Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-14
one EHUNDREDF FIFTY DEAD
IN BURNING THEATER
Women and Children Trampled and Burned
to Deatll IN Opera House Fire at
Boyertown, Pa.
GAS TANK AND KEROSENE EXPLODE

explosion occurred some ore yelleu
"fire," and almost in less time than II
take to tell it. the center of the opera
house was blazing furnace.
Men Show cowardics.
The rapidity with which the flames
spread was caused by the upsetting OF
coal oil lamps used as foot lights, by
some persons on the stage who en-
deavored to allay the frightened chill
dren and quiet the audience. But even
men seemed to lose all control OF
themselves and fought with the women
and children, who composed the great
er part of the audience, to gain the
street. In this manner many women
and children who might otherwise have
escaped the flames, We're forced back
and trampled upon. Particularly is this
the case of those caught on the stair
ways.
Pandemonium reigned and the mad
scramble for the exits was simply in
describable. The weaker ones were
brushed aside and in many Instances
trampled to death. Scores of persons
on the second floor, seeing the awful
jam on the stairways, risked their lives
by jumping from the upper windows.
In this way several We're so badly in
jured that they died before reaching
any Of the numerous temporary hos
pitals.
Whole Town Mourns.
Boyertown is a town of about 1900
persons. and there is scarcely a house
in the little town that is not afflicted
by last nights visitation of fire.
Other Towns Aid.
The fire was not brought under con-
troll until early this morning, after as
sistance arrived from Reading and
also were sent to Boyertown from
Reading and aided materially in allev-
iating the sufferings of the injured.
Early today about fifty members Of
the state constabulary stationed in
this district came frem Reading on a
special train. The work of removing
the bodies from the debris will be
unusually tedious and hazardous.
When the rush was at it's height the
floor gave way, precipitating many
persons to the basement, and the bod
les are buried beneath charred timbers
and tons of brick from the ruined
walls. In addition to the opera and the
Farmers National bank Erhan's
hardware house and the dwellings OF
George Rain, Harry Pennypacker and.
Alfred Zashard We're burned The
monetary loss amounts to $4,000.
1t was scarcely five minutes from
the time of the explosion of the tank
until the entire structure seemed a
roaring furnace. There was al mad
scramble for the stairway leading to
the balcony, and scores of women and
children were knocked down and
trampled upon. many of them doubt
less being crushed to death
At least fifty persons, realizing that
exit by the stairway means almost GER
tain death. risked their lives by jump
ing from the windows.
Limbs were broken and ribs crushed
by this daring method of escape. Many
who otherwise might have escaped
from the furnace of flames VIE held
in check by the jam at the doors.
Fall Back Into Flames.
AS the flames ate their way toward
the front of the building. woman could
be seen to clasp their hands and fall
back into the flames. Once the door,
ways were cleared, the rescuers drag
ged many women and children from the
stairways leading to the balcony Some
of them were so badly injured they
died before reaching the temporary
hospital.