The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-01-08
Men, Women and Children Burned and
Suffocated in Chicago Fire.
PANIC is CAUSED BY FLAMES IN THE SCENERY.
Many Of the Victims Overcome BY Gas Which Filled
The Auditorium Others Were .Trampled to
Death-Scenes of Indescrbable Distress
Attend the Great Catastrophe.

IN
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 5o2 according
TO the estimates OF the Chicago news
papers, snet death by FIRE, smoke and
panic at the matinee performance o.
Mr.. Bluebeard'' at the beautiful new
1roquois Theatre, Most Of the dead
are women and children.
In addition to the dead, IS persons
are missing; SO Of the dead have been
identihed.
Scofes we're burned, while hundreds
were suffocated by smoke and gas and
cyushed 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
were risking their lives in the cause OF
humanity robbed the bodies right and
left. 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-
clcs OF value, which were taken to the
station.
There was little attempt on the part
OF the police to keep any track oil the
property taken and men were seen 60
ing along the streets robbng, the
bodies that were lying on the sidewap
under the very eyes of the offlceTg was
| From pit TO dome the hittle ones
packed Mothers and theiRrse at the
had laughed themselves AZ chief come
antics OF Eddie FoMas in the middle
dian Of the piece. ,rthc chorus, smiling
OF the play, ar had just concluded
and trollcsoJonlght song.
singing ] the moon now!" cried
lherp in the front row as a curl Of
little cand tiny bit OF fame shot out
smoF the wings to the right OF the
frge.
4 The children clapped their hands in
glee. Mothers laughed bit and the
whole audience was in fine humor.
But the fame reached out and caught
a piece OF inhammable 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 half illuminated
house with weird effects.
Eddie Foy stood out from the
panc-strickcn 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
forum was in blaze. The gas tanks
exploded in the flies on the east side OF
the theatre. and black, choking fumes
beat down in a cloud oil death from
every wall.
Fear. uncomfortable and terrible.
reigned. Men and women fought like
wild beasts, filled only with the desire
for self-protection. Babies slipped
from their mothers uplifted arms and
i'll an instant their lives were crushed
underfoot Girls threw themselves
from the balconies and lay crushed and
dying until suffocation 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-everything that seemed to bur.
den them-in their rush for life and
the open air.
But in the balcony and the gallery
the demon OF destruction wrought his
frightiu work at will The flames and
smoke gathering on these upper floors
caught the people before they realized
the full extent OF the danger 1t 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.
Coal for Jspan's Ships.