The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-04-20
HORROR OCCURS
IN IND|ANAPOLI
CRY or FIRE CAUSES PANIC
Lads TFample on Each Other In En-.
deavar TO Escape -Four Are
Killed and Twenty-six
Are injured.

Indianapolis, Ind, April iS.--E'rengied
by false alarm OF are several hundred
eager newsboys, stsuggllng to obtain
their share OF free tickets to local thea.
ter, which we're being distributed BY a
travelling representative OF patent
medicine company, stampeded in mar
row stairway In the Masonic Temple
Monday night, crushing the life out OF
four boys, and 1t Is believed, fatally in-
juring several others.
The Victims.
The dead are. Ed. Mofrissey, aged IL;
Louis Schcigert, aged IS; Carl Laurel,
aged 10; Homer Williamson, aged IL.
Twenty-six boys were injured, six OF
these seriously. Mothers, fathers and
relatives Of the boys locked to the place,
and, frantic with grief, they forced their
way into the dense crowd, weeping,
moaning and crying for their loved ones.
The police could not allow them to flock
into the hall and around the injured
boys. This fact caused an agonizing sus.
pense for many. The catastrophe evil
IDENTIFY had little effect on about 400 OF
the "newsies," who, instead OF return.
ing home to relieve the minds or anxious
parents, went to the theater.
Cry of "Fire" Causes Panic.
Long before the time appointed for the
distribution OF the tickets, The stairs OF
the Masonic Temple, at the southwest
corner Of Washington street and Capt.
toll avenue, were crowdedwith pushing,
yelling crowd OF newsboys, each anxious
TO be first to receive his pass. When the
distribution began, the excitement be.
came more intense, and the efforts OF
several policemen who had been detailed
to prevent trouble, were unavailing. II
is alleged by witness that one OF the
boys, In the endeavor to hasten the exit
OF those who had received their passes,
shouted: Fire" Immediately those
at the top faced about and with almost
superhuman strength began TO force
their way to the bottom of the stairs.
Shrleks and physical encounters fol.
lowed for a few seconds when, from
some cause, those near the top fell head.
long upon the struggling mass at the
bottom. 49,
Four Dead.
Immediately policemen from the Cen.
trail station, who responded TO a riot
call, began the work Of rescue. Four OF
the boys we're dead when extricated from
their position at the bottom OF the stairs,
Others believed To have been fatally
crushed we're taken out as fast as they
could be disentansled from their
frenzied companions, who fought and
chung to each other In desperation. The
y immense crowd OF people from the bust
ness district, attracted by wild rumors,
jostled about the bottom Of the stairs and
hampered the work OF the police and am.
bulance corps. The dead were hurriedly
placed in ambulances and sent to the
morgue for Identification. The fatally
injured were sent to the city hospital and
the city dlspensary, while many who re-.
ceived only slight injuries were made
comfortable In carriages and sent 10
their homes.
A Grewsome Sight.
With the aid OF at least SO police, doc.
tors and other rescuers, 1t required fully
three-quarterS Of an hour to remove the
lads to the conyeyances which carried
them home or to the hospitals. Rela.
tiyes who did not reach the hall before
the boys were taken away, swarmed to
the different hospitals and dispensaries,
and men had 10 be stationed at these
institutions 70 keep the crowd from
breaking into the rooms where the lads
were being cared for After the injured
had been taken from the scene OF death,
and the crowd had left the Sidewalk, the
sight presented by the stairway and walk
In front Of the door and In the upper hall.
way was grewsome In the extreme.
Blood trickled down the steps. Frag.
ments Of clothing and flesh were strewn
hare and fhara /