The evening world. Newspaper, December 31, 1903, Page 3

THE WORLD: THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 3t, 1903 os SURVIVORS OF THE HORROR TELL TRAGIC STORIE! SHEET OF FLAME GATHERED IN VOLUME AND REACHED OUT FOR AUDIENCE. | Back of me there was a sheet of flame that seemed to be gathering in volume and reaching out for us Then I forgot again and not until the crowd surged toward the wall and caught 1% between it and the marble pillar did I realize what I was doing and just what position the danger was. The pain revived me. I know I was almost crushed to death, but it did not hurt. Ther, somehow I found myself out on the street and the dead and dying were around me.—Charlotte //umondon, , GIRL STUDENTS HNE MOST THRILLING ESCAPES, One Leaps Over Railing of Box and Falls Into Man's Arms—Afterward She Found Herself Among the Dead and Dying, Struggling to Get Out. ! Sateen i Hees OE SLUEBERRS” comeany. El SPARES ND EAPENSE TO RELIEVE UNFORTUNATE poe a Acting Mayor McGann Is Told by the Aldermen to Put No Restriction on Amount Asked by the Police and Fire Departments for Emergency Work, * CHICAGO, Dec, 3.—Mayor Harrison Because of the disaster an 8 tae oe was on his way to the South for aj torial campaign of Col. Frank 0. CHICAGO, Dec. 31.—Mrs. Rollin A./ ‘Back of me, I remember, there wee hinting; trip. and. Comptroller “AteGanu/deny who apites to be Chief j Keyes, of Evanston, and seanea from cs muss of flame that seomed to be was acting Mayor. It happened that the|of Illinois, will be temporarily ff tot Fy . forgot again, and not was In session when the extent of the| for a conference at which “the ; theatre caught fire. nul the crowd surged toward the wail disaster became known at the City Hall. | zaton" leaders who favored ; Mrs. Keyes and the students, who|and caught mo between it and ! the mar- Mr. MeGann at once walked into the} candidacy were to appear and sare her quests, occupied a Box. in (he | De Pillar dlaiX readiss| what\t was doing | committee-room and was told by Chair-| themselves. 4 ty were Mrs, Harry B, Pearson and/and Just wha | - aie 3c ’ Keyes, Miss Elsie El-| ‘Th Position the danger was. | man Mayber of the committee to direct| The men gathered promptly, but ,Mias Katherine pana coe cle ih Hed pai) revived me. 1 know I was | the Fire Marshal, the Chief of Police] Was decided that no business should ; More, of Astoria, Ore.; Miss a c Rew Se crushed to death, but it did not and the Commissioner of Public Works|done in view of the great j daughter of Charles F. iiill, Greenwood] hurt. Nothing could hurt. with’ the to proceed tn the emergency without| Which had overwhelmed Chicago, | evenue; Miss Marie Peters, a GAG screaming, the agonized cries of the Any’ reatrietion ‘of any’ kind as. to.-ex-| {A the opening of tffy campaign 4 ‘bus, O.; Miss Cornelia Armsby, daugh-| women and chi s pay ye pul off, ter of Mrs. J. K. Armsby, of Evanston; | ears, shikiren ringing in your amy tolal teeaeuey as orig, Gh the largest audiences ever 5s KK, a 3 nd al ne mon n ssary | in the rrick ‘Theatre, whiel on’ meilsabethyand 2 nespninely coy cae Among Dend and Dying, {look to the Connell for hls warrant. Ame street as the Troquols, lem sas of Morel R. Sa Vol ia tlt man.|. 44 then somehow I found mysel? Wo will be your authority for every-| Tie amork distant, sat, in one jotte Plamondon, ta Ith his family |QUt OF the street and the dead and thing you do,” sald Alderman Mayber. | was being enacted 200 feet from ‘Ufacturer, who resides w' 5} dying were arouri! me. Wien I realizea A telegram at once was sent to Mayor) they sat. at the Chicago Beach Hotel. that I was out of the place and safe Harrison Informing him of the fire, and When the fire engines commen k Mi jen'by Mres ey patter past the Gut ipa the party, was) given by Mra, Keyes {from the fire and crush all my atrengtn it is expected that he will return trom| bert hecaine tearhar for her daughter Katherine and wa5| seemed to leave me. My knees