The diamond drill., 1921-11-12
EXPLOSION or A FILM SET FIRE TO
INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING
HAPPENED BETWEEN SHOWS
Otherwise a Much Different Story
Would Certainly be Told
of the Affair

~ f-
While the attendants at the frs
N show last Monday evening were I'll
ing out of the Gem Theater film tina
was being inserted into the machine L
be shown at the second show exploded
The explosion ignited the box OF films
that stood open near the machine anC
also communicated the fire to the In
terror OF the building.
The fire department responded In
remarkably short time and in very
few minutes the flames were under
control. The audience was about half
out OF the show house when the explo-
sion occurred. Those who were not out
or who were waiting for the second
show kept their heads well so that
there was no excitment or stampede
of any kind and all escaped without
injury
Oscar Nylund. the machine operator.
was burned quite severly but not OF
sufficient severity TO threaten any
serious results.
The front was badly damaged, es-
pecially the glass in the second story
near the machine booth. The glass
gave away when the explosion occurred
and slivers OF II were blown clear
across the so foot street which gives
one some idea OF the force of the ex-
plosion.
A Very Lucky Accident
The explosion and following fire
was one OF the Quickest happenings in
Crystal Falls in many day. Had is
occurred few moments earlier when
the lights were turned on and the en-
tire audience was seated far differ
ent story might be necessary. AS it
was, the lights were on and almost all
of those who were intending TO pass
out had actually got into the isles, and
we're moving towards the door so that
there was a certain security felt by
all that would not have been the case
IL the explosion happened earlier in
the evening.
There was some excitment and sew
eral women were overcome with fright
and had TO be assisted out AS a whole
the people held their heads we'll. MIR
Bregger dashed into the hall and guild
ed his audience, quieting their fears
and preventing any crowding that
might have been attempted by some OF /
the nervous ones Ed. Galbraith was
at the north entrance and held things |
level there.
Flremen Did Good Work
The work OF the fremen Monday |
evening was the best that we have |
seen in many day. II seemed but
minute after the explosion until tho
truck was standing out In front OF the
theatre and Chief ST. Arnauld and his !,
men had the chemical into the thick I
OF the fire. A great volume ofsmoke !,
was emitted that could be seen for q
long distance away. The chemical
served TO hold the flames in check un-
til hose connections could be made
and the building cleared OF It's people.
The explosion. seemed 10 shoot tho
fire along the roof OF the structure
clear to the front or stage part OF the
building. Access was easy ard In q
very short time the water had smoth-
cred any fire In the rof Only at one
point did IL burn through.
Exact Happenings Not Fully Known
Just exactly what happened and
under what conditions are somewhat
Of a mystery. The whole thing came
about 80 suddenly that the conditions /
existing al the time were not fully I
apparent TO all, even to the chief I
actor, Mr.. Nylnnd. Ii
IL seems quite probable. however, IL
that the door 10 the booth was open 10 !
some degree. Had II not been Il Is II
probable that Mr.. Nylund would have lc
been killed. II Is also quite probable In
that the only film that actually explod- II
ed was the one that was being put into In
The machine. The other reels burned n
were IN the fireproof box on the floor n
and the flames were communicated TO In
them BY the explosion. Had the cover
10 the box been closed they would not K
be damaged, AS II was, the last reel 7
,f the first show which was In the n
OF the machine az the time :
a undamaged II
Mrs. Nylund and baby were seatoa 4
IN Mr.. Bregger's ofilce close by waiting n
Tor the second show. Mr.. Nylund grab h
bed the baby and got II and his wife tr n
safety; then returned 10 get the box OF 4
iIms but they were a charred mass &
Robert Thomas the boy who was !