Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1904)
. . ..hbbh tgwwy !reMzfEraxK""'" ''rK&w" fcVj ,W v . y, r. .4. v u.t,M. .i ,!. pwwiiiwm i 'V' J"" iB"-T"iv - - tn'Bi ' "' u' : " - ir : ' W .jcmS --Jt ?Tiy-iwwWKrtfcAL:-".L- .w it. -, i 564 PEtSONS LOSE THEIR LIVES IN BURNING OF CHICAGO THEATER FIRE STARTS ON STAGE AND BURNS FROM PIT TO DONE With a Whirlwind of Flame Enveloping Floor and Galleries. Holiday Crowd of Pleasure Seekers Fight Way to Exits Awful Scenes of Horror as Scores Leap to Street or Fall from Escapes Exits Closed and Doomed Victims Penned in Blazing Prison. We must go back to the convulsions of uaturo for a more iliendful story of swift dentil tlmn occurred nt thu Iro quois Theater tit Chicago In the mat inee hour of Dec. SO. The statistics Dhow GCO htimuus (lend, und seoros In jured.' There have been greater hor rors by Hood, by volcanoes, by the up rising of nature's forces, but If there was ever a more appalling chapter traced to man's hand history falls to tell It save In tho records of buttle ulonc. Of tire horrors, ns they are ' commonly known, certainly nothing like It ever occuned In this country or nuy other. There an ornate million-dollar thea ter, assured, of course, us thoroughly fireproof. Within were 2,300 women and children, tnd a few men a typi cal, merry, holiday mntinee audience. One thousand were In the galleries. Thero were many entrances offering mo usual number of exits, all, of course, sufficient to depopulate the building In cuso of lire. We have all seen that often enough on tho pro grams. Thero wero live men In unl 9 forms In tho aisles, provided by tho city government. It was a pretty, hap py scene. There was a darkened stage, there were a dozen singing maidens and a popular comedian sing ing a popular air, entitled "In tho Pale Moonlight." Now what happened? A fuse or two blew from the calcium light that made tho pale moon. The spark struck f the ginger-bread scenery; the scenery blazed to the stage. An Urn of Fire in Five Minutes. And then! Well, then In five min utes this costly playhouse became a red urn of tiro and n great, heart breaking cry, such a cry as splits tho stone of a Caesar's heart, urose In thnt building. It was tho cry of the man or woman, clinging to a storm-swept raft, who sees the others go down before him. Tho sccno was something that no human pen can tell. A circle of flame swept from the stage around the bal cony und galleries, driven Into a whirl ) wind by six great automatic ventil ators and the "pen doors. It moved faster than the calcium of the palo moonlight and as fierce as a blazing meteor. Thero was a wild, mad, raging, trampling rush for life. It is not easy to fancy what ono would do In such n scene, but all seemingly acted to gether. Men and women fought like unleashed hounds for tho first exit; llttlo children were crushed In the . arms of their mothers; clothes and " jewels wero torn from tho owners, lorgnottcs and purses wore tossed on tho floors. Battle for Life in Balconies. This was tho first scene. On tho main floor tho panic was quite as llorco as elsowhere, but escapo was easier. It was In tho balconies that tho battlo for Hfo wns hardest, and there, indeed, was scarcely a chanco foescape. Tho galleries were, within no tlmo at all, heaped with a helpless, ' struggling, lnsano mass of people. As the flaming circlo crept higher nnd higher, choking tho uudlence with black masses of smoke, many were literally too paralyzed for movement, so that at the end and after it was all over, there was the strange, growsomo picture uta score or more dend lean ing silently over tho rails as If still glancing at tho play. But down at tho doorway It was a wave- backward of human bolngs fight ing for tho blessing of Ufo. What heroism wns shown of man for wom an or of woman for children will never bo known, for tho tragedy was but of minutes. There was the sweep, the crush, tho weak falling and tho strong mounting, the Inevitable desperate instinct which accompnnles tho grim law of self