The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-12-30
MA JORITY SAW NO BUTTON
Only Three of Those on Stand
Today Say They Observed
Alliance Pin
JURY VISITS SCENE OF PANIC

Todays session of the inquest into
the Italian Hall disaster brought out
conflicting evidence as to the identity
of the man who sounded the cry of
fire and the testimony Of one wit
ness that three shots were fired be-
fore the cry was issued. The develop
ments resulted in the transfer Of the
inquiry to the scene Of the catas-
trophc. The inquiry is progressing
slowly and it likely will extend over
several days.
Three of the witnesses summoned
by federation declared they saw
man wearing a Citizens Alliance but
ton. who had just come into thc hall.
ana heard him give the cry of FIRE"
Two of these witnesses admitted hay-
ing talked with federation officials be-
fore they went on the stand.
The preponderance Of the testimony
introduced today showed, like that Of
yesterday that the cry of ere came
from some person who was in the hall
throughout tho Christmas entertain
ment and who did not ws9r an Al
| lance pin.
Saw Man Near Stage.
Annie Raeder aged Il, of Wolverine,
was the first witness. She testified
that she and seven other children were
accompanied to the hall the afternoon
of the disaster 10y her father who
vouehed for them before they could
gain admittancc 10 the hall. \ crowd
in the hall surged toward the stage
when the presents were being dstrib-
uted and in the crush, she saw two
children faint. Turning around, she
| saw a man waving his hands near the
stage and instantly saw woman run
| TO him and catch hold Of his hands.
! She described the man as of medium
stature. wearing black mustache and
dressed in a suit of gray OF green and
"a hat cap She heard no sound of
fire" and saw the rush toward the
exit. The man wore no overcoat.
Says Clubs Not Used.
John Rastcllo of Centennial, said he
went TO the hall half hour before
the panic and took his boy to the sa-
loon below, where they remained until
] llt luell NUN tbNN'F AhiAAANN'AN'NN's 80
ran To the entrance TO the hail leading
to the stairs and beheld q mass of peo-
Die crowded near the bottom of the
stairs. lie returned TO the saloon,
grasped his son and removed him TO a
residence on Pine street. When he
first emerged from The saloon, he saw
40 deputies near the entrance. After
faf I.a
to the scene and at that time, fire.
men and deputies had arrived. No one
was welding clubs at any time, he
said. At this juncture, one OF the
jurymen again asked If the witness
= saw any one clubbing people near the
, door The witness replied in the Mega
r tive Attorney Lucas interposed with
r the statement that this fact has al
= ready been proven untrue.
Shout From Within the Hall.
, John Auno. of Hickory street Tam
: arack. said he was at the top Of the
stairs. near the door leading to the
hall. conversing with several other
men, one of whom was Alfred Lantto
the doorkeeper He said no one came
up ;he stairs shouting fire but the cal
c came from within the hall lie was
pushed down the stairs and fell into
e the heap of struggling people. The
g impact rendered him unconscious. H'
Y knew no more until he regaincd con
7. sciousuess. While at the top of th'
u stairs, he saw NO one come up wh'
|. wore a Citizens Alliance button o
s. who wore an ovcrcoat with fur col
lar.
- j. e. Arttila's Testimony.
y J. l.. Anttila. secretary OF the Calu
met union. said he had arrived at tn
IS top of the stairs almost simultaneou
l. with the sounding of the cry of fire
He saw the people rushing down tn
stairs. Through the open doors, h
said he saw several men trying I
ls pacify the mob. Children and adult
u we're screaming as they passed hi
ie and he tried TO stop the rush. Sewers
, times he was rushed by the crowd bu
l. he clung To- the side and was able
remain az the top. lie said he had n
time to notice If any one wore Cit
2ens' Alliance button.
IN Man Near Stage Cried Fire"
NO Rock Mihelchich, aged IL, Of Tan
u arack Junior said he was in the hs