The Washington times., 1908-01-14

sene lamps used for footHghts were
kicked over, and the place fred.
Exit Clogged With Victims.
While a number OF deaths would un-
doubtedly have resulted from the panic
alone, II was the fire which magl,ihef
the diaster. Almost in a twinkling the
one narrow exit was clogged With d wall
OF human forms. Others who sought to
get out by the main passageway encoun-
tered this wall Of bodies ard beat madIy
against il. a number OF them then
turned 70 flee to tie windows. but the
fTenzied crowds about these Few open
ings made escape this way exceedingly
slow. Meanwhile the members OF the
amateur company on the stage were
fleeing by the rear entrance.
The open stage door and the open
windows in the main hall served to send
a draught through the fire-trap, and the
flames swept over the entire house as
II by magic, leapins about the impris-
oned Wretcnes VINO were caught with
out p chance Of escape.
Body of Mother and Babe.
| Among the chorred bodies vas found
the body OF a woman with a child
/ ing burned into one einder. Other bodies
found in the main portion OF the house
| those trapped without a chance 10 flee
were found with hands Clasped and in
an attitude Of prayer.
OF the injured who escaped. nearly all
are suffering from broken limbs or frac-
| tured skulls, the result Of mad leaps
: from the windows. in the list OF identi-
a =
Stella Mayors. OF Washington. who had
| coached the young church folks IT, the
| play being given last night. Mary.
ueen of Scots" Mrs. Mayors was on
| the stage at the time, and gave her life
in an effort to save the young people
under her charge. It is said today that
I the woman might have escaped herself,
but went back 10 the dressing room 10
see if any of her charges remained, and
was cut of by the flames
Cowardice Of Men.
The startling charge that cowardice
| on the part of some of the few men IN
the audience was chiefly responsible for
the great loss Of life Is made today by
| Reuben W, Slower. cne OF the men who
/ escaped by dropping from window Of
/ the opera house
/ II fully realize" said Slower today.
| Ni4dE once A&ldL AluQ Iuhl4 AtA AlAE EAlL6
| was started no earthly power could
have prevented a serious loss Of life, but
1 am equally certain tnat had the few
( men in the opera house not lost their
| heads and not Joined in the frenzied
| dash for liberty, number OF the little
! tots whose lives We're tFampled out
might have been saved.
The sound within the little han Is
/ beyond description. Children shrieked.
men cursed, and women prayed and
moaned. Above IL all rose the fierce
{ cTackle OF the flames as the stage door
/ was opened and some of those behind
| the scenes attempted to escape that
| way"
| 7 had a front seat. Thank God I did
/ not bring my wife and daughters, as
I intended to- At least thirty girls and
/ boys were on the stage engaged in a
march, while many more were behind
I the scenes. The machine was. appar-
entity operating smoothly Then, with
out warning there WAS a terrible eX-
/ plOsion that shook the building. ] heard
/ q sound of flying glass as several wiz
dows were knocked out in the rear
There was no time for even thought
Jumped From Stage.
Those on the stage jumped over ths
/ footlights into the audience I was
knocked over and fell sprawling. At
/ least fifty tried to escape by an exit
but We're held back by the crowd which
Continued on Eleventh Page)
When You Want It as You Want It.