The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-01
AFTER THE FIRE.

In the face of sudden and terrible
emergencies, like that presented by the
Iroquois Theater disaster in Chicago,
the predominating traits of human
character are instantly excited, and
govern individual actions. We have
not in mind now those unfortunate
creatures who, maddened with terror.
fought for their lives inside the hell
box in which they were gathered. They
are to be forgiven if they forgot every
thing else in their frenzied struggle to
reach the open air and safety. Much
has been written about the ethics of
the mob when thrown into panic, but
it has no ethics; its one thought is es-
cape from danger, no matter at what
cost. Centuries of civilization have
not served to teach the mob altruism.
individuals have been schooled to think
first of others, but the mob remains
the same. A stampede of cattle is
not worse than a stampede of human
beings under certain circumstances.
But it is with reference to the throngs
that came upon the scene after the
disaster that we wish to speak, and
to assert at once that in the main
their actions were such as to show that
the human heart is in the right place
and that human nature. unterrified by
impending disaster. is moved by tend
crest compassion. 1t is true that there
were exceptions to the rule of pity and
good offices. There were some foul
creatures who CLEANED among the dead
and dying for purposes of plumber.
Worse than ghouls, they robbed the
mutI1ated dead and the dying. The
emergency had developed and brought
to the surface their dominating traits.
Lost to every sense of shame and SYM
pathy. they looked upon the calamity
merely as means to the end of filling
their pockets with i'll gotten goods.
They will be execrated forever. Hap
PLY, these exceptions were few in num-
Der, and but served as a foil to make
more prominent the big heartedness of
the masses.
On every side the rescuing people
were eager to render all aid within
their power. There was no thought of
compensation by anybody. Merchants
threw open their stores and offered
whatever of their stocks could be used
to advantage: others offered their
places of business as temporary NOR
CUES, and hospitals; physicians and
nurses stood at hand to give first aid
to all who needed it and never kept
memorandum: drug stores supplied
medicines and bandages. and no ac-
count was taken of what was used;
liverymen offered their vehicles with
out charge, and drivers gave their
services free. 1t was an eager COM
petition of who might serve best and
quickest, untainted by any sordidness
of spirit. Chicago is not noted for
modesty in demanding a fee, but no
fee was thought of on this occasion.
For once money was a forgotten con- !
and the alienation of a |
most painful situation was the govern |
ing desire. There is a modicum of |
for even the great dis
aster in the splendid show Of human
sympathy that followed it.
Meantime the cause of the fire
is not settled. Several theories have
been advanced. None is backed by evil
dence to make it conclusive. One is
that an electric wire broke, and be-
came short circuited;" another is that
a calcium light was manipulated too
close to a curtain, which became ig-
nited from it: another is that there
was an explosion, so far unexplained.
The investigation may clear up the
mystery now surrounding the matter
and if there was criminal carelessness
anywhere it may be expected that 1t
will be punished.