The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

Boyertown, Jan. l4-Out of the ruins
Of Rhoades opera House one hundred and
sixty-seven blackened bodies, mostly Of
women and children. had been mined to-
night when darkness fell. Then, with at
least forty more bodies in sight and
perhaps more mixed inextfcably in the
debris, the search stopped.
If searchlights can be secured it viii
De resumed tonight If not, the ghastly
work will be begun again at dawn
Altogether 200 of Boyertown's people at
least persisted by fire, by trampling, and
10y sunocation in the awful tragedy Of
last night The list may reach 80.
Clearly, the cause has been determined.
Curiosity of one child gave the push that
sent ali those fear-maddened people into
eternity. Three hundred and twenty men.
women, and children were in the audience
which gathered TO witness an entertain
ment by St Johns Lutheran Sunday
school.
Lamp Was Overturned.
Mrs. II. F. Monroe who was running
IL, had combined with it moving pic
ture show. Suddenly the sharp kissing
Of air from an fl-dtting valve Of the gas
tank Of the machine sounded. Women and
men apprehensIvely turned in their seats
and gazed at the sputtering machine IN
tne rear. Conversation became SO loud
that It reached behind the scenes.
one of the little girls innocently lifted
the muslin screen from the bottom 10
peer at the audience. As she did the
wooden bar and weight at the bottom
brushed against two lamps set in a
trough Of tin, the reservoir for the oil.
Topping over, the lamps We're disjoint-
ed and blazing oil spread about the
stage and the orchestra pit
The lamps then rolled into the first row
of the orchestra setting the clothing OF
a couple of children on fire. AT the
same time the fimsy curtain became ig-
nited
With a sheet Of flame swinging az them
from over the footIights, futile efforts to
smother the fire were made by the actors
and the stage hands. and the audience,
from row to row, jumped upon it's feet.
As they did So the curtain, burned from
its fasteninss, fell into the oil-soaked or
chestra pit. At this two-thirds of the
audience ran for the only exit leading to
the street, steep stairway. four feet
wide
Women Were AbIaze.
The flames Ieaped over the first row Of
orchestra chairs. Flowing gowns of
women became igntted. There was a cHo- |
rus Of terrible shriels. Just then The
flames became brighter, shrieks were dou-
bled, and the panic was on
Husbands forgot their wives. brothers
sisters, friends their lifelong comrades.
In an instant. In a moment there was
utter confusion. The first bodies began
10 drop upon the stairs Those behind /
tried TO edge back. They were blocked 4
by those behind.
Make way. was the shout But he /
fore any one had a chance 10 make way. I
a cloud Of flames and smoke ran across /
the heads and shoulders of the throng. !
\ dozen dead, and double that numbe. /
diving. We're left in the wake Of the fire 4
and smoke clONd.
1t was then that the real panic began /
Men fought women TO escape TO the out /
side. Women felIed men To the floor /
Dozens from the top OF the stairway /
Snped feet first upon the heaving forms /
of scores fighting TO get down to the
street
All Exits Jammed.
The same conditions existed an the
smaller exit at the rear Of the stage. and +
AT the windows opening upon a fire es-
cape. In the struggle for life, the strong
sr succeeded. The weaker. composed the
l62 bodies which formed a funeral cortege
all day from the opera house TO four i'm
provised morgues Tonight the coroner
made this statement:
Il first viii clear up the identification
Of the l62 bodies taken from the ruins.
Then I will impanel a jury The inquest
into the death Of the panic victims VIII
be as rigid as it VIII be complete. II
any one has been guilty of neglect ex-
pect it viii he proven by the number Of
Witnesses viii have to testify. At
this time would not be proper for me to
gay theI was one person who. I believe.
lid large part in causing the scores Of
innocent people 10 meet such sudden and ,