Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-01-17
ITO PEOPLE
BURNED UP

Boyertown, Pa, Jan. 13.-Nearly 100
persons of this borough were killed il
theater fire and panic tonight, anC
nearly three score injured. many Of
them fatally. A majority of the killed
were members of the leading families
of the town.
While THE Scottish Reformation
was being presented in Rhodes opera
house by Mrs. Monroe of Washington
tank used in a moving-picture scene
exploded. Immediately there was a
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 and
children, who composed the greater
part of the audience.
1t seemed as though nearly the en-
tire audience made rush for the exits
the moment the explosion occurred.
In their attempt to quiet the great
crowd those persons who were on the
stage accidentally upset the coal oil
lamps used at the footlights. The
burning oil scattered in all directions.
and the lamps which were used to light
the opera house exploded, throwing the
blazing oil over the terrified audience.
who were fighting frantically to gain
the exits. In the made rush a section |
of the floor gave way, precipitating
scores of persons to the basement
Flames Spread Rapidly.
1t was scarcely five minutes from
the time of the explosion of the tank
until the entire structure seemed a
roaring furnace. There was a mad
to the stairway and scores
)t women and children were knocked
Town and trampled upon, many of them
doubtless being crushed to death. At
east 90 persons, realizing that exit by
he stairways meant almost certain
ieath, risked their lives by jumping
rom the windows. Limbs were brok-
III ana skulls were crushed by the
'ti 4iS lHSluOu OF escape.
In the meantime a relief corps was
It work at the entrance to the theater
ndeavoring to release those who were ..
'edged IN the doorway and unable to
themselves. Many persons
'ho otherwise might have made good
helr escape from the furnace were
ED III check by the awful jam at the
oors
Women Fell Into Flames.
AS the flames caught their way to- i
ard the front of the building women q
ould be seen to clasp their hands and n
Ill back into the flames. Once Mo
oorways were clear the rescuers drag. =
ed many women and children from =
lie stalrways leading to the balcony !,
onle OF them were so badly injured n
lat they died before reaching a fem !,
orary hospital Skulls were crashed n
III the races of some of the victims II
ere SO horribly mutilated that thew n
ere unacceptable. In one case tbe &c
aui Oh a child about 10 years old was b
e'iHiOSJ 10 q Jelly. lC
10 aud to the terrible disaster +bo W
'e apparatus became disabled and tbo Il
ructure was left entirely to the fl
ercy of the flames. II is almost wy w.
III mat not a vestige of the bodies Of re
. uniortunates who were overcome 7
tne smoke and persisted will evar W
round. Assistance was asked froS. tn
~ but before the fire apnar. tn
Us from that city reached this Moo az
{ entire center of the structure v,os
roaring furnace. "''S so
Had the women and children beadoa S SI
. warning OF the cooler headed neo. - -
IN 'ne audience the horrible LOSE 80 % ~
. might have been averted Init tboUa ~ we
Is tne usual panic and stomno5o uo
,n invariably vs. follows such a catas. 20
que. Inc flames spread rapidly and as
;Is !! unicated to the other parts Of the va
'iulng' Men, women and cbiIdsa uo
'ueu Tor the many exits. and tS Sn
aAer sex and the children were +r wy zvo
N the streets. lush 10 iui
ASSISTANCE was also asked for of ho4L cio
adlng and Pottstown ond ~ oo'n W.,
Ius carrying nurses and dpo oe."i no,
re = rushed to this city. Everv J Sa go 81,
t th.n radious of half dozen blocLs ba,
'p I. opera house was made a.tamnor ali
- n9'pl'al' where the wounded we o. tho
Nv" Nv carriages and otbe,. -
lveyance. U o'ner means of go
ion g Of aho, is a borough with popu.
M Ut =, ABOUT $500 and is Ioco ta r
aiding. o.'stown and don