New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10
Others Are Injured in the Wild
Stampede of the Audience,
Women and Children
Being Trampled On.
BOYS LEG BLOWN OFF
Italians Hurled from Seats by
Explosion in First Avenue
Place-Owner Had Been
Threatened Often
Youth Arrested.

Three hundred persons in moving
picture theatre at No. 17S First ave-
nue. were thrown into wild panic
last night when a bomb exploded just
outside an exit door in a dark alley
running alongside the theatre. The
house was in total darkness at the
time, and the audience, composed
mostly of Italian persons of the neigh
borhood, instantly began a headlong
rush for the front exit. Seats were
broken and wrenched from their fast
enings in the stampede for safety, and
many persons were injured by being
trampled upon.
Although the police were able to OBJ
tain the names of only seven persons
who were injured, 1t is known that
probably a score more were more or
less hurt by broken glass and flying
sphnters. Only one person was taken
to Bellevue Hospital, and he, boy
Z
was dangerously injured. The six 9TH
ers were treated by ambulance sur
geons and refused to go to the hospital.
Acting Captain Foye, of the East 5th
street police station, was on the scene
within a few minutes after the acci-
dent. and he at once sent out a squad
Of his sharpest detectives, who formed
n Gordon about the neighborhood.
Within half an hour after the bomb
had been set off. the detectives arrest
ed a man who gave his name as Nunzio
Spatafaro, nineteen years old, Of NO.
446 East 18th street. He is charged
with having exploded the bomb.
Following is list of the injured as
given out by the police:
! CAsHoZOGNQ, Ignazio. labcrer, No 43o East
18Th street; lacerations Of mead; attended
] and home.
DD liza. Emilio. No. 222 Avenue \: injury
! to left eye and contusions on hands attend
cd and home
I roCOsEIO. Antonio. No ZIG East 18TH street,
/ lacerations of head and legs, ATTENDED ana
PANERIso No. 51s East 14th street; lacera7
! tions of right arm and chest, attended ana
| home.
sApA1JAzZA. Antonio, eleven years old, OF
| No All East 1lth street; left leg almost
| blown of and severe laceTatOns and bruises
Of body to Bellevue Hospital Condition
sPANNo. Antonio. No. 336 East 1lth. street;
! sprained ankle and contusions; attended ana
home
Streets Thronged at the Time.
The bomb could not have been eX-
pIoded at a time more calculated TO
create panic among the excited popula-
tion in this densely crowded section
Of the East Side. In addition to those
in the theatre, hundreds Of persons
| were enjoying their Saturday half
holiday in the streets outside These
Immediately formed raging, panic
stricken mob on the sidewalk in front
and on the side OF the moving picture
theatre, and it was not until the re-
serves from the East 9Th street police
station, in charge Of Inspector cana
lane, pressed them back to the other
side Of the street, that help could be
extended to those penned inside
Thomas Cacessa is the owner OF the
theatre. which IS known as the
Roma" and has a seating capacity
of 299 persons. The theatre is on the
first floor of a three story building
standing on the corner OF East llth
etreet and First avenue and has
nroved a paying venture to Cacessa'
ubo is regarded az man of wealth
among persons of his own nationality
Although at first he strenuously de-
MED having ever received threatening
,otters Cacessa later, according to the
nolice admitted that he had received
several letters demanding $1,000 with
the proviso that If the demand were
- acceded 10 his place would be
blown up.
Many Children in Audience
If was about 7.30 o'clock when Tie
bop,h was set off. The little theatre
,os hacked full Of Italians, many OF
them women and children. SuadehiS
tho ouiet within was disturbed by
deafening roar and crash of shattereu
e,ase IA the same time the row OF
seats nearest the 18th street side ol
the building were torn from the hoo'
, and reduced to splintered fragments
while those who had been occupyi"7
them a moment before were sprawinhs
on the floor or seeking to fight their
wty through the crowd. There is only
one side exit IN the building harro"
doorway on the 18TH street SIDE ana 1t
J was outside that door that the Doih'
was placed.
Antonio Sapallazza was slttlhs III '"o
seat nearest the exit door ana thus 'e-
ceived the full force Of the explosion
Marcella Feva, the operator OF the
picture machine, threw on all the llghts
as soon as he found out what had nap
Dened and stopped the pictures. lie
leaned forward from his box ana at
tempted to calm the audience VINO ny
this time were in utter panic
, While wild scenes were taKihB pace
inside the theatre, a great crowd had
, collected outside. women crying loi
their children and men trying 10 maze
their way within. The reserves had I"
!