davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
IROQUOIS THEATER FIRE.
Held Up to Public I'm .Annual OBJ
servance of Disaster.

Chicago, Dec. 30-The Iroquois Theater
fire. in which 600 persons lost their lives
here four years ago. was held up at the
Iroquois Memorial ASSOCIATIONS annual
meeting tonight as "a lesson to the
breaking public of Chicago"
THE awful disaster was not so much
a rebuke to the officials" says the Rev,
Johnston Myers. the chief speaker, ''as
to the people.
There has hardly ever been a time
in the city's history when every one had
less regard for the law and its enforce
ment 1t requires a tremendous sorrow
to startle the people TO the realization of
the fact that life cannot be harmonious
unless laws are Obeyed The fire was a
spiritual and economic necessity. Prob
ably the lives lost in the disaster will
prove small. compared to those saved
through its influence
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
ODD FEATURES OF DISASTER
Former Engineer Puzzled by Coal
Car Amid the WreckaEe.

tAA hAtzAH AAtE " EtNEaEFs
Among those who went out from the
city to the scene Of the wreck as soon as
the news came iu. was Solicitor General
McCabe Of the Department Of Agricul-
tUre Mr.. McCabe is the son OF an old
locomotive engineer, and he himself was
also an engineer for many years before
being admitted TO the bar. His judgment
Of what took place has especial value.
1t was clear To me-" said Mr.. McCabe.
that the engineer Of the rear train was
going at high speed. The station man at
Tak0ma Park told me that when he en-
tered the block he must have been max
ing sixty-fve miles an hour. The force
with which he came down that grade
can be imagined. when you see that he
drove the first section Of No. s. half a
mile down the line.
But what puzzled me more than any
thing else was the situation when the
thing was all over. The two trains were
half a mile down the track from where
the dead lay. The cars Of the first section
lay obllquely to the west of the track.
ION the track between the deraned cars
ana the engine u lLLe SeLoilu oI-tAoi h"o
coal car with the front end smashed
from contact with the first section. but
apparently untouched at the rear end
where the engine must have hit it. How
on earth did that coal car set in between
the two sections on a main track where
coal cars were not supposed 10 be stored
The only explanation that I could
think OF was that the second section
must have run TN from the main track
on some siding and picked up the coal
car and then run out on the main line
again 1t will require something more
than the ordinary inquiry into a rear-end
collision 10 make clear Just how that
coal car figured in that affair The scene
was fearful, and I could not describe it. -
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
CORONER NOTIFIED OF WRECK.
Orders Bodies of Victims Brought to
Washington MOrEue.

Considerable delay accompanied the
bringing Of the dead bodies to the city.
This was accounted for owing to the fact
that the railroad officials at the wreck
were not certain what action should be
taken for the disposition Of the dead. The
delay was also attributed 10 the fact that
for several hours after the collision II
was impossible TO remove the bodies from
the debris
Coroner hewitt was notified Of the &C
cident by Lieut. Hodges of the Sixth
precinct station He Immediately issued
orders that the bodies be brought "a
Washington and turned over to the
moTgue officials. Dr. GlazebrOok attend
ed 10 the removal of the bodies after
their arrival at the station.
For a time it was impossible to convey
the orders Of the coroner to the officials
at the wreck. In the meanwhile. every
effort was being made TO recover the
bodies and get them in readiness for
transportation TO the city
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
SEES STEPMOTHER KILLED.
Miss Perrmnnn Watches Rescuers
Carry About Parents Body.


Among the many tragic incidents that
marked the relief work was the stole
action % Miss Bessie Perrmann, a school
teacher OF Brookland. who directed the
removal from the wreckage of the terri
b.y nangled body Of her stepmother, Mrs.
NJ O. Perrmann. Mrs. Perrmann and
her stepdaughter were in the second coach
at the time OF the accident
When the crash came. Mrs. Perrmann,
who was seated by the window, was
caught between two heavy girders and
almost instantly killed. Miss Perrmann
was badly bruised and received d severe
scalp wound. She managed TO exuicate
herself from the splintered car and stood
near the spot where she knew her step
mother was piuioned until she obtained
assistance from some men resCuers-
Through her directions the men were able
to cut their way to the body of Mrs
Perrmann.
When the lifeless form of her step
mother was borne from the wreck. Miss
Peumann walked beside the rescuers and
remained at the side of the corpse until
the arrival of the train for the dead.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
SAVES MOTHER AND SISTER.
Young Man Sees Approaching Dan
Ger ana Rescues His Relatives.

