Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-01-15
death LIST GROWS.
Nearly Every Family In Place
Loses Loved Ones.

Boyertown. Pa. Jan. 1f.--when dav
light dawned Tuesday the full extenl
OF the Monday nights horror. when the
Rhodes Opera House burned. was AZ
parent. The list OF dead was placid
at ic5. and injured at sevenfv-fIya
How many we're killed may never be
known. Cor many victims OF this awiu'
disaster were visitors and SON
strangers who may have left no rs,a
tiyes 10 trace them to their untimel.
fate.
II is estimated there were 400 peo
pie In the playhouse when the explc.
sion OF the ras tank occurred. Tn
tank was being used In connection
with moving pictures. An amateu
performance OF the Scottish Reform
ton" for the benefit OF ST. John
Lutheran Sunday school was bein
produced. Instantly an explosion o.
CURED. Some one yelled fire" ard
In less time than II takes 10 tell 4
IN" center OF the opera house was 2.
blazing furnace. The rapldity witt
with which the flames spread wa
caused by the upsetting OF coal oil
lamps used as footlights by some rcr
sons on the stage. who endoavored a.
allay the frightened women and child
rem and quiet the audience. But sgor
men seemed TO lose all control ~
themselves and fought with women
and children. who composed a greater
part OF the audience. to gain the street.
In this manner. women and children
who might otherwise have escaped the
roaring flames were forced back and
trnmpled on. Particularly was this tho
ease with those who were caught On
the stairways. Pandemonlum roigned
and the mad scramble for exits were
simply indescrlbablc. The weaker one
were brushed aside and IN many ~.
stances trampled 10 death.
Scores OF persons on the second
floor. seeing tho awful lam on tho
stairways. risked their lives by jumn.
ing from windows. In this way sew.
eral were so badly injured they died
before reaching any OF the numerous
temporary hospitals. -Boyertown has
about $500 population. and there Is
scarcely house in town that has not
been afflicted by this awful visitation
OF fire.
People fought with each other "a
reach the front entrance. tho principal
means OF exit from the building, and
The struggling mass OF humanity Quick.
" piled AGAINST doors that led to the
stairs opening on PHILADELPHIA. avenue
Here the flames soon overlook them
and they were burned TO death almost
IN sight OF escape from the seethlng
furnace which surrounded them.
A number OF people on the street.
who were aroused by the cry OF "fire.
rushed to the entrances OF the ancra
iohse and upstairs to the second floor.
They succeeded in rescuing some. bu;
we're forced TO abandon others 20 their
ate. as the quickly advancing flames
irove them, from the building. The |
state constabulary took charge and !
'oped off the scene Of horror. Early |
Tuesday morning n gasoline tank py-
Dioded and blew down the standlnY !
walls. and but for the precautions OF !
guards. many others would have been |
Iilled.
The fire was not brought under con. |
rol until carly Tuesday morning after
assistance arrived from Reading and |
'ottstown. Physicians and nurses
we're sent tn Boyoriown from Reading
Carly Tuesday about fifty members Of
he state constabulatory. which are
stationed in this district. came over
rom Reading on special train.
The work of removing the bodies
rom the debris will be unusually icdi.
'us and hazardous When the crush /
vas az its height. the floor gave way.
recipitating many persons IN the Il
asemsnt and the bodies OF these arc
'uyied beneath charred tlmbers and Il
ons OF brick from the ruined walls.
In addition TO the opera house and II
frst National bank Rawlins' hard II
Tare store and the dwelling house Of
'obert Rain. Harry Pennypacker and
Ilfred Scashand were burned.
Monetary loss will amount to about
TX OOO