trembled Oklahoma on the first train that his theatre was on fire 8 {preceded by a luncheon at the Auditor-|and for the life of mel coua car wee | Doctors Quickly Rémpond. spread in the audience. |4um Annex. They were late in reaching |taken a step. ‘The cold air braced me x Paths parr ts tthe theatre and were assigned to theater a moment, and I went around to ee ee ina nay | tettined to allow any" one. {two front boxes on the #outh side of|the drug store where the dead were people around the theatre bullding HOw | wut,"'aa ho wna deters’ id that 8 the theatre, Miss Charlotte Plamondon, | -*!6 brougiit In and. the poor actresses nurses could Arrive on. the spot within| Audience Wiltn ackeoe Saal llc Weliled Galtil ina ie saa GeGEht Ws girly Were coming In with nurses could arrive on the spot 9 | little on the: “I remembered that I helped to dress | some of the chorus girls and expressed pity, for them, vhat e BUY, for them, but what else 1 did 4 of che play now belny presented gt tl Garrick, stepped before the Curtain 4 entertained the a nee tor over five. minutes with @ witty speech which ‘his hearers in iy so short a time, Dr. Herman Spald- ing, senior oficial in the City Health Department, at the time the fire broke in the curtains over the front box In which she sat before attempting to get out, was seen shortly after she arrived 4 : i ‘i made all the arrangements for | Mis, oritinnal laughter, Hage ree. Hosen Hotell tis evens ca Romance AAG Toney ermeee te medical attendance, “I telephoned to) ‘tivertine (ike nudieove and the curt diverting th tie together and found each other ‘i fOOn after we got outnn “a goine! all the physiclang in the downtown dis-|rose for the nox: wet without am When Mise Hite a ota 3 ficti® F id. “and then to hospitals, | oluer than the theatre employees She Lenped Over Railing. ished out of the ee ates are f ndre¢ r i 2 entrance ‘she, ran Bs fast a she ‘could hurte associations and achools for pet- | Anoniiend Uianeat nett Mone toe T can't tell you how I escaped. 11 fie‘ns Paid wher Me heearst eee sons to assist In the care of the indured. | Garrick. nly know that when the flames began to crackle over my head and dart down \when the people filed out of the Gai rick they were gree at the door b hundred® of frantic men and and it dawned upon us that the theatre Pas on fire. It seemed ike a dream at Employees telephoned to all the princl- pal office butldings ana tokl the opera- =— from the curtains of our box I leaped over the ralling of the box and fell in the arms of some man. I think he was connected with the theatre, for ho Immediately set me down in a seat and “The border curtain right near our box blew back and I think it bit a light or something. and when it fell back into place T saw it was on fire. It was just at that time that I felt like one in a dream. It was during the moonlight tors at the switchboards to notl{y every phystctan in the bullding. while others telephoned to the nurses, ‘There were over 100 phyaleinns whom J personally knew at the fire and probably 150 nurses. who anxiously scanned their faces seo if any of thelr friends were a: them. ‘They were loo; of thelr familles and had gone to town simply to attend» theatre without stating to what thea scene and {t seemed all like fairyland to me, even the flames on the curtain, ‘The men had just finished singing their part and the girls came down to meet them. Fell Upon People Below. “The chorus girls kept right on sing ing for a couple of minutes, it seemed, ‘Then one of the stage men’ rushed out onto the told me to be quiet for a moment. Then T think 1 lost all reason, I have a vague recollection of having been pushed up the side aisle that runs slong by the boxes. It was as death for a moment, The great audience rose Uke a single person, but no sound es- eapeéd it. Those in front were wedged fm the doorw Then a scream of terror went up that I shall never for- Ret. It rings in my ears now. Women wereanied and children