Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-15
Six Children Dead and
Twelve Seriously Hurt in
New York.
TRAMPLED UNDER
FOOT BY GROWNUPS
Careless Janisor Allows Smoke to
Enter Building and Cry Of Fire"
Causes Stampede-city Officials
Serve Notice on Theater Managers
to Sell No Tickets to Minors I'm
accompanied by Guardians.
BY Associated Press.

New York, Nov. ia crusade for
stricter enforcement Of the city or
dinance forbidding motion picture
proprietors to sell tickets to minors
unless accompanied by parents or
guardians was started by the police
today as a result OF the panic on the
lower east side last. night when six
children were trdnpled to death in a
mad rush following a false. fire alarm.
The police department sent warn
ing to all movie houses that the or
dinance would be strictly enforced.
Bernard Weinberg ana Max
Schwartz. proprietors OF the Kath.
crime Theater. and Joseph Po!istan.
janitor. were arrested after the
tragedy last night charged with man
slaughter. Early today the charge
was changed tc criminal negligence.
Children Trampied underfoot.
Most of the twelve other youngsters
seriously injured when older men and
women bowled them over in their
scramble toward the exits were said
to be in a critical condition early to-
day. While no further deaths had re-
suited, it was said at hospitals where
they were taken that some OF them
probably would die.
The panic occurred when some of
the patrons, noticing the curling
shadows cast on the screen and
the odor OF smoke. yelled
Fire" and dashed simultaneously
for liberty. The smoke was caused
by the janitor in starting a fire in the
furnace,
The little .theater was crowded TO
capacity. Children filed most Of the
400 seats. for the hero Of the picture
Mas an Italian lad who rose from
humble SURROUNDINGS like theirs to
riches and fame. The, youngsters were
absorbed in. the progress of the
screen hero. Pietro. who was protect
ing his father from thieves. when
smoke began to seep. thru the cracks
of the theater floor.
First Cry Of Fire.
MY God. It's fret" This shout
came from an elderly woman. who
gathered little one under her arm
and ran for the nearest exit Immed-
lately loud walls arose, children be-
san to cry. They jumped from their
Seats, TANNED the aisles, and fought
Tor passage: The lights flickered out
Youthful cries attracted many resi-
dents of the Italian nciShborhood. Ca
milo Bruillo, who sells bananas from
a push cart on the 2owery, rushed to
the scene. He darted into the theater
and attempted to shout down the
cries. Failing, he saved those he could.
Camille carried more than fifteen tots
to safety. then collapsed, overcome
by smoke. -
Someone sounded a fire alarm. Many
then, were carried from the theater
overcome by smoke. They were soon
revived. 40
Firemen Carry Out Dead.
Firemen carried the dead TO near.
by drug stores. The injured were seat
to hospitals. Frantic women and men
learning of the disaster-crowded
before the little theater.
A police station, nearby also was
crowded with those seeking infornra
ton Of loved ones. The bodies OF the
victims soon were identified, but the
excitement attending the panic kept
children from returning to their
homes, and many women fought for
admittance to the theater, believing
their missing ones. still there.
Bernard Weinberg and Max
Schwartz, proprietors of the theater.
were taken to the police station and
later questioned by the district attor-
ney. They were held pending investi-
cation of charges that one Of the
front exits Of the theater was locked.