Nh Edith Barnes and her daughter
were saved from certain death by the
presence Of mind of her son, George H.
EgrgIess. The women had just boarded
the train at Terra Gotta and We're stand
ing on the platform Of the last coach.
Ba~gless. vhC had seen them 10 the train,
was standing on the station platform
sayins good-by. Looking Up the track
he saw the extra train approaching. With
q cry Of alarm he leaped upon the plat
form Of the train and hurled his mother
and sister to the ground and jumped
after them. The crash came an instant
later. The women were slightly injured
by the fall and splinters from the wreck.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
SOUVENIR HUNTERS BUSY.
Many in Crowd Eager to Get Me-
mentos of Disaster.

A feature Of the affair which was
equally as horrible as the wreck itself
was the conduct OF the crowds Of SOU
venir hunters who rushed to the scene.
BY ? o'clock this crowd had removed
from the scene what would have made a
whole car. In many instances the crowd.
in its mad desire to get mementos. were
carrying off parts Of skulls. fingers, and
other parts of human bodies. Before the
rolice were aware Of what these people
were doing, they had taken away many
of the small bits of clothing and personal
effects which would have aided greatly in
identifying the bodies
As soon as the police learned OF the
occurrence they Immediately forced all
OF the sightseers to leave the scene, and
allowed only the railroad employees and
laborers TO handle the wreckage.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
DIED.

GODFREY - On Saturday, December 2. 1906
JOSEPH H., husband of Mary Z. Godfrey. II
the seveuty-third year Of bis age.
Funeral from his late residence 49, street north
west Monday, December 81, 1906, az O'Clock
p. n Relatives and friends invited 70 attend.
Intement private.
Suddenly, on Saturday. December 2. 1906
after a short Illness JOHN T. SHEA.
Funeral viii take place from residence Of his
brother y Il. shea. 1855 FaiUuont street north
west Monday. December 81, az $50 O'Clock. Mass
at Church q Sacred Heart az 10 O'Clock. Rela-
tiyes and friends invited 10 attend.
sMITH-On Friday. December .. 1906. al her resi-
dence. AGO Belmont street. CHARLOTTE MAY,
daughter Of Lewis Buffet, and wife OF DR.. Er-
win r. Smith If the United states Department
q Agriculture, IN the thirty-sixJh year Of h@
age.
Funeral services private. Eastern Maryland and
Cleveland, Ohio. papers please Copy.l
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
SEEK CAUSE TO-DAY
B. & O. Officials Plan Rigid
Investigation.
EXTRA TRAIN CREW HELD
General superintendent Todd Exon
crates Operator Phillips at TakomR
Park, Who Went Home at ESQ.
Inquiry VIII Be Held I'm Baltimore
TO-day-Train Was MotionIess.

officials Of the Baltimore and Ohio
in Baltimore to-day. The investigation
viii be conducted openly and made public
The officials of the road said last night
that they were unable TO place the blame
for the disaster.
General Superintendent Todd exoner-
atcd Milton w. Phillips, the operator at
Takoma, the last signaling station that
the extra train passed before crashing
into the accommodation. The superin-
tendent said last night that Phillips was
acting according TO orders when he went
home at $50 o'clock, leaving the double
green" signal burning. Mr.. Todd would
make no positive charge, but intimated
that the burden OF blame would probably
fall upon the engineer and crew Of the
extra.
Five men were arrested by the police
They are all members Of the extra train
crew, as follows:
HARRY II. HILDEBRAND, engineer
FRANK F. HOFFMEIER, conductor
WILLIAM A. NORRIS, baggageman.
RALPH RUTTER, brakeman.
IRA c. McCLELLAND, fireman.
According TO the details gathered from
the officials and trainmen, the wrecked
passenger train, No. s., was standing mo.
tionless at the Terra Gotta station wher
the accident occurred. The second train
composed of ten empty passenger coaches
was running as a second section Of th'
passenger.
HiIdebrand's Statement.
Harry II. Hildebrand, engineer Of tbs
extra. Of lO7 West Ostend street Baltimore
after being taken in custody last night
made the statement that he had seen M
lights ahead before the collision.
I was running at the rate OF abOu
twenty-five miles an hour" HildebranC
said at the station. a heavy fog pre-
vailed at the time The first I knew o
the wreck was when / felt the engine an'
cars come together.
I did not see any lights ahead OF me
1 was at my post Of duty and endeavOrini
/ TO see the track ahead II the rea
lights Of train No. IS were burning. ! di'
/ not see them. The fog WAS too thick 4
I see very far ahead of the engine"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
s45O.oOO Fire at Los Angeles.

