The Washington herald., 1908-01-14

Reading, Pa, Jan. 1S.-The borough OF
Boyertown, this county, was visited to-
night by one of the greatest fire dis
asters in the history of Eastern Penn
sylvania.
The entire borough is In mourning and
800 families had either a member killed
or injured. The latest report saws that
% to 100 people are dead, while l25 more
were hurt.
A moving-picture machine was recently
installed in the opera house. a two
story building, and tonight an entertain
ment was given. under the auspices of
Mrs. Monroe. The hall was packed. The
majority were women and children.
While the scenery was being moved. a
lamp was upset This caused an explosion
of calcium machine. setting the ffmsv
stage material on fire. Instantly the
audience was in a panic All made for
the doors.
Soon Envelopes In Flames.
Then there was a jam at the narrow
exit The scene beggars description. The
front Of the building was enveloped in
flames
Many were crushed to death in the mar
row stairway This was soon filed with
eoTpses. and many were driven back by
the terrible jan. These were met by q
fierce blaze which overpowered the helm
less people and they succumbed in quick
succession.
The fire ragged with the greatest fury
and in ten minutes the entire building
was a mass Of flames.
Men oud women and children were
caught as in a trap, and perIshed as if
they were so many flies, In few min
utes more the structure was a mass Of
flames, and every one who had not VET
escaped was doomed. Some had tumned
from the windows. and these were picked
up by friends and carried away.
The fire in the opera house was bevond
control from the instant that II started
and word was sent to Reading and Potts
town. The latter sent a fire engine. and
doctors and nurses on a special train
but the services Of the fire engine u,ara
mainly directed to saving neighboring
property.
building Soon in Ruins.
The building in which the entertainr,eD+
was conducted was In ruins in fifteen
minutes. ana not vestige is left but
the blackened walls. It is estimated thai
three hundred people were in the place
and the majority of these were killed and
injured. The scenes in the building ara
simply indescribable.
Some Of the most prominent families fl,
the town are bereft. and frantic parents
rushed about the streets of the borough
tonight. vainly looking for children. and
others looking for husband or wife who
perIshed in the building. The bodies Of
some were entirely consumed. and others
The remains Of some will never be |
found, and some are entirely unrecog-
nizable. They were found wedsed IN the
stairway, while those who could not get |
That far simply went down with the /
floor 10 a frightful death. Still others
We're mercifuIly sunocated before firei
ended all their agonies.
Nurses Go TO Scene.
At II O'Clock tonight two cars filled
with doctors and nurses from the hos
pitals OF this city left over the Olev
Valley Electric Railroad for the scene
OF the catastrophe. The distance Is nine
teen miles, and it will take one and a
half hours to reach the town. 1t is not
that the injured viii be brought
10 this city before morning. one of the
survivors. who escaped with a scorcbed
face, said:
1T was as sudden as it was unexpected
The explosion, the stampede the panic
stricken people wedged in the stairway
the cries Of those in the rear. the dread
ful smoke. the women and children over
come, the roaring flames, and then scores
ingulfed by the seething fire.
1T seems to me that it occurred all in a
minute. II all took place in less than two
of that I am sure. The terrible
cries Of the people fated TO such a dread
ful death viii never forget to my dying
day. I should judge that the hall had a
capacity of 400 people. and it was well
filled"
Rhoades Opera House. where the fire
occurred. was a two-story brick building
The first floor was occupied by a hard
ware store, and on the second was the
hall
Residents Are WeII-tO-dO.
Boyertown has about $500 people. It is
eight miles from Pottstown. II Is To-
Gated in Eastern Berks County. near the
County line. and is situated
N the midst Of a thriving agricultural
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