The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1908-01-18
HUNDRED DIE
IN THEATER
fire and Panic at BOyertOwn, Pa,
With Awful Results.
Flames Leap Through Hall and People
Rush Out Many Are Trampied to
Pulp = Others Leap From Win
dows and Break Their Bones
Fire Apparatus Disabled.

Boyertown, Pa, Jan. 14.-Nearly
100 pc rsons Of this borough were killed
in theater fire and panic last night
and 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 reproduced in Rhodes opera
house by Mrs. Monroe, Of Washing
ton, tank used in moving picture
scene exploded. Immediately there
was wild rush for the exits of the
building. Men Of mature years en-
deavored 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 mad rush for the
exits the moment the explosion occur
red.
In their attempts 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 we're used to light
the opera house exploded, throwing the
blazing oil over the terror stricken
people, who were fighting frantically
to gain the exits. In the mad rush q
section of the floor gave way, precipi
tating scores of persons to the base
meRt.
1t was scarcely FIVE minutes from
the time of the explosion of the tank
until the entire heart Of the structure
seemed a roaring furnace. There wa
la mad scramble to the stairway, anc
scores of women and children wer'
knocked down and trampled upon
many OF them doubtless being crushed
to death. At least SO persons, realiz
ing that exit by the stairway mean
almost certain death, risked their live
by jumping from the windows. Limb
were broken and skulls were crushed b,
this daring method of escape
In the meantime a relief corps wa
!, at work at the entrance to the theater
endeavoring to release those who wer
3 edged in the doorway and unable to ez
tricate themselves Many persons VIII
I ctherise might have made good thei
escape from the furnace were held
check by the awful jam at the door
As the flames cut their way toward til
front OF the building, women ccoid
seen tc clasp their hands and fall bac
into the flames.
Once the doorways were clear, t.
rescuers dragged many women an
, children from the stairways leading
the balcony. Some OF them were
badly injured that they died befo
reaching the temporary hospita
Skulls were crushed and the faces
" some of the victims were so horrib
mutilated that they were barely reco
Ia nizable. In one instance, the skull
,e a child, apparently about 10 years
" age, was crushed almost into a jelly.
To add to the terrible disaster, Il
fire apparatus became disabled and Il
structure was left entirely to the mer
d of the flames 1t is almost certain n
rs vestiee of the bodies of the unfortu
y ates who were overcome by the smo
T. and persisted will ever be found
ID Had the women and children heed
ID the warningNef the cooler heads in &
al audience, the horrible loss of life mig
lie have been avoided, but there was {
Or usual panic and stampede which invs
lie iably follows such a catastrophe. T
flames spread rapidly and communic'
of ed to the other parts of the buiidir
a. Men, women and children rushed
h the many exits of the building, a
e. the weaker sex and the children We
er trampled aud MANNED in the mad 10
as to gain the streets.