Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-29
Witnesses Fail to Con-
meet Citizens Alliance
With Panic.
CULPRIT is DESCRIBED
Woman Tells OF Trying to Sup
press Man Giving False
Alarm of Fire.

Oner inquest on IlS pdnlC oiI = III Isl
mas eve which cost the lives Of ~
began today Several witnesses were
prepared TO assert the cry of fire
which started the panic came from the
center of the hall instead of from a
doorway, as related in the first ac-
counts.
Gathering of evidence as to the
identity of the men who escorted
President Meyer out of Hancock Fri
day night, was continued by strike
leaders Union men claim to have a
clue to the identity of the man who
shouted the false alarm that caused
the panic Christmas eve, and that an
arrest may be made soon.
The room of the town hall where the
inquest was being held was crowded
TO its capacity. Half a dozen wit
nesses testified this morning, including
Mrs. Annie Clemens, a leader of
the womens auxiliary of the Western
Federation of Miners, an organization
which was distributing Christmas
gifts to the children when the panic
in the Italian hall broke out.
Early Stories Disproved.
The testimony of witnesses dis
proved generally the circulated rum
ors that a man wearing a Citizens AL
lance button, had rushed upstairs and
shouted fire" and that deputies stood
on the front stairs and beat back those
coming out of the hall. All testified
they had not seen any man wearing a
Citizens Alliance button come up
stairs, nor was there any person in the
hall wearing such a button. Mrs.
Clemens was generally said to have
been one of those who persistently cir
culated a report that the man who
gave the false alarm wore a Citizens
Alliance button, but on the stand she
disclaimed any such knowledge
Mrs. Theresa Sizer, the only witness
who saw the man who yelled fire"
testified she was standing on a table
near the stage, trying TO restrain the
rush of children towards the Christ
mas tree. When she heard the alarm
she jumped from the table and ran
TO the man and grasped him by the
shoulders.
Man. what are you doing?" she
asked
There is a fire." he replied.
mo, no, keep STILL" said Mrs SiEer, /
as she tried vainly to force him into /
a chair.
All in the back of the hall were /,
rushing towards the exit and the /
panic was spreading to those about /
the stage. Mrs. Sizer quit arguing /
with the man and ran upon the plat /
form and began to play loudly on |
nj &
She described the man as of medium
height, with dark clothes and dark
mustache. He wore no button or other
insignia and was not near the entrance
Of the hall when she first heard his
voice
Congressman Mcdonald OF Calumet
will reach here tomorrow to look into
he strike situation and the Italian
lan calamity.
State Can Handle Case.
Big Rapids, Mich. Dec. .A9.-Solicitor
Densmore of the governments depart
nent of labor, conferred with Governor
Ferris here this morning concerning
he strike. Densmore arranged to q
cave for Calumet this morning. a
Il am still of the opinion there is
70 necessity for the federal authorities
o take action IN this affair" said the
governor. a grand jury is now in ses- !
ion at Houghton. Meyer or anybody ]
Use can 90 before that body and get
ustice II is strictly a state matter
md Michigan can handle IT,
Ferris said Densmore explained he
lid not come 70 Michigan 10 begin
ederal Investigation of strike ccndi-
ions. He made it plain" said the
governor, "he came here merely on a
Ouciliatory mission, and have no OBJ
actiOn 10 any efforts in that direc-
ion. All we ask is 20 be allowed 10 !
ttend 70 our own legal affairs. Dens- I
lore seemed hopeful of accomplishing
omething"
No Federal Question Involved
Washington. Dec. 2s-Congressional n
lvestisation Of the Calumet copper q
LTiEe was discussed "a informal con 2
zrenccs Of the house rules committee :
3dsy aad individual expression Indi-- v
aJed that those present agreed no q
sderal question was involved Chair Il
ian Henry is opposed to an invest Y
alton. Acting Chairman Pujo declar- q
d the committee would be forced ~ II
lyestigate nearly all labor disputes IL r
set a precedent in the Calumet case b
he western Federation Of Miners and s