New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-03

theatre. which is above the street grace
and fully twelve feet in width, was
wedged with struggling, screaming
mon. women and children. In that Jam
The two women who lost their hVes
were literally crushed 10 death
No accurate estimate Of the NUMBER
Of persons in the theatre at the time ol
the panic could be obtained last night
Estimates ran all the way from SVo'
made by Commissioner Johnson 10
more than 1000. made by those WHO
we're on the street when the outpour-
ing Of humanity started -,
\ picture entitled "Da. Gar ~
Hama Daredevil" was being displayed
when the panic started. Owing 10 'lie
fact that il was a Sunday night the
place was iammed both on the main
Aoor and i'm the balcony
The darkness Of the theatre was sud
denly lighted up by a red glare on the
screen. reflected from the operator DON
followed by mufred explosion and the
scream of q boy in the balcony VINO
yelled Fire
Realizing the danger if the crowd
began a stampede in the darkened build
ing. Irving Steiner. the operator, thre"
on the switch that lighted the lights
throughout the building. At the same
time Arthur Davies. the lecturer. who was
on the platform explaining the film faced
the crowd and inplored them not to get
excited but to keep their seats until they
we're able to leave by the four exits.
Many Of those seated on the ground
noor obcyed this advice and escaped
from tho theatre unhurt. Those in the
balconies. however. were swept with
wave Of fear and started a mad rush for
tho double stairways leading to the front
exit from the balconies.
Men Fought Like Brutes.
Men were the first to gain the aisles'
sweeping women and chilsren to one side
i'm their headlong rush for safety. In
their historical haste they stumbled and
fell down the steps. only 10 be fallen
upon by those in the rear who shouted
Wildly for help. In a moment the stair
ways were blocked with fighting, tearing
men and women.
Seeing the majority Of those in the bal
cony making for the main entrance. inc
rost of the audience started for the side
exits They did not wait for these doors
10 be opened by the special officers on
guard. but buttcd their way toward them.
almost ripping the doors from their
hinges. When they reached the fire es-
cape landing they fell to their knees and
were caught i'm the crush behind them.
At the Houston street entrance Ser
seant Mcnamara and Patroiman Cum
ningham Of the 18th street station, saw
the crowds bullying through the exit and
:ricd 10 restrain them Seeing this was
impossible. they began 10 pull those
below from the mass Of struggling hu-
mainly As fast as this was done the
dead and injured were laid on the side
walk where the ambulance surgeons MIN
istered to them.
The report that ten persons had been
killed caused Inspector Meyers captain
Tierney and Captain ROhrig, with two
hundred policemen. to rush to the theatre.
After furious battle they succeeded III
pushing back the thousands Of sightseers
who damned the streets. Police lines were
formed from Allen street on the east TO
blocks each way north and south.
Chief Kenlon. after ordering the arrest
Of steiner, the operator had the partly
burned film taken 20 the Bureau of Fire
Prevention. where II will be analysed.
Steiner. who had eXtinguished the small
blaze with the aid Of n bucket of sand and
hand grenade. was hysterical in the sta
ton house and had to be treated by an
ambulance surgeon.
Rose Segal, the ticket taker, whose
booth is to one side Of the main entrance.
remained in her Office all through the
panic and was uninjured
cry of fire by a boy eight years old
following the burning of the film was re-
sponsible for the catastrophe. Two spe-
Cial patrolmen and several ushers did their
best 10 restrain the crowd and cried out
there was no danger but their words were
unheeded
Half a dozen men got out Of the theatre
in safety at the first rush. As they
reached the street they, too. began TO
shout Fire" This brought hundreds of
persons 10 the scene. who apparently tried
10 get in and rescue their relatives Their
efforts added 20 the confusion at the en-
trance.
The shrieks of the men. women and
children buried underneath in the mass
Of humanity could be heard for blocks
around 1t was feared that most of those,
numbering almost five hundred. piled up in
the heap had been killed.
Five minutes after the accident hap
pened Battalion Chief John Kelly, with
Truck Company 9, and Engine Company
. arrived Kelly got his men TO push
the crowd back. This however, was i'm
possible. Then he ordered his men TO
lump over the crowd and throw them
back This was effective. In ten min
utes Kelly managed TO get most of the
panicstricken persons back into the
theatre. Then the work OF removing the
dead and injured began.
Scene Shocks Fireman.
chief Kenlon and Deputy Chief Lang
ford soon arrived. Between them. and as
sisted by Inspector Myers. Captains Tier
ney and Captain Rorhig. they managed to
clear the crowd and get semblance Of
order
1t was the worst scene ] have ever
looked at said Kelly. Men. women and
children were piled on top Of one an
. other OF least fifteen feet high, and their
screams and cries were pitiful."
During all the excitement Rose Segal.
Of No. 1872 East Houston street. ticket
seller AZ the theatre, tried 10 tell the