Evening star., 1908-01-14
Overturned Coal Oil Lamp.


his excitement. he overturned one of the
coal oil lamps that were used as 1oct-
lights for the stage. 1t fell with crash
into the auditorium and exploded
In an instant the stage front was ablaze
and the frightened people surged toward
the rear again. The youthful actors 11ed
from the stage and managed TO escape
clad in their stage garments.
The crowd in the front of the audlto-
rum 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 or the
burning picture machine. Inc MOB pc
canle panic-Stricken. and strong men peat
down women and children IN ther elort
to get out of the building.
Frank Cullen, a blacksmith, seized MS
four year-old son and made ms way TO
a window When he attempted TO return
to get his wife she was in struggling
mass of humanity and 1T was imposslpe
for him to reach her.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
The flames spread rapidly and many of
the audience were caught and overcome
before they could reach the fire escapes.
The frenzied people fought with eacn
other to reach the front entrance, the
principal means of exit from the building,
and a struggling mass of humanity was
the stairs opening on fnlladelphla ave
nue. Here the flames soon overlook them
and they were burned to death almost
in sight of escape from the seethlng 1uf-
mace that surrounded them.
A number of people who were attracted
by the cries of fire rushed from the street
to the entrance to the opera house and UP
the stairs to the second floor. 1hey sue
ceeded in rescuing some, but were forced
to abandon the others to their fate. as the
f4r
from the building
Charles B. SpatZ. editor OF the local
daily paper and a former member or the
legislature escaped. but only to be IN
jured few moments later. He was nsht-
ing the flames and was standing upon
ladder when he slipped and fell Ihree
ribs were broken and he was cut about
the head.
Another Survivors, Story.
One man. who sat with his wife and
Young son In the seventh row, and VINO
told of his experience today, with his
body swathed in bandages, said:
Near the end of the third act pictures
were being shown, when suddenly louu
kissing noise was heard. This caused tne
people in the rear OF the mousse 10 surge
toward the stage as if they wanted 10
find out the cause of the accident. In the
rush a number of lamps were upset, ana
they exploded, throwing the blazing OIL IN
every direction. and the entire hall was III
a blaze in a moment. This caused ter
rife rush for the doors, and durn. the
next few minutes people went crazy.
knocking each other down and trampLns
each other under foot.
"It was battle In which the strong
only had a chance to escape. l grabbed
my small son George and struggled to the
window intending to throw him out. and
I succeeded in doing SO. Fortunately he
landed on the fire escape and mahaged 10
.yy,~, afpfv |
know and / imagined that he would pe
badly hurt In the fall to the street. but i
preferred this to having him burned TO
death I then tried to find my wlfe. but
this was impossible, and l searched until
the flames grew SO hot that l was forced
to leave the building. and I knew that
Esther had been killed, I hunted all
around for her and could not find her.
outbursts of Grief.
The man was almost distracted as he
told his story, and he was compelled TO
cease at times and give way to outbursts
of grief He is the father of five children,
four of whom were left at home last
night.
| Two special trolley cars from Reading
brought members of the state constabu-
larry, surgeons. trained nurses and large
supply Of hospital stores and nfst-ald-to-
the-injured appliances.
The state constabulary Immediately took
charge and roped off the scene OF horror.
Early this morning a gasoline tank ex-
ploded and blew down the standing walls.
and but for the precaution of the guards
many others would have been killed.
The building which was destroyed was
large brick structure three stories hlgh
and with frontage of 125 feet on Phila-
dephia avenue. The first floor was oc-
cupied by the Farmers National Bank
and a hardware store. The second and
third floors were occupied by the opera
house and lodge.
| The building also extended on Wash
| ington street for a distance of 80 feet.
| In the rear of the bank were four large
| dwelling houses which were a part of the
| building. These were burned
Attending Scenes Horrible.
Survivors of the disaster and spectators
| unite in saying that the attending scenes
were the most horrible that can be i'm
agined People threw themselves from
| the balcony into the body of the theater.
| hoping to find some means of escape.
| Others jumped from the windows OF the
| building and were either MANNED or
| killed
Meanwhile the flames which had broken
| out on the stage were spreading rapidly
| throughout the building, seemingly eager
| for their prey Those who had fallen In
| the wild rush and who were so badly
manned that they were beyond all power
to struggle and fight were wailing in
anguish, their cries adding TO the horror
| of the situation. They could do nothing
| but wait helplessly for their fate-to be
| roasted to death in the roaring, raging
! furnace.
There were many heroes in the awful
/ catastrophe. Some are not alive to tell
| of their deeds. They gave up their lives
| for others.
Fathers and mothers who might have
| saved themselves fingered to get their
children and oerished in the flames.
/ Brothers who might have got out in
| safety hesitated to make sure that their
| sisters were safe, and they, too. are num-
| bered among the dead. Sweethearts with
| little thought for themselves. bent all
/ their energy in an effort to rescue their
| companions, and their lives were also
| added to the death list Many that had
reached the outside In safety dashed back
into the burning building in a mad and
| fruitless desire to save. They never re-
turned.
At 1 o. clock this afternoon the number
of dead was officially given as about l5O
More than fifty bodies had then been
taken out of the ruins, and 100. mostly
women and children, are missing from
their homes.
One Statement Of Cause of Disaster.
What may be regarded true state
ment of the cause of the disaster was
given by an eyewitness. Toward the end
of the performance the man in charge of
the moving picture machine was testing
his apparatus, and it gave forth kissing