cried. Men were shouting und rushing for the entrances, leaping over the prostrate forms of chil- dren und women, and carrying others @own with them. “I was soon sensible of the fact that I was being carried along tn the mass of frantic humanity that surged toward the main entrance, I did not feel any the men grabting the girls’ noses. I suppose that was to keep the smoke and flame from stifling tham. ‘The stage men behaved like heroes, Presently T saw a couple of the girls fall down and I knew they were overcome, Just then Eddie Foy ran out on the stage partly made up and cried: ‘My God, people, keep your seats!" “When Foy sald this [ regained my senses and When the asbestos curtain did not come down I felt that the situa- | ton was critical. ‘The flames had taken | hold of the front row of seats behind S . the orohestra and were creeping up the pain or suffocation. My mind secmed |{h?.2ing over our box, when. T futaped to be a k os T think of it now, ex-| to my feet and leaped over the railing. 1 suppose [ would have been hurt at any other time, but I fell on other people and a man put his arms around me and put me down in a seat BISHOP MULDOON BRAVES ALL TO AID STRICKEN te septing for this screaming of the wom- en and the crying of the children, It plerced right through you. Intrepid Prelate Enters Burning The- atre, and Despite Commands of Police and Firemen Aids in Work of Rescue and Comforts the Dying. CHICAGO, Dec, 31,—Bishop Muldoon presented a heroic figure esterday afternoon when the terrible fire was at its height, vareheaded and in his shirt sleeves, working among the injured and lying inside the doomed theatre saying a prayer for this one, speaking words to calm the panic-stricken masses who in their fright were trampling ‘women and children underfoot, and now and then kneeling beside some one of his faith whose Hfe was filckering out to give the comfort and ex ‘treme unction of the Roman Church, he was here, there and everywhere. The Bishop was passing the theatre when the vanguard of the audi-| fe! curring her to the door, whore rou near, me, and anvgerseien iam theatre | ence, fleeing for their lives, burst out upon the sidewalk. Their cries of| came rated and Thomas ts among 1 nd vite ana oe : siete ak Pe A Mae nie fre told him what wan happening inside the building. NUL era neat nad 4 id have ‘ men dealare that the curtain Without a thought of the danger he was putting his own life in, he tore Miss Irene Hun \ re ouitalde we wa PRCT tit Neti ounan tani ud (aoe off his coat, and tossing it and his hat to a passerby to hold, ran into fe) 0%" Foie ata we ne n repaired au tet | burning building. He made his way to the gallery, where calm heads were) 92viume A covisin of Miss Humpiirey why! wa pecal Mee yaa Ne terete aera es most needed, and with smoke ro!ling about him in great clouds and flames |anotyer direction at the same time. Hach fen father's otties by. cud aN, eplarsd to:8Ry ue reaching toward him until {t seomed as if they must destroy him, he took}! te women ahougad that her fools fy osgue | whee | rey cd that the spread ‘ Airection of the work of rescue, and franileally cried to be permitted to] Thy one, who ne auditorium was dh h - REFUSED TO LEAVE BUILDING. . Teele et Her coild lenemrar the there GaniMTeei ees as TPR Me. "Seevehnina autek Firemen and policomon commanded the bishop to leave the place, but} safety, both had become temporarily is Kk 1 dowen NU RSE TRIPP E D o*V oR le . deranged, were taken to the Sara; Killed, § A DEAD MAN’S BODY. | tt he refused. They sought to use force to eject him and he warned tuem| joga fiotel, and although both are still gris hy Saas r not to lay a hand upon his person. beer clan: clan: dow? FAULTY GUBTAIN BLAMED he shouted his appeal again and his words reached the ears of those in the front rank of the mob. They tried to obey, but those behind them came crushing them forward. Time and again the heroic prie s beseeched to leave tha building, for it was feared