ering of the seats was found to be
burned on every seat from wall to
wall and from the front row of the
balcony to- the last.
At the north end Of the building,
the iron doors leading to the lire es-
capes were closed and locked. The
inner doors were found to be so close
to the steel shutters Lnat tney coulo
not be opened with the shutters fas-
tened. This exit is not Sufficiently
high for an ordinary sized man tc
walk thru without STOPPING.
On the top gallery, the balcony raj
was bent in several places, where i
lis said that a number of spectators
had jumped to the lower floor.
AT the conclusion of the Inspector
OF the theater it was decided to con
tinue the Inquest until next Thursda.
morning at 8 o'clock.
Managers Story Denied.
Assistant States Attorney a. A
Heer, who was present, said:
~; 1T seems agreed the asbestos curtain
was dropped, but 1t went only to With
ten or fifteen feet Of the stage floor. Eco
pls the stage opened the door leadin
he stage into the street on "a
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01

He lays the catastrophe to the fact
that the people were disobeying Gods
wishes in going to a theater, and that
the divine hand showed Its feelings
in this awful manner. ~
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
Mother and Children Dead.
Special to The Journal.

Special TO IIe JUUiI1t' -l.@- .
Red Wing, Mimi, Jan. &c. H.
Myer has received a telegram that
Mrs. Edward Schreimer, wife Of his
cousin, and her children persisted in
the Chicago fire.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
France Expresses Sympathy.

washington, Jan. 1.-The French
ambassador has received a cablegram
from President Loubet asking him to
express to President Roosevelt his
sorrow over the Chicago disaster.
This the ambassador has done.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01
nc, CURE 4 COLD IN ONE DAY

Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All
drmgeists refund the money IL It fails to cure.
.. ~. Groves signature II on each box. 26c.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-01

All the seven Islands of Hawaii are connected
By wireless telegraphy. s. q
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22
AGAINST STRIKES.
Frank Buchanan Says Labor Troubles
Should be Settled Peacefully.

President Frank Buchanan Of the
Structural Iron and Bridge Workers
union, in his address last evening be-
fore the local union. said It was the
duty Of labor representatives TO bring
about desirable conditions for the men
without involving them In strikes, and
men who are securing results with
out disturbances are the great men In
the labor field today.
Mr.. Buchanan. In referring to Parks,
now In Sing Sing, said that his case
had been exaggerated. and there Is less
dishonesty In labor unions than In most
other business organizations. He
claimed that paid spies were eptered
into labor unions and leaders hired TO
nislead their constituents by employers
for business purposes. Mr.. Buchanan
hoped the day would come when men
would vote for members OF the leglsla-
ture and for judges who would regard
the interests Of the laborIng man. and
II the latter only knew how to use his
power he would get what he wanted
without striking.
The freedom OF disOrgani2ed labor
10 lHc iie'uonl 10 NoIh ioi sNdtNdllun
wages and under any conditions em-
ployers might impose. The speaker
characterized Bar and Ministerial asso-
Citations as nothing less than unions,
and said he could not understand why
business men should go into Citizens
alliance movements when their pros
perlty depended so much on the pur-
chasing power OF the wage Garner
Short talks from local labor officials
followed Mr. Buchanan's address. The
visitors remarks were very well recey-
ed.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22
PIONEER AND CANNON.
''~'' q suggested for Proposed New
STAKE on the Southwest

a. s'D q Of the Priesthood residing in
T ~ Fourth, Fifth, sixth. seventh
rM'y'nf'O Twenty.sIxth, Thlrtletb,
pl.s. s.seoond' Cannon, Brighton and
n , ~ Green wards, met last nlaht
Io,s '"e Assembly hall and took stems
stake "e'''Sa'Ion OK a new
pre,Ia.mn,e meeting was presided ovar ~,
Inc u"n, Francis NJ. Lyman who ,e a,t D sy
Object y lRrellmlnarles, explained ShU, @i ,Ss
lhcs S ,, ,ne gathering and inyl, i"l
men, II,shio0 to nominate 60 choice
stake CrSsn Tor official positions IN y ,Se
brtssn,sSS a,nlzation The meeting ,b ,"e
dvhom w Se names OF II persons ali
IcsItIoS , sere sustained for whstsosv ~"
me ns stsy might be called to mi. '''
lilies ' ,sSe was discussed ana ma PHO TO-
gsisd. 'scf and Cannon" s, "u
X the any night all the saints pss,a,u on
.s, ssmSIy Hall to vote Sou nnon meet ,st IN
SrsaistIossn,iSsd and after singing sp' a pni
wv" 'n' meeting adjourned. anu
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22
COULDN'T HAVE THE HORSES.

