The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-27

few minutes when there was a sputterinR
In the box Vt the moving picture machine |
operator A little fash followed. Few
noticed IL. but some one in the gallery at
once cried out "Fire!" Immediately there
we're screams from women and children
and a rush from every section Of the
house toward the door Panic seemingly
caught the big audience Immediately
and here was no attempt to stop the
rush or II there was such an attempt 1t
was overcome by the crowd.
There was little danger at the start. for
the doors were open and 1t seemed as II
the rushing crowd would reach safety.
At the beginning the mass moved steadily
if slowly. No one in the audience ap-
pesred to have turned back to see " the
fears were groundless. but all kept push
ing for the only avenue to safety.
When four steps from the bottom OF
the fight Of thirty or more the first man
out fell and immedia tely those behind
him tumbled over him. In almost a
moment the stairway was blocked. The
first persons down the stairs fell head
long and in short time were either dead
or dying.
Those who came behind climbed over
them without needing whether men.
women or children we're their stepping
stones to safety. But even this did not
help them. for those coming behind
crushed ahead with such speed and force
that none had time to reach the street.
Meanwhile the mob on the upper stairs
kept up the fight. and II was not long be-
fore the space above the stairs was one
eolid mass. Those behind were blocked
beyond all hope Of progress.
When the fremen and the police and
citizens began their work Of rescue they
found the stairway literally jammed TO
the ceiling with men. women and children
screaming or moaning. The rescuers
we're compelled to break the transoms
over the doors OF the entrance TO take out
the first bodies and thus relieve the mass
30 that they could get at the rest. II
was fully an hour after tho start OF the
panic before the rescuers began to clear
the packed stairway.
The majority OF those first taken out
were injured little or not at all. Most
Of them we're only frightened But when
the lower part of the pile was reached il
was very different. There were a great
number OF children who had been crum-
pied against the wans as they were car
ried away from their mothers.
All accounts agree that there was no
reason for the accident aside from the
terror Of the people. Investigation after
the panic showed that there was not a
get anything like an accurate list Of the
dead. Some of those who we're taken out
we're identified as they were removed
u the temporary morgues.
The identified dead are Arthur Beck. ~
years old; Frances Bird. IS; Msngella
Robinson. IL: Mrs. Frederick Marshall. 20;
Mrs. Harry Kelly. 40; her son. Earl Kelly. Q
Adolph Butfesky. 20; Walter Nish. ~;
John Walcott. ~; George Kay, IA; Paul
Nestle, ~ Frank Syberoski.. is; five
months-old daughter of Tony Geidish
Snyder Ritter, 20; Arthur Kelges. q Murray
Hill. 10; five-year-old daughter Of Wilbur
Lane: Nellie McKettrick, aged rs; infant
daughter OF Mrs. George Green.
, All the identified dead live in Csnons-
burg or the immediate vicinity.
At IL o'clock the death list stood at
twenty nine. Of whom sixteen were identi-
fed Eleven were at one morgue. four
teen at another and four babies at doc
tors offices The injured list will reac ch
sixty. Of whom eight will die. 1t was i'm
possible to count the injured. "a many
were carried home or to the houses OF
friends IA fast as they we're taken ont
Four rescues were made from the roof
Of the building.
Mrs. George Miller and two children
were taken out dead. as was George
McPee,, a we'll to do business man, who
died trying TO raise two women above the
crush
Cenonsburg is a town of 5000 people.
fully half Of its population being retired
farmers. 1t was originally mining viii
|age, but few Of the miners families were
in to-night's disaster. The Morgan
Theatre is in the better residence part of
the town