Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-12-26
ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE CATAs-
TROPHE CLAIMED \ TOTAL
OF ~ VICTIMS.
MASS MEETING FOR FUNDS
Calumet Citizens Pledge Funds 10 Aid
Crlef-strici,cn Families; Many
Acts OF lIcrOiam.

day Christcndom has set aside as one
of rejoicing over the birth Of the
Savior, Calumet, stricken to the heart
by an almost unbelievable catastro-
phe, stands mourning by the side OF
its dead, the sey ly-two victims, the
most Of them children, of the fright
full panic on Christmas eve in the
Italian hall This panic followed "a
false alrm cry of fire during the pro
gress Of a Christmas tree entertain
ment arranged for families of the cop
per miner strikers
All bitterness that has existed I'm
this strike-riddeu community during
the past months, is wiped away by
the one great common atliction. To-
day the people Of Calumet can only
see their neighbors, their brothers,
their sisters and their little children
staggering under an almost unbeear-
able burden Of distress and grief
4 mass meeting of Calumet citizens
was held this afternoon 10 express
sympathy and devise ways and means
to ameliorate the suffering and sor-
row of those families on which the
hand Of death has fallen. A commit
tee OF twelve was appointed to visit
each home and ascertain what finan-
cal assistance was needed Funds
are assured and no outside aid will be
sought.
The statement Of President Meyer
of the Western Federation Of Miners,
that no benefits from the citizens
would be accepted, was disregarded.
The strikers also met this afternoon
and named a committee comprising
representatives Of the nationalities Of
the victims to call on the sorroWing
relatives and learn their wishes re-
garding the funerals This committee
viii meet tomorrow to make arrange
ments for the services
The authorities have 50 far been M
able to trace a man who is said TO
have gone up the stairs of the Italian
hall and raised the cry Of fire to
which Is ascribed the panic that led
to the fearful crush in the stairway
and caused the death Of nearly four
score men, women and children.
There seems to be little hope that he
will be apprehended The other the
ory that the cry Of fire originated
within the hall was substantiated to-
day by Matt Saari. striker, who lost
his son i'm the disaster. He declared
the cry came from group of men
and women toward the front of the
hall
A 14-year- old girl who died this
morning, brought the official revised
list of dead up TO seventy-two. All
the bodies have now been Identified.
Most Of the injured in the hospitals
today weer able TO romp around a
small Christmas tree which some or
their friends had fitted up.
Members of the Calumet fire de-
rartment relate many instances OF
horoic attempts to rescue the panic
stricken people in the hall Patrick
Ryan arrived on the scene few MIN
utes after the crush occurred AZ the
foot of the stairway. He estimated
that there were about one hundred
piled in a heap when he reached the
entrance Of the building The pile OF
crushed and smothering humanity
reached TO about half the height of
the stairway. They were wedged in
so tight that II was impossible to eX-
tricate any from the foot of the STAR
wayway. A boy of about six caught
hold Of Mr.. Ryan's hand and begged
to be rescued. The fireman succeeded
In pulling the boy partly out but was
unable to extricate the little fellows
legs. The human mass kept pressing
down and the boys life was soon
snuffed out. girl of eight or nine
erasped the hands of Angelo Curteo,
a fireman. kissed them and implored
him to save her. He made heroic
effort to pull her out. but the crush
was so great that he was compelled
to give up the attempt and she per-
ished
Mrs. 4. Niemela. one Of the victims,
was suffocated while standing up.
John Burrill. fireman. who witness
ed her death. took six months old
infant from her arms and carried
to safety. Leonard Wilman, a tire-
man, pushed his way mot the stair
way and took out a crying boy OF SIX
unini iured. Near him. his mother ana
sister lay dead. His seven-year-old
brother was taken out later. An IL
year-old boy rescued his borther of
nine by carrying him down a ladder.
There we're other similar iescues.
A child hurled from the building
was caught by spectator Chiei
Trudell OF the fire department caught
another child thrown out of window
H-aNH
by a frantic father. John sa1ri Killed
his boy of five 10y falling on him. ana
he. too. perished. Scores escaped ny
passing from a small rear balcony To
the balcony of an adjoining house.
President Meyer. Of the Western
Federation Of Miners. received mes
sage from Governor Ferris this after
noon stating he was at his command
for rendering all possible assistance
to those stricken by the disaster.