The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-11-28
Stampede Starts When
Cry of "Fire" Is Raised
During Presentation of
"The Sheik," Crowd
Becomes Uncontroll-
able In Mad Scramble
For Exits


New Haven, Conn. Nov 2S.-Three
lives were lost and 70 or more per-
sons were injured when fire broke out
in the Rialto theater here last night.
1t is possible that further search of
the ruins OF the playhouse will add
one more to the list of dead, as R. H.
Perrigo. of this city. has not been
seen since the fire was discovered and
the panic stricken crowd surged to-
ward the doors of the theater. His
son was among the injured.
Fifty-eight persons who were either
burned or trampled by the crowd
which stormed toward the exits when
the flames swept into the theater from
the stage were in hospitals today
Twenty-one who were taken to hospi-
tails when the fire was raging were
given treatment and were sent to
their homes. Twenty two of the in
iured were Yale students. All will re-
cover, it is claimed
One Body Identified
Only one body, that of Timothy j.
Hanlon, 5S. had been identified this
morning 1t was believed he was
trampled to death as examination of
his injuries show his neck was
broken
Other bodies taken from the thea
ter were burned so badly that identi-
fication was impossible. One was the
body OF an alderly woman and the
other was that of a young man, ap-
parently about twenty years of age.
Inquiry Started
Coroner Mix began an official in
quiry into the disaster early today.
I'VE are inclined to the belief" he
said. that the fire might have been
kindled by incense burned during the
photcplay being shown at the Rialto
This play The Sheik," was being
given an oriental setting. and incense
was being burned on the stage. 1t
may be that the flames caught some
draperies and dropped onto the stage
of the theater.
Lawrence W. Carroll. manager of
the theater, and James Carter, his
assistant, who were detained by the
authorities after the fire, were re-
leased later upon their own recogni-
2ance to appear at the conorer's hear
ing.
The playhouse was crowded at 7:30
o'clock and preliminary features of
the entertainment were being COM
pleted when the fire was discovered.
Sparks were seen dropping down in
front of the silver screen upon which
the picture was to be projected There
was a shout of Fire" and panic
seized the crowd.
Crowd Uncomfortable
In an Instant there was rush for
the open air but it appeared most of
the people tried to get out of the main
| entrance instead Of using the emer-
9ency exits at the sides of the the
ater. Many cool persons tried to
control the crowd by shouting that
there was no danger but their work
was unsuccessful although the orches-
ira continued to play for some time
after the first alarm. R'~
Those who tried to stem the tide
were swept away by the crowd which
forced its way toward the doors.
Many who had seats in the balcony
of the theater leaped over the rails
and fell on the heads of the strug-
Cling people below
Several children in the crowd
poured toward the exits of the the
ater and their parents were in many
cases injured in trying to lift them
above the press about them.
The theater building was a frame
structure which burned like match
wood. Yale students were active in
the work of rescue, dashing into the
burning structure and assisting the
people to safety.