Much Of George Washlngton's firm
strength OF character was due TO his
splendid ancestry, as the following lit
tie anecdote will testify.
While accommodating In Westmore-
land county. Virginia, one Of Gen
Washlngton's officers CHANGED upon a
fine team OF horses driven before "a
pillow by burly slave. Finer animals
he had never seen. When his eyes had
feasted on their beauty, he cried to the
driver
Hello, good fellow! must have
those horses, They are just such ami
mails as have been looking for"
The black man grinned. rolled up the
whites Of his eyes, put the lash TO the
horses tanks and turned up another
furrow In the rich soil. The officer
waited until he had finished the row
then, throwing back his cavalier cloak,
the ensign Of rank dazzled the slaves
eyes
Better see msssl Better see mis-.
SIS" he cried, waving his hand to the
south. whore above the cedar growth
rose the towers Of a fine old Virginia
mansion. The officer turned up the
carriage road and soon was rapping
the great brass knocker Of the front
door. Duck the door swung upon its
pondcrous hinges, and a grave majes-
tic-looking woman confronted the WIS.,
itor with an air Of inquiry.
Madame" said the officer. dofIing
his cap and overcome by her dignity,
II have come to claim your horses in
the name of the government"
MY hOrses?' said she, bending upon
him a pair Of eyes born TO command.
Sir, YOU cannot have them. My crops
are out, and | need my horses In the
field"
II am sorry" said the officer, but I
must have them, madam. Such are the
orders Of my chief"
your chief? Who IA your chief,
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22
Final Session Under Present Con.
ditions Held In Memorial
Hall Last Night
VERY INTERESTING STATISTICS
Usual Department Work Carried 0ut
Visit TO the Ogden
Convention.

on account OF the delay in organizing
the new stakes, another Union meeting
OF the Salt Lake stake was held last
night, and quite literally attended, q
schools, and IA members OF the board
answering to roll call
The meeting was called to order by
Supt Burrows at the usual hour In
room 80 OF the b. Y. memorial build
ing. opened by singing, To-day"
Prayer was offered by Assistant Super.
lntendent Robert B. 4. Taylor followed
by singing, Love at Home
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Supt. Burrows reported the result OF
the November preparation and attend
ance test as follows:
Teachers, preparation, S7lz per cent;
attendance 7jA per cent. Theological,
preparation. 40 SS-lOo per cent; attend
ance. 52i5 per cent, Second lntermedl-
ate, preparation, 5ih per cent; attend
ance, GSis per cent.
He also furnished a synopsis OF the
1903 historical and statistical report
with a comparison with the preceding
year as follows. Sessions held, 2,OIO, in
crease over preceding year, us. Officers
and teachers enrolled, 1,l02: increase,
1O5; average attendance, Sl2 Increase.
43. Male pupils enrolled, 1888, Increase
so. Female pupils enrolled, 1927; in
crease, 50. Total pupils enrolled, 1912;
increase, 1893, Average attendance, 5,i23;
decrease, 1892; stake board members, IS;
decrease, /. Total officers, teachers and
members OF stake board. 1882 increase
1888. Pupils In Primary and Kindergar-
ten departments, 3,sS2; increase o.
First Intermediate, 1874; increase, 81
Second Intermediate, 1906 increase,
li3; Theological, 2,l90; decrease, l62.
Thirty-seven schools hold the prelim-
mary prayer meeting EIghty-seVen
per cent OF the officers and teachers In
20 schools observe the Word Of Wis
dom, while 70 per cent Of the pupils Of
20 schools do likewise; ninety-siy per
cent officers and teachers OF 81 schools
pay their tithlng. Twenty-Five schools
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22
DIED IN JAIL.
Allen Miller, Colored vagrant, Vic.
tim Of Blood Poisoning.

Allen Miller, colored man, died at
the city Jail last night from blood pois-
oning, II Is believed, Some time ago
Miller was arrested on the charge OF
yagrancy He was convicted and sem
fenced to 80 days in jail. Last Thurs
day he was taken very III and was re-
moved TO the Holy Cross hospital. Yes.
terday word was received from the hos
pltal that the man was shamming. that
he was not sick and should be returned
TO the Jail Back to the jail he was
sent, and DR.. Wilcox was summoned,
The latter prescribed for the man, but
the medicine did him no good and he
died, The man was 26 years OF age and
had no relatives here so far as known
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22
OGDEN CONVENTION.

supt. Burrows gave a complete re-
port OF the boards visit TO Ogden the
day previous, the occasion OF the dis
trlct convention of Weber, Boxelder.
Morgan and Summit stakes, and which
proved grand success In all particu-
lars. The report indicated profitable
as well as a most pleasant visit, ana
the Sunday school cause prospecting In
the stakes mentioned.
Supts. G. S. McAlllster and Daniel
j. Lang reported very gratifying re-
suits from the parents conventions re-
Gently held In their wards,
The departments reassembled at 9'O5
and the meeting closed, after singing,
Scatter Seeds Of Kindness" and ben
ediction by Assistant Supt. Willard c.
Burton.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-22

And did Washington order his officer
to return and make his mother give UP
her horses? No; he listened TO the re-
port in silence; then, with on. Of his
rare smiles, he bowed his head.--st.
Nicholas Magazine.