The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-01
CorOner's Jury in Calumet
Reported After Session
of Three Days
NO STRANGER RUSHED
INTO ITALIAN HALL
Jury Rejected Every Allegation That
the Panic Was Started by Enemies
of the Western Federation of Miners
--65 Witnesses Examined.

CALUMET, Mich, Jan. An OPEN
verdict. including a finding that the
Christmas-eve panic which cost - lives
in Italian hall was caused bv an alarm
OF fire raised within the hall. was re-
turned last night by the coroner Jury,
which, for three days. had 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
was rejected by the jury. The taking
Of testimony concluded soon after mid.
day, and it was well along IN the at
ternoon before consideration of the
testimony Was begun. The iurvmen
wrcstled with their problem for six
hours. n the evidenceof the Wit
hours. - ~ the evidence Of the Wit
deaths was sutioca ton, the same being
caused by being iammed on the stair
way leading to the entrance Of the
Italian hall, where a Christmas celebra-
ton Was being held under the auspices
Of the Women Auxiliary OF the Nest
crn Federation OF Miners, sand the
verdict. The stampede was caused
BY some person or persons unknown to
the Jury ut this time, raising an alarm
Of fire within the hall
The jury decided that the evidence
showed that only those possessing
union cards or vouched for hy some
member Of the union were allowed to
enter tho place. Rejection ct charges
that deputy sherit1s. mine euards and
company doctors had held back would
be re>cuerS was contained in 4 para
graph commenting the work Of men
( who cleared the stairway of It's mass of
dead and injured.
I some 30 witnesses told their versions
! Of the catastrophe. OF these. half a
+ dozen stated they saw button Of some
! kind on a man who they SAID raiSed the
initial alarm. hut not all OF these would
swear that the button bore he insig-
MIA OF the citizens alliance. The Wit
+ ne>,eS also disagreed as 10 whore tho
man stood. and because o. this the jury
+ concluded that persons 3u different
+ parts 81 the han took ny the cry. The
practical unanmity Of testimony from
I those near the door, thar no stranger
rushed INTO the place rs the panic start
/ ed was anot her underlying cause Of tie
iurr's finding.
IN intangible note Of optimism de
yeloped in DIE strike situation. John b.
bcu>more Of the federal department 81
labor said he had been encouraged; "
j. Macdonald, who is pressing a reso
iltion for congressional inquiry. saij
there was Il rift in the clouds, and u
turucys for the Western Federation 81
Minors thought that way ct settling
the difficulty might hc found soon. Il
company circles also, more cheerful
countenanre> were in EVIDENCE Wha'
plans Mr. Dcnsmore hopes to put into
effect he has thus far kept secret. II,
( has conferred with representatives q
; the mining companies and/of the union
has discussed conditions with mer
chants and Worltingmen. and talked a
length with Congressman Macdonald
Last night he met committees from VI
rious organizations in iou@htoR.
The Mover deportation incident SUM
bcrtd Striking miners Of the Hancoel
district have called q ma meeting 70
: this afternoon to protest against the nc
: ti0n against their chicttain Grand iur
investigation OF thc affair awaits tn
ability of Mover to appear before tn
inquisitors in person. Q. NJ Hilton, chic
4 OF counsel OF the federation. pointe
oft that AIovcr is their most importan
witness and that no complete invest
CATION can be made without his vcrsio
Of the affair asa foundation