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

The list or dead
MRS. JOHN BECKER. and two chill
dren.
DIR. CHARLES MAYER and daughter.
ROBERT In PISH.
CHILD OF REN. A. NJ. WEBER.
Lulu FEGLEY.
MISS EMMA ENGEL
MRS. IRA SHOBER.
MRS. RICHARD TURNER
MRS. DANIEL KRATSE.
MRS. GEORGE ROMIG.
MIR. AND MRS. HERBERT GoTT-
SCHALL
HENRY BINDER.
BLANCHE AND MABEL. KCCHEI..
ELLEN 1GoTTSCHALL.
MABEL GRAFT
MRS J. j. BECKER and three chill
dren.
IOTTIE GRAvER and sister.
JOHN GRAVER and daughter.
DANIEL KRAUSE.
MORRIS ANDERSON and two chill
dren.
CHARLES MACRER.
STELLA KULP.
CARRIE WEAND.
EDNA BOYER
MAMIE TOMS.
MRS. MAGGIE LIE FEVRE.
MRS MARY LEINBACH.
LAURA GRIM.
MRS. ADAM M0YER.
DAVID GABLE, JR., and wife.
FRANKLIN LEIDY.
ANNA REIDY.
MRS. ESTHER CULLEN.
BoTTIE BOWMAN.
ELLA JOHNSON.
ANNA ZEIGLER.
JOHN FRITZ
CORA FRITZ
MRS. JOHN GLASE.
MRS. REUBEN HOFFMAN and
daughter
4 MRS. JOHNSON.
GAS TANK EXPLODED.
II Is estimated that there were 400
persons I'm the playhouse when the ex-
ploslon of the gas tank occurred. The
tank was being used In connection with
moving pictures. An amateur perform
ance OF Scottish Reformation" for the
benefit OF st. Johns Lutheran Sunday
school was being produced.
When the explosion occurred some one
yelled Fire" and almost instantly the
center Of the opera house was a blazing
furnace. The rapidity with which the
flames spread was caused by the upset
ting OF the coal oil lamps used as the
footlghts by some of the persons on the
stage who endeavored 10 allay The fright
OF the women and children and quiet
tho audience.
But even the men seemed 10 lose all
control OF themselves and fought with
the women and children. who composed
the greater part Of the audience. TO gain
the street In this manner many wo-.
men and children. who might otherwise
have escaped the roaring fires, were
forced back and trampled upon.
Particularly was this the case With
those who were caught on the stairway
In the mad rush for the exits. the weak
or were brushed aside and I'm many
cases trampled TO death.
Scores of persons on the second floor.
seeing tho awful jam on the stairways.
Jumped from the windows. In this way
several were so badly injured that they
died on the way to temporary hospitals
EYEWITNESS STORY.
Reuben w Stover, one OF those who es-
capped the flames. today said:
when the explosion occurred there
were at least 30 boys an girls on the
stage, while many moro were behind the
scenes. Without warning there was a
terrific explosion. Immediately there was
a wild rush for the exits. The people on
the stage jumped over the footlights into
the audience. All seemed to have lost
control OF themselves. The flames first
consumed the fiimsy scenery and then
came toward the crowd like n great wave
and the suffocGtlng smoke dropped men,
women and children in its path. The
flames did the rest"
For several months the Sunday scnUoi
pupils OF st. Johns Lutheran church had
been rehearsing The Scottish Reforma-
ton" which was being staged by Mrs.
". u. Monroe or Washington. the au-
lhoress and when the curtain rose at
D clock the opera house was throngcd.
The second part OF the play I'm which
Ihe students from glasgow university
and the Puritans marched TO f.eith TO
meet queen Mary. had just been reach
ID The young people taking part had
finished their songs. and incidental TO the
drama. n number of pictures were show n
By a moving picture machine. This was
Dps rated by H w. Fisher of Carlisle.
Pa. Who used calcium lights. While he
Nae operating the machine there was "A
lash and loud report. and the people
.,s,ins IN sne rear Q, s snS opera np,se