The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-01-16

Explosion Started the Fire. and
Scores Of Women and Children Were
Trampled In Wild Panie-Msny In
Jured BY Jumping From Windows.
Entire Families Among the Dead.
seventy-five Injured. Twenty Fatally.
Boyertown. Pa. Jan. IA catas-
trophe horrifying In its details and
sickening in its results swept nearly
one hundred souls Of this borough Into
eternity In almost the twinkling OF an
eye. and injured over three-score.
many of them fatally 4 majority of
the killed were members OF the lead
ing families of the town.
While the Scottish Reformation was
being produced In the Rhoads Opera
HOUSE by Mrs. Monroe. of Washing
ton. tank used in a moving picture
scene exploded. Immediately there
was a wild rush for the exits OF the
building. Men OF mature years endeav-
ored 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. The
scenes cannot be portrayed ftly by
the most imaginative. The blood
curdling cries for help OF those who
were penned within the walls OF the
blazing structure could be heard above
the roaring. seething flames. 1t seemed
as though nearly the entire audience
made a mad rush for the exits the
moment the explosion occurred. In
their attempts 10 quiet the great au-
dience 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. throw
ing the blazing oii-over the terror
stricken people. who were fighting
frantically TO gain the exits In the
mad rush n section of the floor gave
way. precipitating scores of persons
to the basement. AS the floor col
lapsed the shrieks Of the helpless per
sons who were carried down were
heard for blocks. 1t was scarcely five
minutes from the time OF the explo-
sion of the tank until the entire heart
Of the structure seemed a roaring fur
mace. There was mad scramble for
the stairway leading from the balcony,
and scores of women and children
were knocked down and trampled on.
many of them doubtless being crushed
to death At least fifty persons, real
izing that exit by the stairway meant
almost certain death. risked their
lives by jumping from the windows
Limbs were broken and skulls were
crushed by this daring method Of es-
cape.
Burned to Death in Doorway.
In the meantime a relief corps was
at work at the entrance to the theatre
endeavoring to release those who
were wedged in the doorway and un-
able to extricate themselves. Many
persons who otherwise might have
made good their escape from the fur
mace OF flame were held in check by
the awful jam at the doors. AS the
flames eat their way toward the front
Of the building. women could be seen
to clasp their hands and fall back into
the flames. Once the doorways were
cleared the rescuers dragged many of
the women and children from the
stairways Tearing to the balcony
Some OF them were so badly injured
that they died before reaching a tenn
porary hospital. Sklls were crushed
and the faces of some of the victims
we're so horribly mutilated that they
were barely recognizable.
To add to the terrible disaster, the
fire apparatus became disabled and
the structure was left entirely to the
mercy of the seething flames. II Is al
most certain that not a vestige Of the
bodies OF the unfortunates who were
overcome by the smoke and perished
viii ever be found. Assistance was
asked from Pottstown. but before the
FIRE apparatus from that city reached
this place the entire centre OF the
structure was a roaring furnace.
Had the women and children needed
the warning OF the cooler heads in the
thF ADoo VI iiAc
have been avoided, but there was the
usual panic and stampede which In
variably follows at such a catastrophe.
The flames spread rapidly and com
to the other parts Of the
theatre. Men. women and children
rushed for the many exits. and the |
weaker sex and the children were
trampled and masmed in the mad rush |
to gain the street
Assistance was at once asked OF !
both Reading and Pottstown. and spe-
cial trains carrying nurses and doc
tors were rushed TO the scene OF the |
disaster.
Every home within radius OF half |
q dozen blocks OF the opera house |
was made temporary hospital. where |
the wounded were rushed by carriages
and other means OF conveyance.
Many persons VINO had children IN
fHo Cuoro hotfeQ pora1 fo and fro all Il