preservation; then tho horror of flam ing death behind and crushing death before; then tho still outrcnchlng Uames, and, finally, a mass of plled-up humanity, a few of tho living abovo and tho dead far below. Tho dotulls of tho awful happenings Inside have never been exceeded in tho awfulnoss of sudden death in ngony in ull the history of modern times. From the balcony and gnllorles, where there was no more safety from the llauiu heat ascending than on the Death Trap at floor below, people hurled themselves downward In their terror. All, or near ly all, of thoso In the rear mot a fear ful death. Firemen, tho flro practical ly extinguished, found they wero but pouring water on heaps of human beings. LIST OF THE DEAD. A. Adaneck, Mrs. John; Austrian, Wal ter D. B. Barker, Miss Ethel; Barnhclsel, Charles II.; Burtlott, Mrs. C. D Bart lctt, 111.; Bourtel. William C; Beyers loth, Helen; Blsslngor, Walter B.; BIrndsloy, Mrs. H. G.; Bodice, N. W.; Brewster, Miss Julia; Brlncklcy, Mrs. Emma; Buehmann, Margaret; Dick ford, C. SI.; Boise, Bcane; Buschwah, Louise; Boyers, ; Butler, Mrs. Rosa; Butler, Rose; Bymfurth, Ruth. C. Calm, SIlss Lucy; Clark, E. D.; Clayton, Vinton; Colin, Mrs. Jacob; Corcoran, ; Cooper, C. L.; Con tell, Thomas.; Cooper, Helen; Coults, II. H.; Curran, SIny; Crook, K. S.; Caldwell, A. R. D. Daweon, Mrs.; Dlffcndorf, Lcandors, Lincoln, 111.; Deleo, Miss N.; Dodd, Mrs. J. P., of Delaware, O.; Donald con, II.; Donaldson, Miss A.; Dclec, Miss Viola; Dyrenfurth, Ruth; Dyren furtb, Helen; Dawsoti, Grace. E. Ebersteln, Frank B.; Elsenstcnd, Herman; Eldrldge, Mort; Kspen, Emtl; Espcu, Miss Rosa; Elkahn, Rose. F. Pltzglbbons, Anna; Fltzglbbons, John J.; Pox, Georgo Sydney; Plan nagan, Thomas J.; Prady, Leon; Pnlke, Miss Ada; Foley, II.; Poltz, Helen; Polkenstcln, Miss Gcrtrudo R.; Poltz, MIbb Alice; Poltz, Mrs. C. O.; Pox, lloyt; Pox, Mrs. Emllo Hoyt, Vlnnctka; Poltz, Helen; Frack elborn, Miss Edith; Frackelborn, Ella; Prady, Mrs. E. C. G. Gartz. Mary Dorothea; Oartz, Bar bara; Gerow, Mabel; Geary, Miss Main Balcony Exit. Paulino; Gerry. SIlss Wllma; Gould, Sirs. B. E.; Gohnn, J.; Guderhaugh, Scphle. H. Hall, Emperly; Harbrough, Mary E.; Havllaud, Miss Leo; Haviland, lce; Harbaugh, Sirs.; Hickman, Sirs. Charles; Holland, John; Howard, Mrs. Slary E.; Hart. E. D.; Hcnnlng, ; Henry, Sirs. G. A.; Hlgglncon, Miss Jcanctto; Holmes, Sirs.; Hlggln son. Roger; Hoist, Allen; Hoist, Ger trude; Hooper, W. W., Kenosha. Wis.; Howard, SIlss Helen; Holland, Leigh; Horton, Edith, Ontonagon, Sllch.; Howard, Ray E.; Hudson, Harry; Ilchn, Otto. J. Jones, Ethel; Johnson, J. C. K. Kaufman, Alice; Kelly, Otto; Kle ley. Harvey; Kennedy, AgneB, Win netka; Kennedy, Frances, Wlnnetkn; Kochcns. J. A.; Koll. Charles IL; Kls ner, Louis and wlfo; Ketchem, Sirs.; Kranz, Sirs. Sarah, Raclno, Wis. - L, Lake, Mth. Lena; Ijike. Mrs. A.; Lang, Irene; Lang, HortotiRc; 1 Jingo, MIsh Agnes; Linden, Ellen; Lcatln, Fred W. M. Slaloney, Mrs. James D.; Martin, Harold; Martin, J.; Martin, W.; Ma loney, Alice, Ottawa, 111.; Martin, Rob ert; McCnughan, Helen; McClollan, Joseph; McClelland, James; McClurg, Roy; McKcnnn, Bernard; McKenna, Bernard; Mulr, Annie, I'oorla, 111.; McMillan, Mabel; Meado, Lillian; Merrlel. Mrs.; Merrlen, Mildred; Mo hos, EBplo; Mulr, F. A.; Morehouse, II. P.; Mooro, II. P.; Mendel, Mrs. A. M.; Mlddlcton, Catherine; McKce, ; Morton, Edmund V. N. Newby, ; Norton, Edith; Nor ton, Edward W.; Nulr, . O. O'Donnell, Mrs. Patrick P.; Ollnger, Mrs. Bessie; Olson, Mrs. Oscar; Owen, William Murray; Oxman, Miss Flor ence. P. Page, Harold; Page, Charles T.; Pat ton, Lillian; Peterson, Pornottn; Poults, R. II.; Phacker, Walter; Pott- lltzer, Jack, Lafayette, Ind. R. Rattey, William; Rattey, J.; Rolter, Sirs. G ; Rcgcnsberg, Hazel; Regens borg, SIlss Helen; Remington, Thomas; Ross, Elian; Robertson, Slln nic; Reed, W. SI.; Richardson, Rov. II. L.; Roberts, Theodoro; Rogers, Roso K.; Rnthey, William; Robinson, Slln nie; Ross, , 10 years old, daugh ter of Dr. Ross. S. Savlllo, Warren E.; Sayore, Carrie J.; Spring, Sirs. W. A.; Stingier, Sirs. J- H.; Snyre, SIlss Cnrrlo A; String. Sirs. Wlnthrop; Spin dler, Burdette; Studley. Rov. George II.; Sutton, Hany D.; Snw- J'or, ; Sedlll, Warner, 12 years old, Knnkakco, 111.; Smithbarry, Wllma; Smith, Sirs. , Dcs Plalnes. 