The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-15

Boyortown, Pa. Jan. 15-With the
opening today OF the four improvised
morgues In which lay the victims OF
Monday nights theatre holocaust, the In
habitants OF this little borough began to
realize the awful extent OF the tragedy.
The disaster has touched probably every
family I'm the town and In neghboring
villages. Where families were not direct
ly affected by the terrible panic and fire
through tho loss OF relatives. they were
mourning for lost friends or acquaint-
ances. The gruesome scenes following
the disaster brings shudder to the stout
est heart. and many OF the thousands
who have come as curiosity seekers have
gone away declaring they never want TO
witness another sight like II.
The four buildings used as morgues
contain l62 bodies. The three undertake
ing establishments OF the borough were
too small to accommodate the large num-
ber of victims, so the borough officials
decided 10 use the high school. Under
takers from surrounding towns were
pressed into service TO care for the bodies
as they arrived from the ruins. TO each
body was attached n tag containing
number and with the corpse was laid any
article Of jewelry or clothing that might
have been in the possession of the VIC
tim.
Coroner Strasser haG expected to open
the morgues for the identification of the
dead yesterday afternoon, but the num-
| ber OF dead grew SO large that the under
/ takers even with the augmented force
| from other towns were unable TO proper
| ly arrange the bodies. Most OF the bodies
were In such condition that few OF them
will be recognized by the features alone.
| In nearly every case the upper portions
4 - hn Df
| TO a crisp. Because OF the difficulty of
/ Identification and the attendant confusion
| the coroner decided TO keep the morgues
closed until today. and during the morn
ing the doors OF the building were thrown
| open. Hundreds of people were waiting
at each place TO get look at the bodies
In the hope OF finding the remains of
loved ones. Perfect order was main
tanned.
At each of the morgues detail OF the
state police was on duty TO keep the
crowds moving. AS quickly as identih-
cations were made the bodies were turn
ed over TO undertakers for removal 60 the
homes OF the Victims
Jacob Johnson, who was badly hurt I'm
the mad rush for the exits from the burn
inc building died this morning.
Coroner Strasser lis making an investi-
cation preliminary 60 the official inquest
The coroner's attention was called 20 the
fact that oil lamps were used for foot
lights in the opera house In place OF a
stationary illumination. Ho said he would
make thorough inquiry.
WOMAN HAD PREMONITIoN.
But two members OF the cast. so far
as can be learned. were killed This is
due 10 tho precaution taken by Ms.
Della Mayer She had premonition
that something would happen. AT a
luncheon given 90 the members Of tho
al ..s.I 4a.sa aNft
said she feared something. There ought
20 be a means OF escape. she said Tho
rear entrance was spoken OF and at her
suggestion the doors were taken of the
hinges so that in case OF accident egress
could easily be accomplished.
Henry w Fischer OF Carlisle, Pa, the
operator OF the calcium Hight which was
the original cause of the terrible disaster.
made his escape from the burning build
ing though not without first rccevir x
severe burns Mr. Fischer said: The
accident 10 the calcium light was caused
by a cap on one OF the tanks blowing
out. This onused q sharp report and
fash. which startled the people in tho
audience"
IT stuc kto my apparatus" he said. land
finally got the leak repaired and sue
coeded In quietlng the alarmed people.
Just az I had them calncd. tho foolish
action OF some thoroughly frightened and
wild person on the stage caused the
over-sctting OF the footlight lamps and
the consequent spread of the fiamcs
which nothing could avert. Not until
then did | desert my post and seek my
own safety In flight"
MANY FROM OUTSIDE
That the victims were not confined "a
| residents ~ BoNcrtown was shown by
the number Of unclaimed teams nt the
hotels. Fully 40 teams remained uncall'
"a for in the stables Yesterday. and ths
the hos,lers said they belonged TO people