The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-31
FESTIVAL TURNS TO TRAGEDY.
LIVES OF sEvENTY-rIvE CRUSH.
ED OUT IN MAD DUsH FOR
ENITS.
Try Of Fire by Fiend Causes Panic
~ christmas Tree Celebration
frien<ied Mothers and Fathers
search for Children.

e"PPcs mine strikers IN an Italian hall
because OF "a needless panic caused by
q false alarm OF are.
While several hu.,dred miners and
their wives looked on. the children
pressed eagerly to the stage to re-
csivs Christmas presents. At this
POINT a man put his head i'm at the
door of the hall and yelled, 'Fire!"
The cry was taken up by those In
the hall. Every one started for the
soors TIE weaker were thrown TO
the nocr and those behind tried to
shEs over those ahead OF them.
Al t~s stairway AMI other avenues of
'x tess were blocked so effectually that
N Aoss inside could not get out. and
Fthoss without could not get in to aid
the panic-stricken crowd i'm the hall.
= The principal exit was narrow
stairway at the back of the hall
when this had been cleared OF the
ssdies that filled IL to the top and a
suiek accounting had been made, il
was found that seventy-four corpses
had been piled up beside the hall
building. IL Il thought that a dozen
sthers were carried away by friends.
The dead that were piled up beside
the han included thirty-seven girls
nineteen boys. thirteen women and
hvs men. Excited men and women
stood about the building. some dazed
~ the sudden change from holiday
festivities 20 tragedy. others calling
lystericany for a missing child. and
Few even threatening violence to the
rsscusrs for keeping back the long row
sf bodies.
There was not much work for the
many doctors who hurried to the
scene as soon as the alarm was spread !,
Tor those who were not killed in the
nrst rush were held upright and safe
~ the very force of the onrush to-
wards the exit Only three injured
persons were taken to hospitals. A
few went home assisted by friends.
For many days the children OF the
copper mine strikers had waited ex-
pectantiy for Christmas tree exer-
eises arranged by the woman's aux
niary OF the Western Federation OF
Gtnera The entertainments was set
Tor the early evening. and the hail. on
the second floor. soon was filled to its
limits. Children selected to recite
Christmas selections and sing carols
had finished and the man selected to
play the part OF Santa Claus had ap-
peared TO distribute the presents that
were piled around the tree.
The aisles were filled with the boys
and girls. when the man thrust his
head in at the door of the main hall
way and shouted Fire"
A woman near the door. realizing
The import OF the act. seized the man
by the shoulders and tried to coun-
teract the alarm. but her effort was
futile. The man wrested himself from
her grasp and ran away and the cry
OF Fire was repeated throughout the
rssm.
The word was shouted i'm several
languages as parents rose and rushed
forward TO get their children. The
lives were crushed out in almost a
twinkling. Then the physical impos-
sibiity OF further movement brought
panic-stricken persons 20 their senses
but most OF those in the hall could not
Set out of the jam they had created.
Policemen and firemen hurried to
TIE building. TO find the hall conges,-
ed. Several climbed the fire escape
and entered by the windows. In al
short time the uninjured and the faint
had been pulled from the tangie OF
human beings and placed in the front
OF the hall.
Other merl began To pull the bodies
sf the dead and helpless from the
stairway and place them i'm room
beside the building. This disposition
er the crumpled bodies was found in
advisable because Of the hystoria il
caused among the spectators and the
dead were carried back into the hall
as soon as II was emptied of fright
ened spectators. All the chairs were
lined with bodies. and corpses had to
he placed In the kitchen OF the hail,
aid beneath the stage.
Within an hour almost every person
In Calumet was as near the scene ~
vas possible to get. Police kept
back the crowd. After much effort
lane was opened and tho bodies OF
the children were carried through
ranks Of mourning and wailing women
40 Eed Jacket village hall. which was
turned into morgue. II was many