The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-12-27
FALSE FIRE ALARM =;
COSTS MANY LIVES
Continued From Page 1.

released from below, and firemen
from the top Of the stairway carry
ing the dead anu dying back up into
the hall before the stairs could be
cleared.
At the time the cry If fire was
sounded Mrs. Annie Clemenc was
making a talk to- the little ones pres
cnt who naturally were crowded as
near the stage as possible. their lit
tie faces beaming with happiness,
their hearts bouncing with Christmas
cheer.
In less than three minutes after
ward 80 Of their frail little bodies
were damned and crushed in the
hallway being used as a roadway
over which their companions were
vainly cndeavOrjng to escape
The scene was a horrible one, ana
Will never be. effaced from the minds
of those who witnessed the terrible
tragedy.
Citizens Act Quickly.
AS soon as the disaster became
known citizens of Calumet and other
nearby towns went to work with a.
will and did all within their power
to alleviate suffering and sorrow. The
presidents of the villages of Red
Jacket and 1.aurium have called
meetings at the town halls of their
respective towns for 8 o'clock this
afternoon for the purpose Of arrang-
Ing for the funerals of the victims
and for the purpose of raising money
fh0Qo ho l..
the fearful calamity.
President Meyer of the Western
Federation Of Miners, who was In
Hancock at the time Of the calamity
went to Calumet as soon as possible
and assured those afflicted that their
wants would be attended to by the
organization at whose head he stands.
The funerals Of the victims will be
held under the auspices Of organized
labor. and no funds other than those
furnished by such organizations and
friends Of labor will be accepted.
AT the present time no arrange.
ments for the funerals have been
made. The great disaster has cast a
cloud of gloom over the entire dis
tr1ct' and those who have been en-
gagged in the strike for the past five
months feel keenly the loss Of their
comrades and friends who have stood
so valiantly by their side in this strng.
gle. Nearly everyone in the hall was
either q striker or a member of a
strikers family.
Fiend Still At Large.
The fiend who caused this terrible
q {c
one could do such d thing passes all
understanding and he must be fiend
1ncarnate. He could not have been
ignorant Of the results of such e. thine
as yelling fire into hall crowded
to its capacity with men, women and
children.
The bodies Of the dead were taken
to temporary morgue established in
the town hall as soon as they were
removed from the building AS soon
as 1dentif1catiOns we're made, the
bodies were removed to their homes,
In some homes the mother and al,
the children lie cold in death. the
husband and father crazed with grief
IN others the mother being the only
one spared has been plunged into
despair and sorrow that yet dazes
her, the full truth not yet dawnina
upon her terrified brain.
! Coroner William T. Fisher ha,
sworn In coroner's jury at the town
nall and the inquest is postponed un-
til Monday moning. The jurors sworn
In are as follows: Jacob Talso, Dan
1auch, Jacob Pesonen, Bert Barn.
ham, George F. Talbot and Matt
Chopp.
No Fire At Calumet.
There was no fire in Calumet at the
time this man raised the cry and il
vas no doubt given with the deliper.
ate intention Of causing a panic. The
candles on the Christmas tree had not
; yet been lighted.
! President Meyer who has been the
butt OF the attacks of the Citizens
Alliance ever since he came to the
district, is absolute master of himself
during this crisis. His kilograms II
President Wilson and the Secretary
OF Labor and their tone indicate that
, he is keeping his head. The time has
arrived when congress must act. This
disaster. and all things connected with
the strike, must he investigated. and
congress cannot afford to longer pur-
sue dilatory tactics.
| President Meyer has consistently
refused to receive any assistance from
the Citizens Alliance, but he welcome
contributions from all labor organfza,
lions and friends Of labor organiza
lions. The miners exnec+ ,booe,