111.; Smith, SIlss Slurlne, Des Plalnos, 111.; Shoppurd, Loin, 12 years old; Scott, Burr; Shabbard, Slyrtlo; Shabbard, Lulu; Shcrr. ; Sprang, W. N.; Stern, Sirs.; Sutton, Harry P.; Squler, Olive; Savlllo, Arthur; Spring, Wln throp; Schmidt, Rosa. T. Tayson, Ruth; Torney, Edna; Tur ner, Sirs. Susan; Turbush, C. W.: Thatcher, W. V. Vallely, Bern Ice; Vallely, Sirs. J. T.; Vanzegcn. Edward T.; Valley, SIlss Bernico; Van Ingen, John; Vlen, Her man. W. Wells, Donald; Wolf, Mrs. Leo, Ham mond, Ind.; Waldman. 8.; Woltmann, Otto; Williams, H.; Winslow. C. A., Threo Rlvor Falls, Sllnn.; Wells, Don ald; Windes, Paul; Wolff, Harriet; Wolskopf, Emma. z. Zelslor, Wnltor B. Unldenttled Dead Are Many. In addition to tho foregoing, there aro Hovcnty bodies nt tho various morgues awaiting Identification. SITUATION SERIOUS Russia and Jnpan Continuing Negotiations to Avert Wnr THE JAPS WILLING TO FIGHT rnclnnit, Frnnra unit Itllit-r liilvri'Moil Nation lining ICivrytliliig lnHlo to I'rn-rnt Wnr nnil H' llorrnra "Don't look for a declaration of war," says the London Dally Telc rxaph'a Toklo correspondent, and adds: "The Japanese are unite determined and several days' ago took stops to ce cum certain of their Korean Intricsts. Russia will not be allowed to occupy Korean porta and certainly neither Mokpho nor Masampho, both of theco ports being protected against seizure. "Japan means business without wait ing for tho convenience of olhrrr. "It Is thought, despite her blunter, that Russia will tnke no Immediate ac tion to prevent Japan doing what the thinks proper to infcgnard her luter cfctn In Korea." Tho Ataoclutcd press at Washington learns from an offlclnl ituine that Japan, In her last note to the Itusnlnn government, announced that the mini mum proposition which suo can accept from Russia are righto In Kotea equal to those claimed by Russia In Man churia. In roturn, It Is Bald, Japan ngreen to rccognlte the supremacy of Russia In Manchuria. To this ptopo sltlon, tho Associated prem. Is Informed, tho Russian government would not give its approval, faellng that Japan should content herself with mod men tions in tho form of concessions In Korea for her commerce. The Rnsslnn government has not abandoned hope of a diplomatic settlement of the ques tion In view of the powerful prirsuro which Great Britain and Frnnce aio bringing to bear upon Japan to consent to a continuance of the negotiations, but it Is emphatically Mated that Rus sia will novcr admit the lurullel bo tweon hor position In Manchuria and that of Japan In Korea. Count CiibsIiiI, tho RiiEslan ambassa dor, thinks the far rnMern situation "gloomy, but not without tomo hopo of salvation." At tho Japanese legation It wns In timated that If tho Russian reply docs not glvo definite nsGurauco that In gen eral tho concessions naked for by Japan In Korea will be granted, the Toklo government will be Impelled to abandon diplomacy for force. Dis patches received by Mr. Takahlra, the Japaneso minister, from Toklo tell of the critical state of public feeling there. It Is stated that If Russia falls to glvo a definite reply Japan will Interpret a dilatory note a indicating Russia's wish to defer hostilities until the spring, when her forcea on land and svmi can be used to better ndvautngc. If Jnpan is convinced of Kursla'H In tention not to accept her proixisnls tho Toklo government. It Is declared, will not hesltato to take the Initiative- and ashurue- the responsibility for making war. The Japanese minister docs not believe that after tho manner In which ho claims ' his pcoplo have acted throughout, tho negotiations they will forfeit any sympathy which they may have In this rountry by striking first. Acting Secretary Loomls has re ceived In an unofficial way communica