Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-01-17
ABOUT 40 PERISH in
SHOCKING THEATER FIRE

the stairways, risked their lives b.,
jumping from the windows. In this
way several were so badly injured that
they died before reaching any of the
numerous temporary hospitals. Boyer
aown is a village of about $500 PEG.
pie, and there is scarcely house iI
the little town that has not been at.
tlicted.
Fire Controlled at Last.
The fire was not brought under con-
troll until Tuesday after assistance
had arrived from Reading and Potts.
town. Physicians and nurses were
also sent to Boyertown from Reading
and aided materially in alternating the
sufferings of the injured who had
leaped from the windows in their mad
rush to escape the flames. Tuesday
about SO members Of the state con.
stabulary, which is stationed In this
district, came over from Reading on
special train. The work of removing
the bodies from the debris will be un.
sually tedious and hazardous. When
the crush was at its height the floor
gave way. precipitating many persons
to the basement, and the bodies OF
these will be buried beneath the
charred timbers and tons of bricks
from the ruined walls. In addition to
the opera house and Farmers National
Bank, Rahn's hardware store and the
dwellings of George Rain, Harry Pen.
nypacker and Alfred Zashard were
burned. The monetary loss will
amount to about $4,000.
Songs; Then Terrible Blast.
The people taking part mad finished
their songs and, incidentally to the
drama, a number of pictures were
shown by a moving picture machine.
This was operated by H. w. Fisher of
Carlisle, Pa, who used calcium lights.
While he was operating the machine
there was flash and loud report
and the people sitting in the rear of
the opera house near the machine
arose in fright and rushed toward the
stage. Their action caused a panic
in the audience and many Of the PEG.
pie, thinking the building was atire.
rushed toward the stage. The young
people who were taking part in the
performance motioned to them to keep
back and resume their seats but the
frightened spectators attempted tc
climb onto the stage. One of the
young people on the stage more ex
cited than the others made a motion
as to repel them and in his excitement
he overturned one o. the coal oil
lamps that were used as footlights for
the stage. 1t fell with crash into
the auditorium and exploded.
Ablaze in an Instant.
In an instant the stage floor was
ablaze and the frightened people
surged toward the rear again. The
youthful actors fed from the stage
and managed to escape, clad in their
stage garments. The crowd in front
of the auditorium fled to the rear and
they were met by crowd from the
rear frantic to escape from the peril
of the burning picture machine in the
rear. The mob became panic.stricken
and strong men beat down women
and children in their efforts to get out
Of the building. Frank Callen, a black,
smith, seized his four-year.old son and
made his way to a window. When he
attempted to return to get his wife
she was in a struggling mass of hui
mainly and 1t was impossible for him
to reach her. The flames spread rap,
idly and many of the audience were
caught and overcome before they
could reach the fire escapes. The
frenzied people fought with each other
to reach the front entrance. .a..