that the north wall might collapse. It was cracki great seams opening in the plaster and bricks gave warning of the He held up his hands in protest when he was approached and declared hat} he would not leave until he was sure that not a living person remained The collapse of the wall was wing imminent ever: d, and finally Sheriff Barrett called a policeman and a fireman to his assistance] casi bestos Contrivance Never Worked as|]or It Should--Fire Chief Says Firemen Should Be Stationed in All Theatres an At str sped method of 1 the gallery hotels. fire,” he said, ‘if proper care had been! | leveestana in handling the lights, ‘The electric plant of the thentre was 1n- stalled, as I happen to know from per- THRILLING ESCAPES OF sonal observation, In accordance with every modern requirement for safety BRAVE YOUNG WOMEN the plant was not to blame, If the facta [ have been given are correct th SS whole Dline rests on the person who if to trouble with the wit dan an herole effort to ©: e with her, b | pliced or was operating a light #0 One of the most thrilling esoapes was) Youthtul grit saved them ey were osely to the curtain that of Milas Mille Overlock, Of Vir i the euigel ee ee a unos Curtain Failed to Work, | ginia, a young girl who was visitlr When & 5 pped to the fron e pro- jen ped to the front} ‘The fullure of the expected tire pr | friends in the city. Miss Overlock's | of th Wa to Keep sull wo x ‘ hat ©) toetlon tributed by insurance men] ), vent « ' r | companion, Remington Thomas, decid wut, despite ts | SELB RALLED i I beat pros wt | | “Put your trust in God,” he cried to the stampeded crowd, “and be calm!" . In the roar of frightened voices and stamping feet his volce was no “wore than @ whisper. He realized this and mustering all of his strengin great fire. severe injury friend or Fr There has never been, as far as I have ) aware, a call for so many physi- 3 in Chicago at one time since th Within a few minutes physi- 1s three and five miles from the ntown district were offering their services."” HEARTRENDING SCENES AT ALL Sheri Barrett, who had scen the Bishop go into the theatre and fol- ext ine: aa od dea lowed him, now took a position at the latter's side, and together they theatre, a dozen policemen, were kept worked, and successfully, te bring order out of chaos. Many in the mol busy all night taking name nd de- would have been trampled to death or been left behind for the fire to scriptions of mete neon Ne destroy had it not been for their presence. Mana oo gd tromil hospiiala’ andl] EVER AT THI: POINT OF DANGER. . ci sie te from police stations, were read to the Whenever Bishop Muldoon recognized a Catholic who was injured an Coyle en were silent while the conscious, he gave him absolution and the comfort of religious consolation. [on gupance Men Declare that the ASeJnames were read, except for an oc- 1 outbreak of sobbing as s sription of «J in the de or death the ative. Rolston’s place at No. 22 t 188 bodies were laid upon tadles recognlz their Hnes to allow the luck opene ne of a} Adams | they had intended to go, ‘There many scenes of Joyful recognition at astonished members of the Garrick diences were hugged and kissed in frand- |tle delight by, their relatives who *P jthat time had belleved it possible they were in the ghastly pile of a Iving within the doors of the I ‘Theatre. THE MORGUES) his face, from which every akin hat been torn. * | His ‘checks bore plainly the | boot heels, his chest was ruahete Bi jit was only too evident that hig had gone out under the heels of frenzied throng around the dogrways. There were dozens of bodies of women “and girls “from. eighteen tO) | twenty-five years of age. i @_of them were elegantly thelr clothing or some. tein! will be the only guide to. those ve | vivid contrast to the scatlet color particle | found | Who know them, for thelr faces . © | been literally trampled into an inrebone rigable muss. | At Jordan's, on Madison stree umoeret 189, They were the carpets of the little the bare floors of the mongue: reldon’s, on eet Madison dead were taken, fort reet, upon and « b 7 ind floors, und when the police at about | py: yen; Well il . forty-nine; to. Buf: ” E a A . 