Los Angeles. Dec. S0.-Fire broke out
last night in a building occupied by Cohn.
Goldwater & Co, South Los Angeles
street, wooden goods and haberdashery
dealers. Ladderman Adolph Hermansen
was struck by a stream Of water and
dashed from the fifth story to the pave
ment below He was probably fatally
injured The loss is $4,000
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
Local Temnerntnres-

Midnight a.; 2 a. ID, -; ( a. "a, 4s; a. m. Il
S o. m. g; % a. m- 43: 2 noon. IS, ? p n. Il
{ p. IT,, g; s D. m, IS; p n, 46; 10 r n, a
Maximum. q minimum. A.
Relative humidity-s a. m, %; p. m, -; p
H.. So Rainfall trace
Temperature same date last year-AIsximum, Il
minimum s.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31

with scrupulous care, 10 aid in identifca-
ton. for many Of the corpses were
mangled beyond recognition.
During all this time people talked in
whispers. The awfulness Of the tragedy
seemed TO weigh heavily on the throng.
There was something so weirdly pic
turesque about the whole scene-the
damp, gray fog the fickering lights. the
grim. silent engine outlined against the
cloud-laden sky-that impressed even the
most unimaginative mind Even when
the wrecking train came out, with its
crew of Italians, the orders were given
in low tones, as il there was some
wrecking train was a huge steam crane,
with an arm that extended far out into
the fog, and hung like the index finger
Of the hand Of fate over the ruins There
was no sentiment among the workmen-
They tUmbled the broken cars over into
the ditch and cleared away the timbers
from the engine. Half hidden by the fog,
they looked like gray gnomes summoned
from the under world. They worked
without sentiment, and yet, deep down In
their hearts a bit Of superstition rested.
for they passed far on the other side
from where the corpses lay. Presently
they. too, disappeared. for the track was
clear, the twisted rails were Strengthened,
the debris was cast aside. and a gondola
| car that in some mysterious manner had
got tangled up in the wreck had been
/ placed in upright position. The bell of
the wrecking-train engine tolled in fu-
/ nereaI fashion as it moved away
And all this time the figures Of 100 men
moved Uneagi.y through the fog up and
down the track waiting patiently for the
/ train to carry the dead in 10 the morgue.
II seemed as if the train would never
come. There was nothing to do but to
stand guard over those Hfeless figures
that lay stretched out under the misty
/ sky. -ais silent watch was kept until
at last the train appeared. On impromptu
/ stretchers the dead were placed and then
1 lifted into the express car which, for
/ the time being. became funeral coach
II was a sickeuing harvest which was
thus gathered from the damp and soggy
earth beside the railroad track
Half an hour later the scene Of the
wreck was dark and silent. a few po-
/ licemen marched slowly up and down
the track. waiting for daylight tc
aid them in the search for more be
longings OF the dead. Through the veil
OF the fog the moonlight made feeble
/ effort TO penetrate. In the misty gloom
/ the monster engine, silent and black
still loomed in dreadful outline against
/ the sky.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
FUNERAL DIRECTORS.
THOS. s. sERGEON

TH0S. S. SERGE0N,
SUCCESSOR To X. ). CAIN.
IoIl 9Th ST ~ 1eispnone NAM 10
WIN. H. SARDO G. CO.,
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALal Eha>
COS II St. ne. Modern Chapel Phone East "a
GEORGE P. ZURH0RST,
30I East Capitol 81.
AUGUSTUS BURGD0RF CO.,
gag TTH ST nv. PHONE \. SSe.
Everything 5sSt class @el1s Es~e0nAe4-S
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
Temperatures in other cities.

Temperatures in other cities. together with the
amount Of rainfall for the twelve hours ended at
s D. "a. Yesterday are as follows.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
VIGIL AT TERRA GOTTA
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

were gathered and laid tenderly upon
the dark hiIlside-babies in arms and lit
tie children and mothers and fathers.
All along that fatal half-miIe was the
tragic task pursued. Not alone were
bodies gathered. but hats and handker-
chiefs and satchels and watches and
trinkets OF all kinds. One was a gold
locket with the initials M. c. B." and
inside it bore the photographs of man
and woman. All these was placed aside
with scrupulous care. TO aid in Identified
ton, for many of the corpses were
mangled beyond recognition.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
stretchers Are Filled.

