Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-01-04
OVER SIX HUMID
RED LIVES LOST
IN THE WORST THEATRE HOLOCAUST IN
HISTORY HEART -RENDINC SCENES
BECCAR|NC DESCRIPTION

CHICAGO. Dec. 31,-The number OF
dead in the lroquis theater horror at
9 o'clock this morning was placed at
591, according to a count made OF the
victims stretched out in the over
crowded moroucs.
Great crowds Of weeping men and
frantic women throng about the estab-
and most Of them have been there all
night.
| Lines Of policemen, showing plainly
the terrific strain which they are un-
der in repeIiing the almost frantic ap-
peais Of relatives Of the dead. guard
the undertaking establishments and
cndeavor to keep order in the ranks Of
applicants for Information as to miss
| ing dear ones.
| The men who carried out the hun.
dreds OF dead declare that scores Of
the victims met their fate behind lock.
ed doors. OF the twenty-four exits
many were rusted shut. they say.
Hundreds Of the people rushed to
these doors where signs were display.
ed showing tho word exit" and which
promised liberty and life. only to be
crushed In the human whirlpool and
they fell in heaps at the siIis Of these
door~ays to be slaughtered under foot.
Many men are stiIi busy in the
ruins, but II will be days and perhaps
weeks before a fun realization OF the
holocaust shall come.
| Nobody but the firemen and police.
men were permitted to enter the build
ing today. Ten engines are pumping
the water out Of the basement Of the
wrecked building. where II is thought
many corpses will be found.
| At every step the workers pick up
gems, jeweIry, furs and rich outer
| garments. Thousands OF dollars
worth Of vaiuables were hauled to the
office Of police custodian to await
claimants.
The rear and side walls Of the stage
show signs Of falling and make the
work today very hazardous in the ex-
treme.
Coroner Trsiser estimates the mum.
| Der Of dead at 600 and 10 making pre-
parations to empaneI Jury. There
| will be but one Inquest for all VIC
Tins.
CHICAGO, Dec. 31.-The entire city
is in mourning today. Never before
in the history Of the county has such
disaster fallen upon community.
At II o'clock this morning the num-
ber Of dead reported In the fire and
| panic which devastated the beautiful
iroquous theater at o'clock yesterday
afternoon reaches the appalling fig.
ures Of 500, although 27 Of this number
are reported missing and some Of them
may possibly be accounted for.
| People who watched tho terrible
panic marvel how so many escaped,
nearly 1000 managing to get out Of the
building In safety, and it is said that
had the great audience kept its head,
the fatilities would have been few. but
they all rushed to one entrance, while
nine other modes Of eeress were prac-
ticaliy deserted.
The fact of the building being new
was unfortunate because people were
unacquanted with its various exits
and entrances.
Where the fire started on the stage,
due to a live wire and the subsequent
explosion Of a gas tank, which was the
cause Of the panic, II was thought
many fatiIities would naturally re-
suit. but today every person on the
stage at the time 10 accounted for
There were over one hundred perform
ers on the stage at the time the fire
broke out. the play being the speetxc
ular "Mr. BIuebeard," and the chorus
girls were clad In their aauzy cos
tunes. They all ran out In the snow
covered streets In this himsy dress
and, with the exception Of few colds
are today none the worse for their OK
perience.
The fire seems to have been un
avoidable. The theater was suppose
to be the safest In the country, but thu
architect says wood was used in thu
construction against his Wishes ane
that this was the Indirect cause Of ths
disaster.
The attendance at the other the
aters last night was very meaoer, ant
it 10 expected that every house will b'
closed tonight.
An investigation was begun toda!
not only OF last evenings horror. bu
Of the condition Of all the theatres an,
the churches In the city.
Jurymen will make the rounds Of TN
nor0ues, and not until then vii
friends and relatives be permitted 4
haar sS&<sx - thstp hnsv.aa tha ntttf.,ii,
crushed. manSIsd and dIshsvsIsd n
mains Of the victims. Scores will nss
Or b. Identified. In thsss easss eve