The Detroit times., 1913-12-25
Christmas Celebration for Strik-
ing Miners Ends i'm Awful
Tragedy-Many Chill
dren Killed
MEN AND WOMEN FIGHT
TO REACH TWO EXITS
Bodies Are Ground To Pulp by
Maddened Mass of Human
ity in Narrow Stairway

CALUMET, Mich, Dec 25-(Spe-
ciap --Seyenty.six persons, mostly
children, are dead as a result OF a
panic which follow ed a false alarm OF
ire during a Christmas celebration for
striking miners ma their families In
Italian hall, al Red Jacket. a section
of this city.
Probably an equal number are suf
.ering from serious injuries received
IN the Wild rush :or the exits which
followed tne yells of an unidentified
man VINO gave the alarm.
The Christmas exercises for the chill
dren had Jpst concluded and the chill
dren OF the striAers were lined up N
the aisles 10 mGtcn past the tree In
he front OF the room and receive
their presents when heavily
nah thrust his mead through the front
door OF the hall and yelled Fire"
A mad rush for the two stairways,
one In the front ana the other in the
rear. followed Men. women and chill.
dren fouga: TO reacG place OF safety.
The stairway became filed with 4
mass OF bodies, those from behind
pushing forward, ;rsmpling upon and
mothering those unable TO make head
way against the mass In front.
The greatest numbers OF dead were
ound in the narrow stairway, where
they had been iammed and trampled
into pulp, and IN the center OF the
room. where they had been smothered
by the crush OF people on all sides.
The children, having been in the
81 81 AK haO
we're the principal sufferers, men ana
women scrambling over their PROSTATE
bodies.
So solidly wee bodies wedged into
the narrow stairways that IT was nee
essary for firemen to climb into the
second-story windows with ladders 10
pull the bodies out.
The panic was not ended until
special posse OF deputy sherins, kept
IN readiness for strike duty, climbed
into the rear windows and drove the
crowds away from the exits with tneir
riot sticlss-
Garry Away Dead.
While 76 dead have been accouIteu
for. Il Is believed that the total VIII
exceed this figure, for men and women
,tormed the guar1 Is around the dean
bodies. last night, and many carried
awav the torpses OF their loved ones
In the pile OF bodies outside the hail.
this morning, were those OF 81 little
girls. 19 little boys. Is women, anu
touE men.
In the interior Of the building some
we're found clutched tightly In the
,rms of those who had either attempt
ed TO save them from the surrounding
mob or to push them ahead to place
of safety.
The exercises which terminated III
the awful tragedy had been eagerly
awaited by the children OF every strik-
ing miner in the city.
The Women's auxiliary OF the Wesc-
ern Federation OF Miners, assisted oy
tho merchants Of she city and by
local philauthropist who refused 10
riye his name. had arranged the eXer-
cIses and obtained presents OF 1000.
clothing and toys for the miners ana
their children.
The program began early, to ailo"
tha miners, many OF whom came from
= distance. To reach their homes be-
fore midnight.
The Youngsters had completed their
mart of the entertainment and were
lined up in the aisles awaiting tne
,ime when Santa Claus should cail
their names and make the Distribution
~ nresents which were piled around
he illuminated Christmas tree.
haavily-bearded man thrust MS
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