The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-14
NEAR HUNDRED
ARE BURNED IN
THEATRE FIRE
Great Number Of Wo-
men and Children
Iranpled and
Cremated.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
AT BIG BENEFIT
Explosion of Tank Creates Panic,
and Actors, in Effort to Restore
Quiet, Knock Over Oil Foot
lights, Setting Fire to the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Of Horror.

BoYERTowN. PA. January ia
Catastrophe, horrifying in Its details
and sickening in Its result, tonight
swept nearly 100 souls OF this borough
into eternity in almost the twlnkling
of an eye, and injured nearly three
score, many OF them fatally.
a majority of the killed were mem.
bers OF the leading families. While
the Scottish Reformation was being
produced In Rhoades Opera House by
Mrs. Monroe. OF Washington, tank
used in a moving-picture scene ex.
ploded. Immediately there was wild
rush for the exits OF the building.
Men OF mature years endeavored to
still the panic. but their voices could
not be heard above the shrieks and
screams OF the terrified women ana
children, who composed the greater
part Of the audience
The House Takes Fire.
The scenes cannot be portrayed fit-5
tingly by the most imaginative. The
who were penned within the walls of
the blazing structure could be heard
above the roaring, seethtng flames. II
semed as though nearly the entire
audience made a mad rush for tha
exits the moment the explosion -occurr-
ed. In their attempt to quiet the great
crowd. those persons who were on the
~ IA ,fol1
lamps used as the foot-lights. The
burning oil scattered In all directions,
and the lamps. which were used ros
light tho Opera House, exploded. throw
ing 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. precipitating scores OF
persons to the basement. 1t was scarce
Is five minutes from the time OF the
explosion OF the tank until the struc-
ture seemed a roaring furnace. There
was a mad scramble for the stairway
leading from the balcony, and scores OF
women and children were knocked
down and trampled upon. at least fifty
persons risked their lives by jumping
from the windows. Limbs were broken
and skulls were crushed by the daring
method OF escape.
Crowds OF Children.
The upera-house was crowded with tho Z
members of st. Johns Lutheran Sum
day school, who were attending bene-
fit given for that church
| Whilc the show was In progress a
tank exploded. The actors endeavored
to quiet, the audience, but In their
to avoid the awful stampede Of ths
women and children. the coal oil lamps,
which were used as the foot lights,
were overturned, setting the place on
fire. The flames. fed by the oil. shot
| almost to the ceiling and there was "a
Wild rush OF the 700 persons to escape
from the burning building. Scores OF
women and children wereN trampled
upon, and several who escaped being
burned to death died after being drag
ged from the opera-house. Tn many
cases. it is said. entire families have
been wiped out.
4 Scene of Horror.
The scene which followed the ex-
plosion is indescrlhable. Scores OF
Epersons, who We're in the balcony. at
the time the explosion occurred, jump
/
| fractured limbs and skulls. ss
/ To add to the terrible disaster, thAt
fire apparatus became disa bled and tho
structure was leftSentirely to the mercy;
fof the @seething flames. 1t is almost
| certain not vestige OF the bodies OF
the unfortunates who We're overcome
by the smoke and perished will ever
be found. Assistance was asked from
Pottstown, but before the fire appar-f
ntus from that city reached this place
/ tho entire centre OF the structure was
| n roaring furnace. Had the women and
I children needed the warning Of the
/ cooler heads in the audience the hor-
| riblel loss of lifo might T. have been
/ avoided. but there was the usual panid
land stampede which invariably folloWas
lat such catastrophe.
| Many rraMpled Under Foot.
The flames spread rapidly and cousss
munlcated to- the other parts OF the
\ theatre. Men. women and Children
rushed Tor the many exits and thAs
weaker sex and the chile we're
tramped and manned In the mad rush
to gain the street.
Assistance was at onca asked of ootp
Reading and Pottstown. and specla1
trains carrying nurses and doctors
were rushed to the scene OF the .disas-
tier. Every home within a radius & or
IhalfS a dozen blocks OF 9TH o opera house
was made temporary hospital, whera.
the wounded were rushed by carriages
and other means OF conveyance
I. Royertown is a borough with a pep
i ulation Of about $500. and Us located
4 about midway between Pottstnwn AMI
II Reading. The fire Is not Vet under
4 control, but IL Is not thought AZ VIII
1 he communicated to other proper az
u tho opera house is on a plot $of ~ roupa
lby Itself. Hundreds OF persons AuF-