The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-01-02
OVER 500 LIVES WERE LOST
IROOUOIS THEATRE in CHICAGO
DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Crossed Electric Wires Cause It---Humanity
Packed Ten Feet Deep--People
Were Panic Stricken.

Chicago, Jan between 500 and
GOO people were killed in 10 minutes
afternoon during fire In
the Iroquois theater. the newest, the
largest. and. as far as human pow
er could make il. the safest theater in
Chicago.
A few OF these people were burned
to death by fire, many were surocated
by gas and scores were tFampled 10
death in the panic that followed the
mad plunge OF the frightened audi
euce for the exits.
The fre broke out during the sec
end act Of the play. Mr.. Bluebeard.
which was the first dramatic produc-
ton produced in the theater since It's
erection. The company. which was
very large. escaped to the street In
safety, nearly all OF them, however.
being compelled TO dee into the snowy
streets with no clothing but their
stage costumes. A few members Of
the company sustained minor injuries.
out none was seriously hurt.
Electric Light Wires Started H.
The accounts OF the origin of the
fire are conflicting. but the best rea-
son given Is that an electric wire on
the lower part Of a piece OF drop
scenery suddenly broke and was
grounded. The IRE spread rapidly to
ward the front OF the stage. causing
the members OF the chorus. who were
then engaged In the performance, 10
dee 10 the wings with screams OF ter
ror The fire In ltse.4 up 10 this time
was not serious and possibly could
have been checked had not the as
bestos curtain failed TO work As
soon as the IRE was discovered. Ed
die Foy. the chief comedian Of the
company, shouted 10 lower the cur.
tain and this was Immediately done
It descended about half way and then
stuck. The fire thus was given prac-
ticaliy a fue. through which a strong
wind was setting. aided by the doors,
which had been thrown open In the
front OF the theater. With a roar
and bound the flames shot through
the opening over the heads Of the peo-
pie on the door and reaching clear
up to those on the hrst balcony. caught
them and burned them to death where
they sat.
Explosion Adds 70 Dangers.
Immediately following this rush Of
names there came an explosion which
fitted the entire roof OF the theater
from its walls. SCATTERING the great
skylight into fragments, As soon "a
the flames appeared beyond the cur
tain a man in the rear Of the hall
I shouted. Fire, Fire, FIRE." and the
entire audience rose as one person and
made for the doors.
The explosion was caused by the
| names coming into contact with the
gas reservoirs OF the tEeater. causing
them to burst.
viii J. Davis. manager Of the the
alter, said after the catastrophe. that
II the people had remained In their
seats and had not been excited by the
cry Of fire. not a single life would have
been lost.
| This, however. Is contradlcted by
the statements Of the hremeu. who
found numbers Of people sitting in
| their seats. their faces directed to
ward the stage. as II the performance
was stlll going on.
II Ia the opinion ri tho fremen that
these persons had been gurocatod al
once by the flow Of gas which came
from behind the asbestos curtain.
Thester reid 1900 Souls.
As near as can be estimated at tbs
present time, about 1900 people wers
in the theater. Three hundred Of these
we're on the hrst floor. the remainder
being in the balconies and In the hall
ways back Of them The theater Is
modelled after the Opera Comique II
Paris, and from the rear Of each bal
lcOny are three doors leading out tC
passageways toward the front Of th'
ltneater. Two 81 these dOoTways arr
at the end Of the balcony and one IL
the center. The audience. in its rusi
for the outer air, seems to have
chosen. for the greater part. to fee t.
the left entrance and to attempt t.
make It's way down the eastern stair
way leading into the lobby Of thu
theater.
Outside of the people burned am
suffocated by gag. II was in these twt
doorways on the first and second bal
comics that the greater loss Of III
Occurred. When the fremen entere'
the building the dead we're found
stretched In a pile reaching from thu
head Of the stairway, at least efgh
feet from the door. back to a poin
five feet In the rear Of the door.
This mass Of dead bodies in the cen
ter Of the doorway reached 10 within
two feet Of the top of the passageway
All Of the corpses at this point wer'
women and children. The fight 70
illfe which must have taken place a
these two points IN something that +
simply beyond ability to Adequately
describe. A faint idea Of It's horro
could be derived from the aspect o
the bodies as they lay. Women oil
: