The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-07-20
STORY OF AN ESCAPE
AN INCIDENT OF THE CHICAGO lRO-
QUOIS THEATER HORROR.

AN btNIIOGNB SbttSN0O INV
ouoiS ThEATER HORROR.
The Way . Woman and Her Two
Children. Were Saved From the
Hurricane of Flame and Panic by
Stranger who Was Intoxicated.
All great CONGREGATIONS that are at
tended with loss of life have, as 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 her two chill
dren were saved from death in the
awful horror of the IroQuois theater in
Chicago, where so many hundreds per-
ished in the hurricane of fame and
panic, as told by Miss Elizabeth A.
Reed in the Chicago Record-Herald
shortly after the fearful tragedy. is
unique in many ways:
Mrs. Henry Stirling, with her two
children, sat in the fateful IrOQu0iS
theater 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 vacant seat. but little
heed was given to it as the spectacular
drama went on and the wondering lit
| tie folks looked open eyed upon the
scenes before them.
At last an uncertain step came down
the aisle and we'll dressed man
lurched into the vacant seat. The cur
tain was up. but he was an old theater
goer. and as the extravaganza was not
entirely new to him he turned to the
child. Her confiding blue eyes an
swered his appeal for friendship; there
was wonder in the expressive little
face, but no fear. even when he ven
tured to lay a caressing hand upon the
golden curls.
Mrs. Stirling shrank from his con-
Eliminating touch upon Dorothy's head.
He saw or felt her loathing and said
brokenly, Don't you be 'fraid-ish all
right-all right-sweetish iii girl ever
l shaw-sweetish iii girl ever l shaw"
The gay drama went on, the crowd
cheered; the children ciapped their
hands, and their merry laughter min
gled with the applause. but the stran-
ger still kept his bleared eyes upon the
lovely child. Every few minutes his
hand would stray lovingly over the
sunny head and some expression of
endearment would fall from his uncer-
tain lips At last Mrs. Stirling called
the attention Of an usher to the pro-
lOnged annoyance. and a remOnstrance
was made. but the answer came. "You
go way-ish all right-all right-sweet-
ish III girl ever l shaw-sweetish III
girl ever shaw"
Again the big hand touched the gold
en- hair, and this time it strayed down
ward and took the little hand in low
ing clasp. The child looked fearlessly
into his face and smiled.
The mother grew more and more
nervous. Again an usher was called
and complaint made. The slender
young man looked at the big fellow
and concluded that prudence was the
better part of valor." SO he went to
consult with another about effective
methods of getting the intruder out Of
the house. s.
The stranger looked at the stage
again; this time he saw a tiny fame
rapidly spreading to the scenery Ris-
Ing instantly, he took little Dorothy in
his arms. Stepping beyond the mother
and unheeding her frightened remon-
STRANGE, he swung the child upon one
shoulder and with the other hand
caught up little Bob; then with both
arms he walked out of the house. The
doubly frightened mother involunta-
rily followed him.
This precious instant was the mo-
ment of salvation. Another minute
another half minute-and it would
have been too late. They had nearly
reached the entrance when q cry Of
horror rang through the house, follow
ed by screams Of terror and shrieks of
pain.
Without further volition Of their
own they were swept into the street
Wholly dazed by the awful shock Mrs.
Stirling pleaded, Put them down-put
them down noww
mo, thash all right. Where do you
want to goT'
Fright MP this way to the Ashland
block" she answered. Then the
strange party pushed on through the
crowd which was already rushing
with helping hands to the scene OF the
disaster.
Lurching from one side Of the walk
to the other and apparently in con-
slant danger Of falling, he still carried
his precious burden safely. Once
within the protecting, doors Of the
great Ashland block the elevator car
ried them to one Of the higher floors,
where Mrs. Stirling rushed into her
husbands office crying, "Oh, Henry,
the theateF Is burning, and this man
has brought the children outp
Although not half comprehending
the horror, the father put his hand in
his pocket and drew out q twenty dol
lar bill. which he offered with profuse
thanks. But he and his money were
alike ignored. With a majestic sweep
Of the hand the drunken hero answer
ed. "Go way-I don't want your mon
ego way-thash all right-thash the
sweetish III girl ever shaw--sweetish
III girl ever shaw" and then he stag
gered out of, the. Office.
Borrowing Is not much better than
begging.-LessinG.