Stretcher after stretcheT. with its hui
man burden. was carried along the plat
form 10 the ambuIances. The wounds Of
the injured had been partly dressed at
the scene of the wreck Many Of the
bandases had become saturated with
blood. and added to the horror Of the
sight
As fast as the ambulances were filled
they were hurried toward the hospitals.
There the attendants had been notified,
and had everything in readiness to re
ceive the patients
Nearly every available ambulance in
Washington was called into use. When
the relief train arrived there were five
patrol wagons which had been converted
into ambuIances in waiting. In addition,
there were ambulances from the various
hospitals, private as well as public.
An ambulance from the United States
Marine Hospital was also in attendance
10 carry the injured to the Providence
Hospital As quickly as possible the
vehicles took their loads to their respec-
tive institutions. and returned to the sta
ton for other patients who were waiting
TO be taken away.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
CARE FOR THELIYING
Rescuers Pay No Heed to the
Bodies StreWn About.
SCENES ARE HEARTRENDING

Children Await Their Turn, and in
Daxed Amazement Watch Work of
ReIief-TOrches and Lanterns Used
in Searching for the Wounded
Among the Debris.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-31
ALL LEND AID.
CoNTISUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

should take them 10 Washington. where
they were distributed among the several
hospitals.
II was more than two hours, however
before the relief train was started back
from Terra Gotta to Washington.
The relief train left Washington shortly
after S O'Clock. The train consisted Of an
engine. baggage car. and two passenger
coaches It had been hurriedly called by
the company dispatcher. and was made
Up at the depot. where it awaited the
arrival Of the surgeons. nurses. and the
officials % the road.
Company Surgeons Took Charge.
DIT. Lewis ]. Battle. one Of the railroad
surgeons. took charge Of the relief work
Immediately upon the arrival at the scene
OF the catastrophe DR.. Burch, the police
surgeon, also accompanied the relief work
excursion. other surgeons In the party
were Dr. Allen Walker. DIT. NJ H.
I Prospect. Dr. Lewis Walker, and Dr..
Monroe.
I The first relief train returned to the
station at s.35 o'clock. It consisted Of two
/ passenger. cars and one baggage coach
( There were injured people in all the cars.
/ ana nurses were at work relieving the
/ sufferers as the train pulled in. AS the
train backed slowly into the platform
/ there was rush at once TO lend as
sistance 20 the unfortunates. Policemen,
/ doctors. colored porters and citizens aided
/ in carrying those hurt from the cars TO
/ the ambulanCes.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10
HOLD SERVICES OVER PIONEER

The funeral of c. H. Bradley
pioneer of Los Angeles who died at his
sons home on Sunbury street Thursday
night, will be held this afternoon. SER
vices being. observed at the home.
Mr.. Bradbury during his lifetime was
a hard worker for the success of Los
Angeles as a great business center and
he fathered many financial schemes for
the advancement of the city. He was
president of the furniture company now
known as the Los Angeles Furniture
company.
A widow and five children survive.
His eldest daughter is Mrs. George F..
Bovard. wife of President Boyard of
the University of Southern California.
The other children are DIR. e. r.. Brad
ley, Clinton A. Bradley and Mrs. Grace
Hoyle OF Los Angeles and Mrs. Ada
Berge of Chicago. Miss Kate Bradley,
who was drowned a few yearssago at
Long Beach, was his daughter.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10

in the tremendous future of Los An
geles and its territory in Southern Cali
fornia.
"Iu venture to say that not one man
in a thousand in any of the states of
the middle west have the faintest idea
of the Los Angeles of today or it's pos
sibilites of tomorrow. It's worth a
trip across the continent to witness the
sights that one meets on every hand.
The evidence Of progress and growth in
Los Angeles Is so remarkable that one
wonders what will be the result few
years hence. Surely this wonderful
growth of today means a greater
"Mr. Kellogg. one Of the owners OF
our chain of newspapers, Is winter
resident OF Altadena and his enthusi-
asm over the advantages of Southern
California and his interest In the future
OF this section Of the state Is the pri-
mary cause of my visit. I'm beginning
my work with enthusiasm and shall
try to do justice to my subject which
will be the story OF the most remark
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10
ORGANIZE A NEW
DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY
PROMINENT BUSINESS MEN BACK
UNDERTAKING
Will Spend Half a Million Dollars
Advertising in Eastern Publica-
tions-H. E. Huntington Chosen
Chairman of Advisory Board

