Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-12-27
Flames Of fire
CAUSED PANIC
Investigation Into Calumet
Holocaust Shows Person
Who Yelled Saw Blaze
WOMEN TELL STORY
Boys Clothing was Burning. Says
One-Sunday Will he Day
Of Funerals.
WOMEN TELL STORY

Calumet, Mich, Dec. 26.-Prose-
cutting Attorney Anthony Lucas, who
is conducting the investigation into
Wednesday nights tragedy in Italian
hall, which cost the lives OF seventy
five persons is convinced that the
catastrophe was an accident pure
and simple. He does not believe it
will be necessary for the grand jury
to make an investigation, but de-
clares responsibility for the affair
will be settled by the coroners jury.
Attorney Lucas took numerous al
fidavits today from persons who
were in the hall at the time the
panic started. AS result OF these
affidayits Lucas is inclined to be-
lieve that someone in the hall actual
ly saw flash of flame and raised
the c9y of Fire
Matt Saari, who stood near the
doorway of the hail. has made an af-
fidavit that no one ran up the stair
way and gave the alarm. He says
hell.
Mrs. Theresa Steers affidavit says
that she was inside the hall and that
the man who first cried fire stood
80. i.a ii She saw no Citizens AL
lance button on his coat. Mrs.
Louis Lesha, who stood near the
platform, guiding the line OF boys
ard girls up the STEPS to the Chris.
: tree, says the cries L
the center of the hall. The cry first
came in English and was followed
by "Wather! Father!" which is
Creation for fire.
The belief of Lucas that there was
fire in the building is borne out by
affidavits of Mrs. Charles Meyers
and Miss Florence Moore. They say
they saw boy carried from the
building and that the boys clothing
was burning. Someone, they be-
licvc. either saw the boy with the
burning clothing or saw something
,=o burning aid in their excitement
raised the alarm of fire.
Sunday will be a day of funerals.
The committee appointed by the
Federation of Miners today arrang-
I'd for the burial of majority of
the victims on the day. Services
will be conducted at the churches at
tended by the victims who were of
many nationalities. Four of the
dead will be buried tomorrow.
Aid Is Rejected
An unprecedented condition ex-
lists in the relief situation. Eami!cs
of the victims of the catastrophe are
in extreme need, many being with
out foor e, fuel. The c.t:zzens' AL
lance, composed of businon men,
has collected $4,000 for relief work
This money is available aud the COM
m:ttee is anxious to aid the suffer-
ing. Every merchant the CON-
munity has been authorized to fill
any order for provisions and cloth
ing when prope,v signed and prs.
scented. cet The needy ones a.:
lutely refuse to accept any aid. They
say they are acting on the advice OF
agents of the Western FEDERATION
of Miners. This action ::o.lovs PEE
sident Meyers statement 10 tho ef'
feet that the need yminers will he
cared for by orgsu'*ed labor only.
The citizens committee, consequent
" in a dilemma having large slra
of money on hand and nothing to
do with it. The committee IS pre-
pairing to send committee to Meyer
to plead with him to allow the needy
ones to accept the proffeTed ad.
Committees are visiting heads OF
stricken families trying tomake
them understand that offers Of assis-
lance are in no way bait held out
but the mining companies. but work
If humanity.