Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-01
Calumet Jury Finds That
Unidentified Persons
Raised Fire Cry.
ONLY UNION MEN THERE
Every Allegation Holding Enc
mics of Miners Responsible
Is Rejected.

Calumet, Mich, Jan. IAN open
verdict including a finding that the
Christmas eve panic which cost 72
lives in Italian hall was caused by an
alarm of fire raised within the hall was
returned last night by the coroner's
Jury which for three days has been
hearing the evidence of participants
in the disaster.
Every allegation that enemies of the
Western Federation of Miners were
responsible for starting the panic or
in any way hindered the work of res
cue were rejected by the six jurors in
unanimous verdict.
The taking of testimony concluded
shortly afternoon, and it was late in
the afternoon before consideration of
the testimony was begun. The jury
men deliberated six hours. The YER
dict was as follows:
by the evidence of the witnesses
we find that the cause of death was
suffocation, the same being caused by
being jammed on the stairway leading
to the entrance of the Italian hall,
where a Christmas celebration was
being held under the auspices of the
Women's auxiliary of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners. The stampede was
caused by some person or persons, un-
known to the jury at this time, rails
ing an alarm of fire within the hail.
HinderIna Rescue Denied.
The jury decided that the evideHce
showed that only those possessing
union cards or vouched for by some
member of the union were allowed to
enter the place. Rejection of charges
that deputy sheriffs, mine guards and
company doctors had held back would
be rescuers was contained il para
graph commencing the work of men
who cleared the stairway of its grew
some mass of dead and injured.
About sixty-five witnesses told their
versions of the catastrophe at the in
quest. Of these half a dozen stated
they saw a button of some kind on
man whom they said raised the initial
alarm, but not all of these were willing
to swear that the button bore the in
sigma of the Citizens alliance. The
witnesses also disagreed as to where
the man stood, and because of this the
jury concluded that persons in differ
ent parts of the hall took up the cry.
The practical unanimity of testi-
mony from those near the doorway
that no stranger rushed into the place
as the panic started was another OF
the underlying causes of the Jury's
findings.
Sees Hope Of Peace.
A slight note of optimism has de-
veloped in the strike situation. John
B. Densmer, solicitor of the federal
department of labor, says he has been
encouraged. w. ]. Macdonald, who is
pressing a resolution for congression-
al INQUIRY. SAYS there IS rift in the
clouds, and attorneys for the Western
Federation of Miners express the be-
lief that a method of settlement might
soon be found
The Mover deportation incident will
be the subject at mass meeting IN
the Hancock district Grand jury IN
yestigation of the affair awaits the
baility of Meyer TO appear and testify
in person o. n. Hilton, chief counsel
for the federation, pointed out that
Mover is their most important witness
and that no complete investigation can
be- made without his version of the
affair as a foundation.
Editors and other employees OF the
paper, Iyomies, who were arrested
earlier in the week on charges OF pub
fishing statements calculated TO incite
riot, were released or bail and the
paper circulated again.
Mahoney to See Wilson.
Denver, Col, Jan 1.-Vice Presi-
dent Mahoney of the Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners announced he would
start for Washington tomorrow He
declared arrangements had been made
which we would be given conference
with President Wilson, to whom he
will present a concise statement OF
strike conditions In Michigan.
Mitchell to Be Writer.
Lansing, Mich. Jan. John Mitch
Ell, whose term as vice president of
tna American Federation of Labor ex-
pired at midnight. announced he VIII
devote his time largely TO writing Tor
"The Cause AS the clock~struck 1e
last night Mitchell Was standing on
a platform in Central Labor hail here
pleadtng IN behalf of the striking mir
ers IN the copper countrSc
TWO Men Blown 10 Pi
Downington, Pa, jan
Kennedy, contractor,