The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-14
Scores Trampled to Death
In Panic at Sunday School
Entertainment.
PICTURE MACHINE CAUSE
Boyertown, Pennsylvania, Visit.
ed by Awful Calamity-Every
Home in Little Borough in
Mourning for the Loss
of Loved Ones.

BoYERTOwN, Pa, Jan. 14.--one
and sixty persons, many OF
them among the leading residents of
this borough, were trampled or burned
to death in the fire that last night
destroyed the Rhoades Opera House.
THE injured will reach half that NUM-
lber
How many were killed may never be
known, for among the victims of this
lawful disaster were number Of visit
Tors and some strangers who may have
left no relatives to trace them toztheir
luntimely fate.
The chief of the Pottstown fire de-
spartment, who investigated the cause OF
the disaster. says the first rush toward
. the stage was caused by several men
'and women becoming frightened when
the hose connecting the moving picture
machine and the tank supplying the
flight slipped off its connection and
smade a kissing noise.
The tank itself did not explode. he
ssays, until after the flames had
preached it.
In going to the fire the Boyertown
Engine Company collided with a tree.
One of the flremen was thrown from
the apparatus and was instantly killed.
The chief burgess has ordered all sa-
looms closed, as the rough element was
becoming unruly under the influence OF
| liquor.
Tt is estimated that there were 400
persons lnithe playhouse when the ex-
plosion of the gas tank occurred. The
/ tank was being used in connection with
moving pictures. An amateur performs
ance of Scottish Reformation" for the
benefit Of ST. Johns Lutheran Sunday
school was being produced.
The second part of the play, In which
the students from Glasgow University
and the Puritans marched to Leith to
meet Queen Mary, had just been
reached. The young people taking part
had finished their songs, and incidental
to the drama, number of pictures
were shown by moving-picture ma
chine. This was operated by II. w.
Fisher. of Carlisle, Pa. who used cali
cium lights. While he was operating
the machine there was flash and a
loud report and the people sitting in
the rear of the opera house, near the
machine, arose in fright and rushed
toward the stage.
Their action caused a panic in the
laudience and many of the people, think-
ing the building was on fire, rushed
toward the stage. The young people
who were taking part in the play mo-
toned to them to go back and resume
their seats. but the frightened specta-
tors attempted to climb upon the stage
to escape the fiery spluttering Of the
moving-picture machine.
One of the young people on the stage,
more excited than the others. made a
motion as if to repel the audience. and
in his excitement he overturned one
OF the coal oil lamps that were used
as footlights for the stage. 1t fell with
crash into the auditorium and ex-
pioded. In an instant the stage front
was abaze and the frightened people
surged toward the rear again. The
youthful actors fed from the stage and
managed to escape clad in their stage
garments.
The crowd in tho front of the audi
torlum fled to the rear as the flames
from the stage edged toward them, and
they were met by a crowd from the
rear, frantic to escape from the peril
of the burning picture machine In the
rear The mob became panie-strieken,
and strong men beat down women and
children in their effort to get out OF
the building.
Boyertown is village OF about $500
population and there is scarcely house
in the little town that has not been
afflicted by last nights visitation of
fire.