New-York tribune., 1921-11-28

the first ember fell, according to those
who saw it. It's progress was so rapid
as to lead some of them to assert that
there must have been an explosion.
Flames hicked the woodwork above
the heads of those in the rear of the
surging mass of humanity and embers
fell beside them and upon them.
The entire building was in tumut
Some of those who nau occupied seats
near the front of the balcony, seeing
that it was hopeless to try to reach
the door, ran to the falling and leaped
over, needless of whether they crashed
down upon the orchestra chairs or
upon those who were struggling shout
der to shoulder below them.
Crowd Chokes Fire Escape
The Hyperion Theater on Chapel
Street .abuts on the Rialto Theater in
the rear A performance was going
on at the Hyperion at the time the fire
broke out The audience remained for
some time in ignorance of the fact
that persons were being burned or
trampled to death in a theater near by
and that firemen were on the roof of
their own building dousing embers
which had been flung there.
The fire escape of the Rialto was
choked with a hysterical mob within a
few minutes after the fire was discov-
cred. Some of them, according to wit
nesses, were still there, too badly in
jured to get further, when flames burst
through the shutters fronting on the
fire escape and licked about them. 1t
was said that before a pail of smoke
settled about that side of the building
body was seen lying on the stairs
OF the fire escape with the flames
sweeping across it.
Tho
estimated at about $6O00O The build
ing was remodcled for its present pur-
pose by ex-senator Harry Leonard,
who leased it to Blacks New England
Syndicate Circuit. Mr.. Carroll, resi-
dent manager of that company, said it's
loss would be about $4,000.
Mayor Fitzgerald issued statement
tonight in which he expressed his
sympathy for those who had suffered
through the fire and promised that
an investigation. would be started to-
morrow to find out whether adequate
provisions for the safety of the
in the city.
NEW HAVEN, Conn.,, Nov. 27.-Louis
Goodman, who sat in a rear seat in
the balcony at the Rialto Theater to-
night and was saved by men who as
sisted others to leave, said that the
fire swept the interior almost in
twinkling. He was with Everett Case
and Harry Asher when the fire started
II do not know what caused the fire."
he said. "a woman had just finished
singing on the stage and the film was
being shown. l saw little smoke and
light, which l thought had something
to do with the production. Then | saw
q piece of blazing material fall from
the top of the stage. 1t was small, but
it was followed by burst of fire. The
protector box was in the balcony, close
by where l sat, SO the fire did not come
from that. Some one yelled 'Fire!' 1
do not know who or where the person
was who called, but | do know that in
stantly people started for the main
exits. They did not seem to use those
on the sides. Asher Case and myself
stood up and then slowly walked down
the stairs. At the foot I was thrown
down and others PROSTATE were piled
upon me. l began to lose my breath,
and then suddenly the load lightened
and l was picked up and carried out by
brave men who had been helping people
out. The front entrance was clear.
Il regained my feet and ran back to
be of assistance. There was a great
heap of hats and coats inside the door
and l clawed these over, thinking some
one might be underneath. The flames
were sweeping through the theater and
l ran out. l escaped with burns and
cuts on my face. 1t did not seem to
me that many sitting in the front seats
could have got out. The experience all
came, it seemed to me, in minute"
Case was later reported as seriously
hurt at the hospital.