Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-01
the building. 1t was many hours be
fore all the bodies we're identified.
Crushed TO Death Against Doors.

Crushed TO Death Against Doors.
There was fire escape at the rear
OF the building. but only those who
were very near it could make any
use Of it until after the fatal rush
vas over. Probably not more than a
hundred escaped the first rush by
way Of this fire escape. About a score
more jumped from windows near
which they sat.
The main door Of the hall opened
on small landing. There is a small
cloakroom about ten feet square to
one side Of the main door The loss
of life was heavy at the small door
Of this room. The rush apparently
turned many against the door of this
room and crushed them to death
within the door.
Stairway Filled with Bodies.
The greatest number of dead in
any one place was at the bottom of
the stairs. Those who reached the
stairs first we're evidently hurled to
the bottom by those behind and in
this way the stairway was filled al
most TO the ceiling.
That death in most instances was
due 10 suffocation under the weight
of those who fell last was indicated
by the fact that few of the corpses
bore marks of injury. Bodies were
crumpled and broken, but the fea-
lures were not cut or bruised
Search for Fire Cry Raiser.
1t was said by those near the door
that the man who raised the alarm
came up the stairs from a saloon be-
low and it was said by some of those
present that the man may have been
in maudlin condition, and shouted
the word without any thought as to
what he was doing. Many men in the
crowd about the hall after the dis
aster sWOre vengeance if the man
could be found, and a search was be-
gun.
Community Bound in Common Grief.
Today all Calumet is bound to-
gether for the first time in five
months with one common feeling
grief. Out of a siege of murder,
robbery, dynamiting, pitched battles
and all sorts of crimes, a period filled
with terror and a time in which fami-
lies were split and brothers became
enemies, there now arises CHASTITY
quietude.
For five long. weary and horrible
months Calumet has been the scene of
one terrific struggle between two
warning factions-the copper mine
strikers, members OF the Western
Federation of Miners, and the non
strikers, members of the citizens
alliance.
Both have participated in many
bloody quarrels and both have been
reported as willing to exterminate
the other. But when the time came
for the younger generation of one
faction to be practically wiped out it
was the other party-the hated enc
mics, fOrmerly-to rush to their aid.
Rush to Aid Former Foes.
The eighty or SO person who lost
their lives in the catastrophe were
members of the families whose heads
belong to the Western Federation of
Miners. They held a community
Christmas celebration because they
were too poor to have individual
ones.
While they were in the building,
singing, laughing and participating
in Christmas joys, members of the
citizens alliance passed by. Just as
they were in front the panic began.
Instead of standing by, these sworn
enemies of those within forgot their
hatred and rushed forward to help
their fellows.
Prominent men and business men
are raising 2 subscription list for the
benefit of the hereaved.