Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-01-08

Chicago (SpeciaD..-Chicago is stun
ned by the worst theatre catastrophe
in the history OF the country.
Five hundred and thirty-six men,
women and children, according to the
count of the police and 562 according
to the estimates Of the Chicago news
papers, met death by fire, smoke and
panic at the matinee performance OF
"Mr. Bluebcard" at the beautiful new
Iroquos Theatre. Most OF the dead
kare women and children.
Tn addition to the dead, S. persons
arc missing; sc OF the dead have been
identified
Scores we're burned, while hundreds
were suffocated by smoke and gas and
crushed into pulp by one another while
struggling to escape the impending
doom. Still other hundreds are lying
between life and death, with limbs
broken and burned, at their homes and
in hospitals.
Ghouls mingling with those who
we're rsking their lives in the cause OF
humanity robbed the bodies right and
lett. Two men were caught with their
pockets bullying with pocketbookS. The
articles were taken from them by the
police and they were allowed to 60.
The police themselves gathered up val
liable furs, pocketbooks and many arti'
Giles of value, which were taken to the
station.
There was little attempt on the part
of'thc police to keep any track OF the
property taken and mcn were seen 60
ing along the streets robbing the
bodies that were lying on the sidewalks
under the very eyes OF the officers.
From pit 10 dome the house was
packed. Mothers and their little ones
had laughed themselves hoarsc at the
antics OF Eddie Foy, the chief come
dian oil tho piece. 1t was in the middle
OF tho play, and the chorus, smiling
aid irolcSomc, had just concluded
singing moonlight song.
There is the moon now" cried a
little chap in the front row as curl oil
smoke and tiny bit Of flame shot out
from the wings to the right OF the
stage.
The children clappcd their hands in
glee. Mothers laughed bit and the
whole audience was in fine humor
But the fame reached out and caught
piece Of inhammablc scenery that
hung over the center OF the stage.
Instantly there was large ribbon
OF fame. A calcium light on stand
six feet above the level of the stage had
exploded and in moment everything
back OF the footlights was broad wave
Of FIRE that lighted the haliilluminatcd
house with weird effects.
Eddie" Foy stood out from the
panic-strickcn group on the stage to
assure the audience that there was nc
danger. By his orders the great as.
bestos curtain was let down, but il
caught on one side and failed to work
fully. In another instant smoke burst
out from the top arch OF tile stage
and from under the bottom OF the cur
tain.
Before a man or woman in the seat:
could arise the whole roof OF the audi
forum was in blaze. The gas tank!
exploded in tho flies on the east side o.
the theatre. and black, choking fume!
beat down in a cloud OF death from
every wall.
Fear, uncontrollable and terrible
reigncd Men and women fought Xix,
wild beasts, filled only with the desir,
for self-protection. Babies slipped
from their mothers upliitcd arms anC
in an instant their lives were crushed
underioot. Girls threw themselvc.
from the balconies and lay crushed anC
| uylHB Until SuUOCdtlOn tnueQ incl
misery.
Many in the orchestra seats, will
easier access to the doors, gradual,
made their way to safety, but most o
them threw aside wraps, pocketbooks
hats-everything that seemed to bur
den them-in their rush for life ant
the open air.
But in the balcony and the CALLER,
the demon OF destruction wrought hi.
frightful work at will The flames anc
smoke gathering on these upper floor.
, caught the people before they realizec
the full extent Of the danger. 1t seem
cd incredible that the little rush OF fire
could lap the walls so quickly and reach
out after them like stroke of light
ming.
Then when the full meaning Of the
disaster came to frightened ones the,
fought and battled with one another foi
safety, battlcd like stampeded animals
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