New-York tribune., 1908-07-04
7 DIE IN FIRE PANIC
FIREWORKS EXPLOSION.
Thirty Injured by Struggle for Life
in CleUeland Store.

result of a fire and panic following an explosion
of fireworks in S. S Kregges and 10 cent
store. in Ontario street, to-day.
THE DEAD.
HUGHES Mary twenty-seven years old. shopper.
Parker james L. years old.
REFS, Elizabeth. eighteen years old. clerk
SCHUMACHER. pmma. eighteen years old. hoorraiker-
TREFALL. Anna. twenty-four years old clerk
TREFALL. Frida. seventeen years old clerk
WAGNER. Marie. seventeen years old. clerk
THE INJURED
ANDREWS. Helen Lorain. Ohio: bruised
BAER Elizabeth burns and cuts
BOWMAN Carrie. internal injuries
BRANDT Emma. eSLteen years old. sprained ankle
and
BUBEL Carrie seventeen years cid; ankle sprained-
BURKOwITz. Ella. cuts and burns
cATRaiiRi ana ihtsrnag af5eh inju2ed a9ed'eeh Yeas '
DAVIS. Hazel ankles sprained
EAIsCHER Mrs. Anna twenty-five years DID, arm ana
hip broken.
FLICK. Hugh fireman. cuts ~
FRANK Mrs Fannie nifty years oio' Oo+i-4
GRUNT. Bertha twenty-tour years Old burns
HLDEBRANDT, Anna. eighteen years old internaHy-
HOFFMAN. Lieutenant. fireman cuts
and nip broken,
JAsKINS Lotta, bruises.
JASKINS Emma, leg broken
KELLY. Leita. burned and bruised
KDER "s So% IF and
Of fehaI skull !lfSs
MAHER Agnes forty-tvo years No. 24s west 2oth
street. hit by stray bullet
MANNHEIM Godie. burns
MAYES Muriel. eighteen years old. bruises ana cuts
MEASNER- Jennie. burns on arm
MINCH Henry policeman: struck by falling ladder
MRABEILE Mrs Emma No. 4os East SD street hit
by stray bullet.
MOORE Thomas. fireman. cTts
RICHARDS. Myrtle. Girard Penn. ankle sprained and
brusses.
scHAEF. Emma seventeen years old. bruises and
nervous r1f shock
SINGER. Jennie. head injured
STOEFFE1I, Nina. burned and bruised
TRESS, CIussi. ankle spraired and cuts-
WADE. Mrs Merl burns.
WALLACE. Fire Chief cuts.
ZIMMERMAN, Anna, burns face and hands
Opinions differ as to the exact cause OF the
explosion A woman who was at the fireworks
counter said the stock was ignited by sparks
from device which was being demonstrated to
her by a clerk. Fire Chief Wallace and the
store manager were of the opinion tnat the
pieces were ignited by an arc light.
The store which is situated near the busiest
corner in the downtown district. was well hlled
with shoppers. mostly women and children
Practically all of the clerks were young girls
Although the explosion of the fireworks caused
CONSERVATION the real panic did not start Until
some one shouted "Fire"
For an instant hush came over the crowd
Then women screamed. some tainted and sudden
fear overcame them. Crazed by the possibility
of injury or death all on the main floor rushed
for the front and rear doors Quickly they were
jammed in the front doorway. During the jam
those who had attempted to escape by the rear
door were blocked in their progress. The back
door was too small for all who sought safety
there and the rear windows were closed with
iron bars.
Those who could not escape in this direction
turned to the front door While practically
every one on the main floor was able to escape
without injury through the front door, it was
of that door
of the six unfortunate ones lost their lives. The
| four-year-old son of Mrs. George Parker was
| knocked to the floor in the first panic, where ne
| Law unconscious and trampled upon untn
suffocated by the smoke.
FRENZIED RUSH FOR ESCAPE.
While the panic upon the main floor was IN
progress the flames from the fireworks counter
rapidly advanced to other parts or the sIore'
| The smoke and flames were whlried up tho
stairways to the second and third floors Ihere
another frenzied crowd of clerks and shoppers
| endeavoring to find means OF escape oy way
Of the stairs were frustrated by the suffocatlns
smoke The elevators were worked raploly ana
to their full capacity, but this made small I'M
| nression upon the huge crowd that thronged
| the store Shut off from the elevators ana
| stairs the crowd rushed to the windows. Rap
| idly the windows were so crowded ana 1amiheu
| that none could crawl through at hrst. Later
| some of the girls managed to work loose anu
crawl out upon the Lodging There they grouPeu'
| wildly shriekng until ordered to jump oy tne
| erer,en who hv this time had spread the life
net Many jumped
Misses Emma and Lotta Jaskins sisters were
..-;-, -, the second floor when the fire broke
ont When the cry of fire was shouted IiieS
| "a, with +be crowd toward the stairways There
.s M chance to get out, however, for the stair
| evs were blocked with people. They then
| rushed back toward window
Both the young women climbed out Oh 'he
window ledge. The smoke was pouring ou'
behind them. The crowd yelled lor thelh 10
.un,p. and several policemen stood oeio" ready
| 70 catch them. Miss Emma Jasklns jumped
first An attempt was mace 10 ca'cn ner' anu
ber fall was partly broken. She struck the
sidewalk heavily, however, and her leg was
broken. M
| IT,, ,.+er remained in the building until the
| so,,,as shot over her through the window She
IS bod1,, burned about the back When the
eaues finally reached her sho decided TO jump
She was caught in the arms OF seVeral poiioeiioi
and was not hurt by the fa
GIRLS TRAPPED IN COUNTER
,ru,o ~ the dead clerks working at the
fireworks counter. on the ground moor. Ihls
counter was situated in the centre OF the store
and was box shaped The girls were inside the
inc,osure When the explosion occurred tnes
| ooula not escape The girls dropped to the moor
and sought safety under the counter. The nyins
| -ookets and crackers were exploding ABOUT
| them.
Customers about the counter had an oppor-
| +unitv to escape and one stopped to save the
girls. They were burned to death In this trap
When the hremen arrived dozens were crowded
| IN ths windows and upon the lodges The fire.
men ordered them TO remain quiet Ladders