Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-09

lineage (Special) .-Chioago IS stun
ned by the worst theatre catastrophe
" the history OF the country.
rive hundred and thir,ysix men
women and children. according To the
| count of the police and s62 according
% the estimates of the Chicago news
papers. met death by fire. smoke and
. panic at the matinee performance OF
AIR. Bluebcard'' at the beautiful new
iroquois Theatre Most of the dead
are women aud children.
In addition 10 the dead, IS persons
are missing: SO of the dead have been
identified.
Scores were burned. while hundreds
were suifocated by smoke and gas and
crushed into pulp by one another while
struggling 10 escape the impending
doom. Still other hundreds are lying
between life and death. with limbs
broken and burned. at their homes and
in hospitals.
1 Ghouls mingling with those who
were risking their lives in the cause OF
humanity robbed the bodies right and
lelt. Two men were caught with their
pockcis bulging with pocketbooks. The
2G;iElcs were taken from them by the
5s,ice- and they were allowed TO go.
frhc poFfSc themselves gathered up val
5hablc iurS. pockctbooks and many arti-
clcs OF value which were taken TO the
Station.
There was little attempt on the part
OF the police 10 keep any track of the
property taken and men were seen 60
ing along the streets :obbing the
bodies that were lying on the sidewalks
under the very eyes of the officers.
From pit 10 dome the house was
packed. Mothers and their little ones
had laughed themselves hoarse at the
antics OF Eddie Foy. the chief come
dian OF the piece. 1t was in the middle
OF the play. and the chorus. smiling
and frolicsome, had just concluded
singing a moonlight song.
There is the moon nowl' cried a
little chap in the front row as curl OF
smoke and tiny bit OF flame shot out
y the wings to the right OF the
le children clapped their hands in
4. Mothers laughed a bit and the
pie audience was in 4 fine humor.
I the fame reached out and caught
.,iece of inhammable scenery that
tsg over the center OF the stage.
Astantly there was a large ribbon
iame. A calcium light on a stand
x'eet above the level OF the stage had
plodcd and in moment everything
<k OF the foo,lights was broad wave
Ere that lighted the half-illuminated
ause with weird effects.
Eddie" Foy stood out from the
ic-stricken group on the stage TO
re the audience that there was no
Y. BY his orders the great as
curtain was let down, but il
on one side and failed to work
In another instant smoke burst
from the top arch OF the stage
from under the bottom OF the cur
lore man or woman in the seats
ID arise the whole roof of the audi
i'm was in a blaze. The gas tanks
iOdcd in the flies on the east side of
theatre. and black, choking fumes
/ down in 4 cloud OF death from
~ wall.
ear. uncomfortable and terrible.
ned. Men and women fought like
beasts, filed only with the desire
self-protection Babies slipped
m their mothers upliitcd arms and
m instant their lives were crushed
lerioot. Girls threw themselves
I'm the balconies and lay crushed and
ing until suffocation ended their
scry.
1any in the orchestra seats. with
Ser access to the doors. gradually
ade their way 10 safety, but most OF
EN- threw aside wraps, pockctbooks.
ss-evcrything that seemed TO bur
n thcm-in their rush for life and
e open air.
But in the balcony and the gallery
.semon Of destruction wrought his
ful work at will. The flames and
5kc gathering OH these upper floors
tught the people before they realized
c full extent OF TIE danger. II seem
incredible that the little rush OF fire
aid lap the walls 80 quickly and reach
after them like stroke OF light
Z.
hen when the full meaning of the
stcr came 10 frightened ones they
1T and battlcd with ono another Tor
!. battled like stampcded animals.