Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-05-11
STORY OF AN ESCAPE
AN INCIDENT OF The CHICAGO lRO-
QUOlS THEATER HORROR.


oUOlS THEATER HORROR.
The Way n Woman and Her Two
Children Were saved From the
Hurricane Of Flame and Panic by
Stranger who Was Intoxicated.
All great coudagradons that are at
tended with loss OF life have. as a 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 Der two chill
dren were sawed from death In the
awful horror of the Iroquois theater in
Chicago. where so many hundreds per
ished En- the hurricane OF flame and
panic. as told 10y Miss Elizabeth 4.
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
theatcr ON that dreadful afternoon.
Little Bob was next To the aisle. then
the mother. and Dorothy SAT- on the
other side. Beyond The six-year-old
girl there WAS "a vacant seat but little
heed was given to IL as the spectacular
drama went ON and the wondering lite
Gle folks looked opeRseycd upon the
scenes before theu-I
Al last an uncertdtn- step came down
the aisle and well dressed man
lurched into the vacant seat The cur
tain was up. hut Dee was am old tLelter
-oer and as the cNtravocauza was not
entirely new 20 him he turned to she
child. Her conhdins blue eve. an-
swered his appeal for friendship. there
was wonder in the expressive little
face. but no fear. even when le ven-
tured to lay q caressinc hand upon the
golden curlS
Mrs. stirling shrank from li> cou-
Eliminating touch upon Dor0tLy's head.
lie saw or felt her loath.ns and said
brokenly. Don't You be 'fraid-ish all
right-all right-swcotish IN girl ever
l shaw Sweetish iii girl ever shaw"
The Kay drama went ON. the crowd
cheered. the children clapped their
hands. and their merry laughter min
gled with the applause but the Stran-
ger still kept his blcarcd eyes upon the
lovely child. Every few minutes his
hand would stray lovingly over the
sunny head and some expression OF
endoarmcnt would fan from his uuccr-
tain lips. Al last Mrs stirling called
the attention OF am usher to the pro-
lougcd annoyance. and 81 rcmoustrauce
was made. but the answer came. You
20 way-iSh ail right-au richt-Swect-
iSh lil Eirl ever I shaw-swcetish lgI
girl ever 1 shaw"
Again the big hand touched the gold
en- hair. and this time il strayed down
ward and took the little hand i'm low
ing clasp The child looked fearlesSly
into his face and smiled
The mother grew more and more
nervous. Asan an usher was called
and complaint made The slender
youns man looked 40 the big fellow
and concluded that prudence was the
better part OF Valor" 50 De went 10
consult with another about effective
methods ~ getting The Intruder out of
the house
The stranger looked az the STAGE
again; this time hc saw tiny flame
rapidly spreading to The scenery. his
Ing instantly. he took little Dorothy i'm
his arms. Stepping beyond the mother
and unhecdins her frightened rcmon-
STRANGE, hc swung the child upon one
shoulder and with the other hand
caught Up little Bob. them with both
Of them pressed closely I'm his strong
arms lie walked out OF the house The
douOly frightened mother involuuta-
rily followed him.
This precious in>tau, was the mo-
ment OF salvation Another minute
another half minute-aud il would
have been TOO late They had nearly
reached the entrance whom CRY OF
horror rang through the house. follow
ed by screams Of terror and ShrieL> OF
pain
Without further yolition of their
own they were swept into thc street.
Wholly dazed 10y the awful shock Mrs
stirling pleaded, Put them down-put
them down now"
NO. thash all right Whore 40 you
want 20 Sot'
Right up this way 10 the Ashland
block" she answered Then the
strange party pushed on through the
NANNN NJ AACA w s> NllcNlN lN~Nll-
with hclpins hands 10 the scene OF the
disaster
LurchiuS from one side OF the walk
70 the other and apparently in CON
StanJ dauEcr Of falling. he stul carried
his precious burden safely. once
within the protecting doors OF the
great Ashland block the elevator car
ricd them 10 one of the higher doors.
where Mrs. Stirling ruShcI uto hoy
husbands office crying ~Ch Henry.
the thcater is burning and This man
has brought the CE.ldvcn OUT"
Although not half comprehensive.
the horror, the father put his hand En-
his pocket and drew ont a twenty dol
lar bin, which he offered with profuSe
thanks. BUT hc and his money were
alike ignored. With majestic SNvccp
OF the hand the drunken hero answer
eli. Go way-I don't want your mon
cy - way-thash all right thash the
swcctiSh lii girl ever shaw SwcctiSh
iii Sirl ever l shaw" ana then he stag
Sercd out of the Office.