The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-14
ONE HUNDRED PERSONS
PERISH IN THEATRE FIRE
Three Score Injured, Many of Them Fatally, in
Wild Panic at Boyertown,
Pennsylvania.
Coal Oil Lamps Used Foo flights, Upset, and Building
Was Soon in Flames.

Royertown. Pa, Jan. 13.-Nearly one
hundred persons of this borough We're
killed i'm a theater fire and pants to-
night, and nearly three score injured,
many of them fatally. A majority of
the killed were members of the lead
ing families Of the town.
While the Scottish Reformation"
was being reproduced in Rhoades
Opera house by Mrs. Monroe of Wash
ington tank used in a moving pic
ture scene exploded. immediately there
was "A wild rush for the exits of the
building. Men of mature years en-
deavOred to still the panic, but their
voices could not be heard above the
shrieks and screams of the terrified
women and children, who composed the
greater part of the audience.
Mad Rush for Exits.
1t seemed as though nearly the en-
<<1re audience made mad rush for the
exits the moment the explosion oc-
Cured
In their attempt TO quiet the great
crowd those persons who were on the
stage accidentally upset the cOal-Oil
lamps used at the fOOtlights. The burn
ing oil scattered in all directions, and
the lamps which were used to light
the opera house exploded, throwing the
blazing oil over the terrOr-stricken
people. who were fighting frantically
TO gain the exits. In the mad rush
section of the floor gave way, precipi
tating scores of persons to the base
ment
Soon a Roaring Furnace.
1t was scarcely five minutes from the
time of the explosion of the tanks un-
til the entire heart of the structure
seemed roaring furnace. There was
a mad scramble TO the stairway, and
scores of women and children were
knocked down and trampled upon,
many of them doubtless being crushed
TO death. At least fifty persons. real
izing that exit by the stairway meant
almost certain death, risked their
lives by jumping from the windows.
Limbs were broken and skulls were
crushed by this daring method of
escape.
In the meantime a relief corps was
at work at the entrance to the theatre,
endeavOring to release those who were
wedged in the doorway and unable to
extricate themselves. Many persons
who otherwise might have made good
their escape from the furnace were
held in check by the awful jam at the
doors.
Fell Back Into the Flames.
AS the flames cut their way toward
the front of the building women could
be seen TO clasp their hands and fall
back into the flames. Once the door
ways were cleared the rescuers
dragged many women and children
from the stairways leading to the bal
cony. Some of them were so badly in
jured that they died before reaching a
temporary hospital. Skulls were
crushed and the faces OF some of the
victims were so horribly mutilated that
they We're barely recognizable. In one
instance the skull of a child apparent
ly about 10 years Of age was crushed
. almost TO a jelly.
List OF Known Dead.
The list IF dead so far as known. fol-
lows:
Mrs. Frank Cullen.
Lulu Fogley.
Mrs. Daniel Gabel.
Daniel Kramer.
Mrs. Daniel Kramer.
Lottie Kramer.
Fred Godschall.
Mrs. Fred GodschalL
Elisha Reinert.
Harry Toms.
Mrs. Harry Reinardt.
Mrs. George ROmig.
Herbert Godsehall.
Mrs Herbert GOdschall.
Blanche Boehl.
Ellen Godschall.
Mabel Graft.
Mrs. J. ]. Becker.
Three children of Mrs Becker.
Mabel HOehl.
I.Ottie Trader.
John RAIDER.
Charles Lehyer.
Daniel Krause.
Norris Anderson.
James Anderson.
Mrs. James Anderson.
Two children of Mr.. and Mrs. An
dersOn.
Mrs Carrie Weand.
Franklin @. Leidy.
A. Foreman.
Mrs. Foreman.
Charles Lowery.
Jennie Konnie KunZ.
Miss Mary Tabor.