The San Francisco call., 1908-07-04
SEVEN PERISH
IN Fire PANIC
Thirty Also Badly Injured in a
Rush Following ExpIO-
sion in Store

CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 3.-Seven
persons We're killed, at least two others
were fatally injured and fully so more
were severely hurt as the result of a
fire in 5. s. Kreg's cent store in On
tario street today. Following is list
OF the dead.
EMMA SCHUMAKER, Is. floor
walker.
MARIE WAGNER, It, clerk
ANNA TREFALL "a. clerk.
FRIDA TREFALI., Il clerk
ELIZABETH RESS. II, clerk
MARY HUGHES. p. shopper.
JAMES /. PARKER, + years.
Inc most seriously hurt are: Anna
ailoebrant IS, internally; Laura Horsk,
10, burned about body and hip broken;
Mrs. Anna Falscher. arm and hip
broken; Jennie Singer, head injured;
Carrie Bowman. internal injuries:
Helen Gatraski. IA. trampled upon and
internally injured; Emma Jaskins, leg
broken.
FIRE FOLLOWS EXPLOSION
The fire followed an explosion Of
fireworks on display in the store.
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 a device
which was being demontrated TO her
by q clerk. Fire Chief Wallace and
the store manager were Of the opinion
that the pieces were ignited by an arc
light.
Immediately after the explosion an
alarm was sounded and q panic seized
the hundreds OF clerks and shoppers
A mad rush was made for Ine doors
and windows. Many jumped from the
second and third floor windows.
The store, which is located near the
busiest corner IN the downtown district,
was well filled with shoppers, mostly
women and children. Practically all
Of the clerks We're young girls. Al
though the explosion Of the fireworks
caused CONSERVATION, the real panic did
not occur until some one shouted Fire
For an instant a hush came over the
crowd. Then women screamed. some
tainted and sudden fear Overcame them.
MAD RUSH TO ESCAPE
Crazed by the possibility Of injury or
death, all on the main floor rushed for
the front and rear doors. Quickly they
We're jaumed in the front doorway.
During the Jam those who had at
tempted 10 escape by the rear door
were blocked in their passage. The
back door was too small for all who
sought safety there and the rear win
dows were closed with iron bars. Those
who could not escape in this direction
returned TO the front door. While prac-
tically every one on the main floor was
able to leave without injury through
the front door. il was mainly because
OF the Jam at that door that the seven
unfortunate ones lost their lives.
Two Of the clerks. seeing no posi-
bility Of immediate escape at the front
door, ran 10 the basement. The base
ment windows also We're barred with
iron and their return TO the main floor
was cut of by the approach Of the
as--
10 the rear Of the store by the ap-
preaching flames finally sought safety
under a counter where their bodies
were found two hours after the explo-
sion. The five women had been suffo-
Gated The seventh victim. the year
old son Of Mrs. George Parker. was
knocked TO the floor during the first
panic. There he lay unconscious and
trampled upon until suffocated by the
smoke.
FLAMES SPREAD FROM FIREWORKS
While the panic upon the main floor
was in progress the flames from the
fireworks counter rapidly advanced to
other parts Of the store. The smoke
and fire were whirled up the stairWays
TO the second and third floors. The
- 1renZied crowds Of clerks and shoppers
who were endeavoring to find a means
OF escape by way of the stairs were
frustrated by the suffocating smoke
The elevator made several trips dur
ing the first few minutes of the fire
and took many TO the main floor.
Hundreds Of persons were near or in
front OF the store at the time Of the
explosion Terrified shoppers rushed
out Of the front door 10 the sidewalk
Women and girls appeared in the up
per windows shouting and pleading for
help. Men on the sidewalks told them
70 wait until the fremen arrived with
their ladders. Hysterical with the
fright that was upon them some did
not wait. but hurled themselves to the
sidewalk. IN this manner many were
, severely injured When one or two
had thus faced death, II stampeded the
others on the upper window ledges. and
they, too. followed