Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-01-14

lDO LIZ v" ~ 4 o-B Jan
Nearly 100 persons of this borough
we're killed in a theater fire and pan
ic last night, and nearly three score
injured, many of them fatally A |
of the leading families of the town. |
While THE Scottish Reformation" |
was being presented in Rhodes opera |
house by Mrs. Monroe of Washington |
q tank used in moving picture scene |
exploded. Immediately there was a |
wild rush for the exits of the build |
ing. Men of mature years endeavor-
ed to still the panic, but their voices |
could not be heard above the shrieks |
and screams of the terrified women
and children, who composed the
greater part of the audience.
1t semmed as though nearly the
entire audience made a rush for the
exits the moment the explosion oc-
Cured.
In their attempt to quiet the great
crowd those persons who were on
the stage accidentally upset the coal
oil lamps used at the footlights. The
burning oil scattered in all directions.
and the lamps which were used to
light the opera house exploded,
throwing the blazing oil over the ter
rified audience, who were fighting
frantically to gain the exits. In the
mad rush a section of the floor gave
way, precipitating scores of persons
to the basement.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
1t was scarcely five minutes from
the time of the explosion of the tank
until the entire structure seemed
roaring furnace. There was a mad
scramble to the stairway and scores
of women and children we're knocked
down and trampled upon, many of
them doubtless being crushed to
death. At least so persons. realizing
that exit by the stariways meant al
most certain death, risked their lives
by jumping from the windows. Limbs
were broken and skulls were crushed
by the daring method of escape.
Fell Into Flames.
As the flames caught their way to-
ward the front of the building women
could be seen to clasp their hands and
fall back into the flames. Once the
dooways were clear the rescuers
dragged many women and children
from the stairways leading to the
balcony Some of them were SO bad
ly injured that they died before
reaching a temporary hospital. Skulls
were crushed and the faces of some
of the victims were so horribly mutt
lated that, they were unacceptable.
In one case the skull of a child about
10 years, of age was crushed almost
to jelly.
To add to the terrible disaster the
fire apparatus became disabled and
the structure was left entirely to the
mercy of the flames. Assistance was
asked from Pottstown, but before the
fire apparatus from that city reached
the place, the entire center of the
structure was a roaring furnace.
Panic Causes Disaster.
Had the women and children heed
ed the warning of the cooler headed
people in the audience the horrible
loss of life might have been ayerted
but there was the usual panic and
stampede which invariably follows
such a catastrophe. The flames
spread rapidly and communicated tC
the other parts of the building. Men
women and children rushed for tbs
many exits, and the weaker sex were
trampled and MANNED in the mao
rush to gain the streets.
Assistance was also asked for o
both Reading and Pottstown anC
special trains carrying nurses ant
doctors rushed to the city. Ever!
home within a radius of half dozeI
blocks of the opera house was made
temporary hospital, where the wound
ed were rushed by carriages and 9th
er means of conveyance.
Boyertown is borough with pop
ulation of about 2500 and is locates
about midway between Pottstowl
and Reading.
Agony OF Mothers.
The night was one of waiting an,
anguish. The shrieks of mothers
who had rushed to the scene as 500,
as they learned of the fire, were pitt
full. As the night wore on the crowd
surrounding the building grew t