The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-14

stage. Others joined in the rush toward
stage motioned to Ha tSen Vso' to 20 back. @ bur but
the frightened spectators attempted to
| climb on 20 the stage to escape the fiery
spluttering of the moving picture ma
| chine.
] LAMP OVERTURNED.
J One of The young people on the stage
made motion as IL TO repel the audi
erce. and i'm his excitement. he overturn-
ed one OF the coal oil lamps that were
with crash into the auditorium and ex-
plodcd. In an instant the stage front Wa
aolaze. and the frightened people surgcd
| toward the rear again. The youthful ac-
| tors fled from the stage and escaped Clad
| in their stage garments
The crowd I'm front fed to the rear as
| the flames from the stage edged toward
/ them. and they were met by crowd
| from the rear frantic 10 escape from the
, burning picture machine In the rear. The
mob became stricken, and strong
| ner beat down women and children in
| their effort TO get out OF the building. The
! flames spread rapidly and many OF the
( fore they could reach the fire escapes.
The frenzied people fought with each
I other ITO reach the front entrance.
A struggling mass of humanity was
quickly piled against the doors that led
to the stairs opening on Philadelphia
avenue Here the flames soon overlook
them and they were burned To death al
most i'm sight of escape from the secth-
ing furnace that surrounded them.
A number OF people attracted by the
cries OF fire rushed from the street 10
the entrance OF the opera house. and up
the stairs to the second floor They sue
ceeded In rescuing some, but were forced
to abandon the others TO their fate as
the flames drove them from the build
The fire was not brought under con-
troll until early this morning, after as
sistance had arrived from Reading and
Pottstown.
Physicians and nurses from Reading
gave assistance TO the injured. Early
today about 80 members of the state con-
stabulary. which is stationed in this dis
trict come over from Reading on a spe-
cial train
The work of removing the bodies from
the debris will be tedious and hazardous.
When the crush was at its height. the
floor gave way. preclpitating many per-
sons to the basement and the bodies OF
these will be buried beneath the charred
timbers and tons OF bricks from the
ruined walls.
OTHER STRUCTURES BURNED.
In addition to the opera house, the
Farmers National bank Rahn's hardware
store and the dwellings OF George Rohn.
Harry Pennypacker and Alfred seasheard
were burned
The monetary loss will amount to about
$4,000.
II appears that the fire In the opera
house was beyond control from the In
stant IL started.
The building I'm which the entertain
ment was conducted was I'm ruins I'm 10
minutes and not a vestige is left but the
blackened wnls.
Some of the most prominent families In
tho town are bereft
Rhoades Opera House. where the fire
occurred. was a two-story brick building.
The first floor was occupied by a hard
ware store and on the second was the
entertainment hall.
Boyertown has about 300 people rt
Is eight miles from PottStown and Il
miles from Reading. II Is I'm Eastern
Berks. near the Montgomery county line.
and Is situated In the midst Of a thriving
agricultural community Its people are
among the most we'll 10 do I'm the country.
II has a number OF flourishing industries
and it's homes arc as substantial as in the
large cities. Nearly every family suffered
loss In the fire.
A FIREMAN KILLED
Latest estimates place the number kill
ed IN last nights theatre horror at from
l25 to 10. The town officials think at
injured
In going 90 tho nrc the Boyertowu en-
gine company collided with n tree One OF
the hrcmen was thrown against the tree
and was instantly killed
At O'Clock this morning the borough
president ordered all saloons closed. ss
the rough element was becoming unruly
under the Influence OF liquor