The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-12-31
IN MEMORY Of
FIRE VICTIMS
MONUMENT IS DEDICATED TO
THOSE WHO PERlsHED IN
iRoOuOlS THEATRE,
FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY
Hundreds Met Death In Greatest
Theatre Holocaust in History
Story OF the Great Catas-
trophe Retold.

Chicago. Dec 30.--The fifth ami
vcrGary OF the Iroquois theatre fire in
this city was observed today by tha
dedication Of monument erected Ia
MCntrcse cemetery by the IroguOis
Memorial association in memory of
the COO victims OF the terrible catae
trcpho The mcnament. which Is
handsome slait of granite, marks the
brrial place of the one unknown
woman who perished IN the fire The
dedication was accompanied by ian
preesiye ceremonies Tonight tie
annual memorial service for the v &.
Tins takes place in Willard hall,
with addresses by Rev Jenkin Lloyd
and others
The lruquois theatre holocaust was
the most appalling disaster of is
kind in the worlds history The fire
originated on the stage OF the thcatra
during the matinee performance Il
! December 30 1903 at tim Wa u
every part of the house was crowd 4
with the usual holiday audience of
wcmen and children. The thestFe
was practically new, Having Eeen
opened only a few weeks previous
10 the firc The attraction
spectacular piece entitled Blu
| beard" which had been running there
since the opening night II IS be
! leyod that sparks from cne of the
spotlights gnited some Of the ilImsy
pieces of scenery In the wings, and
| In few moments the blaze spread
toward the flies Some Of the actors
and stage employees tried to tent out
the flames, but did not succeed and
the signal was given to drop the fire
proof curtain
Owing to the fact that a rope. with
which the aerial ballet" was manipu
lated had been so fastened that il
obstructed the movements e the
curtain, the latter corld not be low.
cred for some time. when IL was
finally released, the fire had made
such progress on the stage that the
employees became panic stricken an;
opcred the large double door ia the
rear of the stage and leading to the
court behind the theatre. through
which the scenery was brought in
and oHt of the theatre
Tho terrific draft caused the as
bettos curtain to bulge out into the
auditorium. In a few minutes II tore
and fell and immense volumes of
smoke and flames poured into the
playhouse. At that time most Of the
seats IN the house had been emptied
by the panic stricken spectators aud
they were crowding through the
exits as fast as they eorid.
When the smoke and flames poured
into the auditorium. sweeping the
whole inferior hundreds we're over.
come. They fell IN heaps right az
the exit and were sufocated by the
heat and smoke Those ON top Of the
pile we're scorched beyond recognt
iion. The situation was greatly az.
srayated bv the fact that the ushers
leI for safety without stopping long
enough ~ unlock anl urbou the hrs
exits provided for on every door
The spectators. finding the salty
kits bolted and locked. were com
relicd To seek release from the fery
urrace behind them through the
nair exits on NJ. Randolph street
side While crowded around these
KITS during The Jam they were over
powered by the slruke and iamcs
.n5 perishci Only few saved
heir licys over the fre escape which
hey reschod from the balcony The
.-- So 600, .r-.Hrr .ssHfrrf A. E~zf
was not thought that ihe loss of
Co. nal been great and tire fuu es-
sut OF the disaster uss rot realized
mite tfe hremen reache5 the upper
'urr- of the house. whsre they
orlI the dead piled siX or eight
ial. az beaded for the exits and
hr5c IN tor terribly burned. The
csres which followed hsggar ds-
crrtion.
The police department took charge
& the removal of The hunireds Of
ofes and fhey wrre taken % the
a-ous mu-gues and undertaking es
zhcre they were laid
q rows on the bare floors. to await
leztifeation Many q the bod-es
-err 30 terribly burned that recoEni.
Isn uas possible oEiv through pieces
e clothing ur hiis of iewelry or pos
IBIS q Eoia flied tooth IN the
ourse OF tire al of tre 20 rictius
rcre finally MerfifeI 18th the ex-
u ton % one uoman. whose Identify
las aiuays remainea a mFstsrF. A
ot vas put hased thuugh pubiic