Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-01

Calumet, Mich, Dec. 25.-More
Khan forescore persons, mostly chill
idren. we're killed Thursday night
at Christmas celebration of copper
mime strikers in Italian hall. because
fDf a needless panic caused by d false
alarm Of fire.
While several hundred miners and
their wives looked on and scores of
Achildren pressed eagerly toward the
stage to receive Christmas presents
= man stuck his head in at the door
of the hall and yelled 'Fire!' The
cry OF alarm was at once taken up by
those in the hall. Every one started
for the doors. The crush prevented
movement. The weaker were thrown
TO the floor. Those behind tried TO
climb over them.
Trample Out Tots Lives.
In a few minutes the panic was
stepped by the fact that the stairway
and the other avenues Of egress were
blocked SO effectuaIly that those in
-Eide could not get out nor could those
outside get in to aid the manned and
remove the dead
The only regular exit was a narrow
stairway at the back of the hall.
When this had been cleared of bodies
that filled it to the top, and quick
accounting had been made, it was
found that seyenty-four corpses had
been piled up beside the hall build
ing. The dead included thirty-seven
girls. nineteen boys, thirteen women
and five men. OF the 700 persons in
the hall, more than three-fOurths
were children, many Of them having
gone without their parents. These
fathers and mothers soon rushed to
the scene and added to the confusion.
They did not understand what had
taken place and hindered the rescu-
fers by insisting on information as to
tNhat was the matter.
Little Work for Doctors.
There was not much work for the
doctors. Those who were not killed
I'm the first rush were held upright
land safe by the very force of the on
rush toward the exit. Only three in
l5ured persons were taken to hospitals
and few went home with the assist
}anee of friends.
The hall was filed to it's capacity
when the panic occurred. The chill
-tdren selected TO recite Christmas Sc
Elections and sing carols had finished
their part Of the program and the
man selected to play the part of
butte the presents piloS around the
large tree. The aisles were filed
with the boys and girls when a man
put his head in at the door of the
main doorway and yelled that awful
word, ''Fire!"
Woman Siezes Panic Fiend.
A woman who was near the door
realized the danger of the act. She
seized the man by the shoulders and
tried to counterfeit the alarm. 1t was
useless.
The man tore loose from her grasp
and dashed away The fatal word
reached the ears of many in the hall
and it was repeated throughout the
room. Fire" was shouted in sever
nj languages. Parents rose and rush
ed forward to get their children. The
lives We're crushed out in almost
twinkiing. Then the physical i'm
possibility of further movement
brought the panic-stricken persons
to their senses.
Alarm Proves t. Be False.
It was realized toe late that there
was no fire. but most of those in the
hall could not get out of the jam that
they had caused.
Policemen and frenen hurried 20
the building. only to find the hallway
impossible because Of congestion Of
bodies. Several officers climbed fire
escapes and entered the hall by win
dows. In a short time the uninjured
and the faint had been pulled from
the tangle. The scores of bodies were
placed in the front of the hall. Other
men rescued bodies from the stair
way and placed them in a row beside