The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-26

CALUMET, Mich, Dec. 26.-(Spe-
ciaD-rhe-e was no Christmas cele-
bration here yesterday Instead, in
mass meeting assembled, citizens OF
Calumet and Red Jacket devoted their
time TO making preparations for the
burial OF the victims Of the Christmas
eve disaster in Italian Union hail.
when 70 lives were snuifed out In a
panic follow ing a false alarm OF fire.
Jealously guarding their prerogative
OF caring Tor their own dead, the citi-
ems in THESE words, explained their
position: with 1he kindest feeling
Tor those Who offer II, We decline all
outside help These are our own peo-
Die and this is our sacred privilege
10 care for our dead and comfort our
wing
a committee Cf -, representing
every nationality r. the copper coun-
try. was appointed &c visit the families
OF the victims aho to ascertain what
disposition they wished made OF the
bodies OF their departed loved ones.
The committee VIII report. this after
noon, and The nature OF It's report Will
determine whether or not great pub.
lic funeral will oe held.
Factions United.
United by a common sorrow, Doth
gactLsffs Ifff-.the labor war OF the cop
nDT country have joined hands TO alle-
Iiate the suffering growing out OF the
fearful catastrophe. Red Jacket has
obtained fund Of $1,000 for the burial
OF its dead and the care OF ,he hercaN-
ed families Calumet has similar
amount. other cities OF the copper
country and OF lower Michigan are
sending aid. Mayor Marx, or Detroit,
has telegrAphed 81 900 as the gift or
the states principal city. The Miehi-
gan Federation d Labor has sent out
. general call for aid. The Western
Federation OF Miners has pledged So
900 The United Mine Workers, de-
spite the fact that 1t has been paying
benefits I'M the Colorado coal strike,
mas telegraphed = 600 as It's share OF
the relief tund.
Narrowing tales of the disaster are
becoming known as time goes on. sur
vivors OF the terrible tragedy tell or a
mass % clawlng, tearing, moving hu-
manity jammed into space less than
six feet wide. pNSLing and crowdlng
70 obtain freedom even az the price OF
the lives OF Others. They tell OF men
running 10 supposed safety over the
bodies OF Doys and girls who madden
ed With psin. d.asged them down III
turn. They tell OF men and women,
found on tile top OF the Pile OF broken
and twisted bodies, who had died oI
sheer fright They tell OF women
dead. standing holt upright holding
their babes above their heads to lit
them above the u,addened crowd.
Dead '. oman +olds Babe.
woman and two children was on
he point OF threwiug herself from q
secondlstory wiiidow when driven
pack bv tho nremen. who were forced
10 enter the room with ladders, 50
thick was the mass in the stairway
Mrs. Aniemela was crushed TO death
as she stood upright in the crush IN
the stairway. but her dead hands heid
her baby above her Lead and fireman
took IL from her. and carried II e
safety
Fifteen persons crowded at once on
tho narrow FIRE escape aHd. although
three fell 10 the ground. no one was
seriously hurt.
A child. a girl of 10. begg"i a hre
man 10 extricate her from the mass
of bodies. which held her down. Du'
died before he could reach her
An 1S-ycar-old boy found nimseii