With the organization of the Develop
ment Society of California this state
has the distinction of being the home
of the largest association of it's kind
in this country. Briefly stated, the
plans comprehend the spending of half
million dollars in advertising this
state and its advantages in eastern
magazines and papers. The money will
be raised by popular subscription
among the merchants and business men
of the entire state, and already large
sums have been pledged.
Ninety per cent of the amount raised
win be spent in advertising, and the
other 10 per cent will be used for fol-
lowing up literature which is to be
sent to any who answer the advertise
ments.
II. E. Huntington has been chosen
chairman of the advisory committee, a
body composed of fifty prominent busi-
ness men of California. The Southern
California headquarters are at 767-76S
Huntington building. The society has
chosen j. Even Mcintyre, Los Angeles
veteran advertiser, as chief advertIs-
er, and already advertisements are be-
ms sent to eastern magazines and pa
pers.
AS the affair is one of the entire state
the officers have been chosen from ali
sections. The STAFF for the present
year is as follows:
President. Joseph Mcmillan: first vice
president. U. $. Grant OF San Diego;
second vice president. w. Scott OF Ions
Beach; secretary, o. " Eaton, conf
dential secretary OF IL. e. Huntington;
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10

indicating a lack of confidence in the
men and their analyses. With the lin
tied force of inspectors the members
held, it would be impossible to seal ca ch
bottled sample Theoretically and guard
1t afterward, though it was stated that
ordinary care was exercised to pre-
vent the intrusion of any germs or for
eign substances into the samples on the
way to the laboratory and any inter-
ference with the department.
The fact was stated, too, that exam
nations are not made so much to learn
chemical results as to study the
amount and kind of bacteria found in
milk offered to the people.
The board will make it plain in its
letter of reply to the association that
the inspectors are agents of the public
as well as OF the board and the deal
ers, hence viii naturally exercise care
in reaching analytical conclusions.
The grocers' body also in its letter
assured the health officers that CO.
operation was rendered in any way to
insure the carrying out of the clauses
of the pure food laws.
Last night eighteen additional per-
mits to dealers to sell milk We're
granted.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10
WANT ALL MILK
SAMPLES SEALED
RETAIL GR0CERS APPEAL TO
BOARD OF HEALTH
Ask That Precautions Be Taken for
and by Inspectors to Insure
Correct Analyses Of the
LacteaI Fluid

Organized retail grocers put them
selves on record last night as faYoring
the pure milk and pure food laws and
so stated in a letter to the Los Angeles
board of health.
In an official communication from
the Southern California Retail Grocers'
association the board was asked to see
to it that safeguards were used in seal
ing the samples of MIX collected for
analysis by the inspectors of the board.
A recent incident i'm which bottles of
sample milk were spilled by a woman
dealer rather than show the contents
to an inspector prompted the dealers to
urge that these samples be protected
en- route to the city chemists office
for the interest Of seller and buyer IL
not for the inspectors themselves. This
woman lost her license for interfering
with the Inspector.
The board declined to act on the
theory that 1t would be construed as
Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-10
To WRITE STORY
OF Los ANGELES
MOST REMARKABLE CITY IN
THE WORLD
Eastern Newspaper Correspondent Ar
rlves to Prepare Data and De-
scrlptions of the Beauties of
Southern California

e. f. Wolcott, representing a number
OF daily newspapers throughout Iowa,
Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri, is
registered at the Hotel Alexandria.
Mr.. Wolcott is commissioned to write
a story of the true conditions of affairs
i'm Southern California, which story will
appear shortly in the following list of
papers: The Omaha Daily News. st.
Paul Daily News. Minneapolis Daily
News, Des Molnes Daily News, Sioux
City Daily News st, Joseph Star and
the Rural Weekly. with a total circula-
tlon of over 100000 When seen by a
Herald reporter Mr.. Wolcott said;
"There is a wrong impression exist
ing in the minds of the people in the
middle west as regards California; 1t is
generally understood that your entire
state has suffered through the earth
quake which resulted I'm the San Fran
cisco disaster-and as a consequence
both the pleasure seeker and the in
yestor from our section we believe will
appreciate the truth about this wonder
full city and the opportunities afforded
the home seeker and the tourist in this
portion of California.
Visitors and Settlers
N Hundreds OF citizens OF the cities
u which we publish papers are annual