Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-26

CONTINUED from Page II
7 y panic victims whose ives were
I snufsed Out "Wednesday night a. local
hall VIXEN some man gave a false
alarm OF fire at a Christmas celebra-
/ ton.
/ Steps also were taken TO ameliorate
the stfferings Of those persons who
lost children. mothers, fathers, or
. brothers and sisters
\ committee Of u was appointed TO
visit each individual home of the be-
reaved families and ascertain what f.
nancial assistance IS necessary. I'm
limited funds are assured and no cut
side aid will be necessary.
w ith the Eindest feeling for those
who offered II. We ask no outside help
the resolutions Of sympathy adopted
state. "TEcse are our own people, and
this is our - cred privilege 10 care for
cur dead and comfort the living
The strikers also met and named a
COZ mittee comprising representatives
OF the nationalit.es OF the victims 20
call on the stricken relatives and learn
their wishes regarding the funerals.
Man Who Caused Panic Vsnishes.
Tire authorities have so far been I'M
able 10 trace the man - no went up the
stairs OF Italian hall and raised the
CRY OF fire that led 10 the fearful crush
IL the narrow stairway. There seems
little hope that he Will be appre-
kended.
Another story Of the alarm which
brought about the panic was provided
by Matt Saari. a striker. who identified
his boy among the dead. Saarl said
the cry of fire came from within the
hall IN a section occupied mostly by
adults.
StiIl another story was told by Mrs.
John Meyers. whose observations tend
cd 70 confirm STARTS story. She said
she saw a man with a boy in his arms
rushing down the stairs. The boys
cap was burning. she said, and in her
opinion his spectacle inspired the cry .
which Saari said he heard.
Despite these statements. the story
Of the man at the doorway who raised
a false cry Of fire will not down. Wit .
nesses describe this man as being .
poorly dressed. He wore a beard.
Rela,e Stories Of Heroism.
Members Of the Ere department re-
late many Instances Of heroic attempts .
10 rescue the panic stricken people in
the Inflated hall.
Patrick Ryan arrived on the scene .
few minutes after the crush occurred. .
lie estimated that there were about
100 persons piled on top Of each other A..
when he reached the entrance Of the .
building The pile Of crushed and
smCthering humanity reached to about .
half the height OF the stairway. They
were wedged in so tightly il was i'm
possible to eNtricate any from the foot .
OF the stairs.
\ boy OF about caught hold of .
Ryans hands and begged TO be res
cued. The fireman succeeded in pull
ing the boy partly out. but he was un-
able 10 eNtricate the little fellows
LEGS. The human mass kept pressing
down and the boy soon expired.
Impossible 10 Save Girl.
4 girl Of or grasped the hands OF .
Angelo Curto. another fireman kissed .
them. and implCred him TO save her.
Re made heroic efforts 10 pull her out. \
but the crush was 50 great he was
compelled 10 give Up the attempt and .
she persisted.
Mrs \. Nlemeia. one OF the victims.
was Subjected while standing up.
John Burriu. a fireman who Witnessed
her death. took a C-mOnths-old infant .
from her arms and carried It 10 .
safety.
Leonard Wilman. fireman, pushed .
his way into the stairway and took out .
a crying boy OF uninjured. Near him .
his mother and sister lay dead. His .
7-vsar-old brother was taken out later I
An i1-year-Cld boy rescued his brother .
OF q by carrying him down a ladder. I
There were Other similar rescues.
4urI Children From Windows. /
a child hurled from the front Of the /
building was caught by a spectator. /
CHIEF Trudeu OF the fire department I
caught another child thrown out of 4
window by frantic father.
John Saari killed his boy OF by 4
falling on him, and he. too. persisted. 4
Scores escaped by passing from small
rear balcony 70 The balcony Of an ad- .
joining house
Most OF the men AZ the entertain /
meut acted bravely. They, however.
we're in the minority one man who I
sought TO stay the rush Of the crowd ,
was crushed 20 death
When the rush began, a woman
quickly Weut 10 the piano and began !
playing Another woman stood in the /
center Of the stage on which the Christ
mas tree had been erected and began I
singing. Their efforts TO Quell the
panic we're futile. as they were not
heard above the noise
Wisconsin Extends Sympathy.
I.ansinr. Mich. Dec Ex-Governor :
Ferris received the following telegram
from Governor MciOvern OF Wiscon- I
sin.
For tie people OF Wisconsin and
myself / send YOU and the citizens of
Michigan q message OF sympathy. I