1 .V throng to enter it required all their ish avenue, 6! See ee Le icine ure ceeeert oti ae je fe een to Safeguard Them as in NewY ork. strength to stem the pressure that was | f on State street, twentysnine, = <TR re ie o bear upon them as the hun- | ¢ gues soattered throughout the! SAVED FIVE CHORUS GIRLS. ———_--——— prone ee people frantic with anxioty | amnion numbers, dreds of people vers Another priest, Father O'Brien, of the Cathedral of the Holy Name! Giyje\Go, pee. t-Among imany of | tos curtain to work I strove to be first to enter the gruesome y Or tlees thiee nieamal aided in rescuing five of the chorus girls from g coal hole in the alley in} tue theatrical imen employed in. tho | + a prominent trade | 00M. dd Hes nt Were’ ante aoe the rear of the theatre. The young women had fled there from their dress-| other local theatres the responsibility t Scores of womane ty tee ms S men'| 1 esta hich will) e p-dn Oo the e a doze step 3 lll ny day ing rooms under the stage, but they could not move the heayy tron side-| for the fire was ascribed to-day to th eee reat staggered they | ne Header re care ucing of electric arc light ap- : rine LL yap ’ ne } i ty walk door overhead. Giving up their efforts to force an egresg, they tool | (SPO OS PSE ee he of the hang- | DAGK of the stage for carrying the fumes ed down the aisles, and soon had 0) Juries will be Impanelied In order to ear to screaming in the hope that some one would hear them and Jét them out. ing porders of the scenery. ‘The elec- itorlum in, the oent Gh Ore) | BUCH sted from t UD OMA ‘body as, decn numbered and | The priest and a friend, 8, E. Carroll, happened to be going through) triclan of u leading Chicego theatre ex- Sy oN el Alatropoltan’ Onemic shelsinnke ae re iniisnenineajeni the marke of ident hea on aeee: i Dearborn street and heard tho crics, They located them under the coal-| Pressed great surprise on hearing that | House, tn New York, nnd a similar pro- | Rogie re GR ‘ this was considered a possible cause | vision’ ts made a hey iacturrowar thelr [oe y hole grating and in a few minutes had pried the covering off. A ladder} | torlum, 'y deep they lay in furl Wats means of estadlishing identity, of tho fire. | Pire-Prooting Also Defective. ess brought out by the glare of| “wwe will make every effort to sift’ was procured and the girls were Ufted out one by one and taken to their) “There nover would have been any! Uneetio light. Here lay a gtay- said Coros | this matter to i Some one must be Se eatures vecognizable | ner Treger to-day. ky pallor of his face show- me, and the fault will e- placed from smoke suffocation. it’ belongs. was the body of a child in| present we can do nothing but tleroy costume, his golden curia in! faoiiirate the work of ident!foation.”* > a Will hold an DECORATIVE MONDAY, JA prostrated, neither of them ree. na way t OHICAG Dea! SlexA wom who's | always. serious injuries. on the main floor, Hand i ai the wounded ‘ fwo of the first persons that suc-|thoy struggled with. the ero nisted in caring tor the wounded in] i irl ceeded in getting out of the tomb of|min whom the Parker wit, des Dhompson's restau spoke of a and Ld fre and denth were little Joe Graham, | wairhing 20 nounds dashel between | young girl on a table near the quick tna. Upon welve years old, and Dorothy Bour, | the is separated them and the} wited poy im cea aie donor lbs y Solitaire pear ¥ & companion, of ‘the same age, from | 5 was lost in the crowd and. Wltted boy mentioned. The doctor aie |i. use, and soon her delivate body w Woodlawn Park, [ictitea, covered in his fair patient a spark of jald with e pile of dead. i ; oe an 5 1 Oe a of EXTRA FINE HOUSEHOLD AND TABLE . during the week beginning a a eared Unusual Sale LINENS, NOARY 4th.