The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-01-06


ned by the worst theatre catastrophe
in the history OF the country.
Five hundred and tlirty-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
Iroquois Theatre. Most OF the dead
are women and children.
In addition to the dead S persons
arc missing; SO OF tho dead have been
identified
Scores were burned while hundreds
were sunocatcd by smoke and gas and
crushed into pulp by one another while
struggling to escape the impending
doom Still other hundreds are lying
between Lie and death, with limbs
broken and burned, at their homes and
in hospitals.
Ghouls mingling with those who
were risking their lives in the cause OF
humanity robbed the bodies yight and
left. Two men were caught with their
pockets bulging with pocketbooks. The
articles were taken from them by the
police and they we're allowed to go.
The police themselves gathered up val
liable iurs, pockctbooks and many arti-
clcs OF value, which were taken to the
station.
There was little attempt on the part
oi the police to keep any track OF the
property taken and men were seen GO
ing along the streets robbing the
bodies that were Tying on the sidewalks
under the very eyes of&he officers.
From pit TO dome the. house was
packed. Mothers and their little ones
had laughed themselves hoarse at> the
antics OF Eddie" Foy, the chief CONG
dian OF the piece. 1t was in the midde\
OF the play, and the chorus, smiling
and irolicsome, had just concluded
singing a moonlight song.
II
little chap in the front row as a curl OF
smoke and a tiny bit OF flame shot out
from the wings to the right OF the
stage.
The children clapped their hands in
glee. Mothers laughed bit and the
whole audience was in fine humor
But the flame reached out and caught
a piece OF inhammable scenery that
hung over the center OF the stage.
Instantly there was a large ribbon
Of flame. a calcium light on a stand
six feet above the level OF the stage had
exploded and in moment everything
back OF the footlghts was a broad wave
OF fire that lighted the hali-illuminated
house with weird effects.
Eddie" Foy stood out from the
panc-stricken group on the stage to
assure the audience that there was no
danger. By his orders the great as
bestos curtain was let down, but it
caught on one side and failed to work
fully. In another instant smoke burst
out from the top arch OF the stage
and from under the bottom OF the cur
tain.
Before man or woman in the seats
could arise the whole roof OF the audi
torium was in a blaze The gas tanks
exploded in the flies on the east side OF
the theatre, and black, choking fumes
beat down in cloud OF death from
every wall.
Fear, uncomfortable ard terrible,
reigned. Men and women fought like
wild beasts, filled only with the desire
for sclf-protection. Babies slipped
from their mothers uplited arms and
IN an instant their lives were crushed
underioot. Girls threw themselves
from the balconies and lay crushed and
dying until suffocaton ended their
misery.
Many in the orchestra seats. with
easier access to the doors. gradually
made their way to safety, but most OF
them threw aside wraps, pocketbooks.
hats-cvcrything that seemed TO bur
den them-in their rush Tor lie and
the open air.
But in the balcony and the gallery
the demon OF destruction wrought his
irightful work at will The flames and
smoke gathering on these upper floors
caught the people before they realized
the full extent OF the danger. It seem
ed 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 they
fought and battled with one another for
safety. battled like stampeded animals.