Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-26

Calumet. Micn, Dec. 25.-On the day which throughout all Christendom IS pet aside for rejoicing over the birth of the Saviour, Calumet, stricken by m almost unbelievable catastrophe, ltands mourning beside it's dead, the F2 victims most of whom were chll- aren. of the frightful panic on Christ mas eve in the Italian hall. This panic followed a false alarm of fire during the progress Of a Christmas tree en- tertainment arranged for families or the copper strikers. All bitterness and ill-feeling that has existed In thls strike-ridden community during the sast months, is wiped away by one great. common affiiction. Today the people of Calumet can see only thelr 7eighbOrs. their brothers, their sisters and their little children staggering un- der an almost unbearable burden of Erief.
 No Outside Help Needed.
 A great mass meeting of Calumet S1tizens was held this afternoon to sxpress their sympathy and devise ways and means to alleviate the suf- ferings of those families on whom death had fallen so heavily. A com Hlittee of twelve was appointed to visit tach bereaved home and ascertain what financial assistance is necessary. Unlimited funds are assured ana no outside aid will be needed.
 With the kindest feeling for those who offer 1T. we ask no outside help state the resolutions Of sympathy adopted These are our own people, and this is our sacred privilege to care for our dead and to comfort the liV ing"
 Apprehensions of Lynchine.
 The statement of President Mover of the Western Federation of Miners that no benefits from the citizens would fTi crlT nn Q strikers also met this afternoon and named a committee to call on the stricken relatives and learn their wishes regarding the funeral This committee will meet tomorrow morn ing to make arrangements for the ser vices The authorities have so far been unable to trace a man who is said to have gone up the stairs of the Italian hall and raised the cry of fire which is supposed to have started the panic and .aused the death of nearly four score men, women and children. There seenis 10 be little hope that he will be apprehended. lynching is feared in the event of his capture. The other theory that the cry of fire originated within the hall was substan- ffated today by Matt Saari a striker, who lost his son in the disaster. He declared the cry came from a group of mon and women near the front of the hall.
 Deaths Total 72.
 A fourteen year old girl who died this morning brought the official re- vised list of dead up to seventy-two. All have now been identified. Five in- iured are in the hospitals, all of whom are expected to live Three little girls in the Calumet and Hecla hospital were able today to romp around a Christ mas tree. unaware of the fate which had overtaken some of their relatives. 4 small boy who was taken to one of the morgues showed signs of life, but no restoratives or physician were inn n1ediately available and death ensued. One couple entered the town hall, where all the bodies had been gath cred. to look for their missing child. Their hopes ran high when they had looked at seventy of the bodies without result but the last body they viewed, the seventy first, was that which they had feared to find
 Futile Attempts at Rescue.
 Members of the Calumet fire depart rnent relate many instances of heroic attempts at rescue Patrick Ryan, who arrived on the scene a few minutes after 1he panic, estimated that one Hundred people were piled in the crush snd smOthering mass, leading halfway up the stairway. They were wedged in so tightly that it was impossible 10 extricate anyone from the foot of inc stairs A bow of about six caught Bfr. Rysn's hands and begged to be rescued The fireman succeeded in pulling the boy partially out but was unable 10 extricate the little legs. The human mass kept pressing down and soon crushed out the boys life A girl of eight or nine grasDed the hands ,f Angelo Curto, another fireman, kiss ed them and imPlored him to save her He made a heroic effort to pull her out but the crush was so great that he was compellfd to desist and she perished.
 Saved Infant, Mother suffocated.
 Mira A Niemzla. one of the victims. was suffocated while standing up John Furrfi1. a fireman who witnessed her death. took a six months old infant from her arms and carried ii to safety. | Leonard Willman, fireman, pushed his way into the stairway and took out 9 trying boy of six, uninjured Near him s's mother and sister lay dead. His Esven-vear-old brother was taken out ster. An eleven year old boy rescued | Ais brother of nine by carrying him Town s ladder Other similar res- sues occurred
 Killed His Own Son.
 child hurled from the front of 1 The building was caught by a specta- for Chief Trudell of the fire depart l n1ert caught another child thrown out | of a window by a frantic father. John 1 Saarf killed his boy of five by falling | m nm. anu ne. tCOs peIlSUSu. SCOTeS | escaped by passing from a small rear l balcony to the balcony of@ an adjoin- 1 ing house.
 President Mover of the Western i Federation of Miners received a mes- | sage from Governor Ferris this af- l ternoon. stating that he would render | all possible assistance to those strick- | en by the disaster
 Efforts to Avert Panic.
 Many tales or the 1erceness of the | crush during the height of the panic | were told today. One man was seen | 10 stoop to pick mp his little daughter only to be pushed on and forced to l trample her beneath him. woman l who ran to the aid of three small boys l was crushed to death with them.
 When the rush began woman went | to the plano and began playing. An | other woman stood In the center of | the stage on which the Christmas tree had h~sn erected and started to sing. |