tions from representatives of tho United States In various foreign capi tals bearing on tho RiiFso-Japaneso situation. It Is not deemed proper to publish theso messages, but tho statement. In made that they aro gen erally Indicative of a belief that some arrangement will be reached between Russia and Japan which will avert war. It Is expressly stated Unit, these ndvlecs are not positive statements of fact, but represent the trend of senti ment In tho official elides of European capitals. Net York Now Looking Out Under Instructions from Firo Com missioner Hayes, an assistant foreman of tho departmtnt began to test the fireproof qualities of tho asbestos drop curtalus of New Voik theaters. The assistant foreman had Instructions to apply gasoline to ull suspected cur tains and nttnmpt to Ignite them. Commissioner Hayes said that. lu In tended to urgo the passage of legisla tion which would secure safety In some of tho older theatero which, under ex isting regulations, cannot be compelled to adopt modern safety device. He Is also earnestly In favor of a law that will absolutely prohibit persons from standing In any portion of an auditor ium. fltaiiiprili) In Nw York Tlirutrn An Immense holiday audience which packed the Thalia theater on the Bow cry, New York, at a matinee perform ance all but repeated tho accuca of wild panic of the Chicago theater flro when a shrill cry of "fire" rang through the house. Only tho chance circumstance that several pollco were btandlng in the lobby at tho moment and met the omorgency with strong measures, checked tho wild, unreasoning frenzy of tho audience, in their desire to escape from the building by tho main en trance. Clubs and fists met the rush the mo ment It began, the police and the em ployes of tho theater rrachlng the crowd and literally lifting the lead ers from their feet and forcing them into seats. The alarm was a false one. llntiu (!orin Can In (Joloraclo Tho Victor Pnnln lilw.c ..., .... at Denver, was dismissed In the su preme court bpoause PooJo had boon turned over to tho civil authorities of Teller county by tho military authori ties to answer to the charge of mur derous assnult. It is tho intention of tho uttornoys of tho western federation of miners to bring beforo the supreme court in somo other manner the ques tions concerning tho governor's decla ration or martial law and suspension of tho writ of habenB corpus In Cripple Creek that wero raised in tho Poolo ccs BIG BLIZZARD IN BOSTON Zero vrtntlter unit Rnor mine Vp llix Urine All Trunin With tho mercury hovcrlm: niounA the zero mark in Boston nnd Teaching an extreme of 35 degrven below In northern Maine; with a foot of unoi piling ui) at exposed points- In bigi drifts thnt delayed trains, caused lh nlmndonnient of street rnllnwdi pchedulrH, audi In many cases inter fered with the street lighting system, New England slowly emerged from lha clutches of tho wildest bllzznrd that hau swept this part of tho country since tho memorable storm of Novem ber. 1S9S. Tho gale, nctompnnlcd by a blind ing fall of snow, swept tho coast from Newport, It I., to Eustport, Mc.wImih It moved eastward nnd rafted with nl lnost unprecedented violence over tbo nmrltlmo province. Now BruimwicH and Nova Scotia suffered' tho most Double patrols of llfo-snvcns arc watch ing the const. Only ono shipwreck In known to have occurred, that of tho schooner Belle J. Neal, on Allerlon bar, hut a woman's body wns washed axhom at Nantnaket and It l feared that another vessel went down iliirinu the storm. N rrocrum In Ilia Honnlo ATtor a receps of moro than Iww weeks tho senoto will renumo husiiiesu without nny deflnlto program. In dent!, It may bo stated1 thnt tho ronnto linn no program for the entire BCtHon beyond tho patBUgo of tho appropria tion bills, tho consideration of tho Panama canal treaty, the determina tion of Senator Smoot'n case, ami tho disposition of somo other coinparnllvo ly unimportant matters. Only ono of tho appropriation bl))e, namely the pension bill, linn reached tho scnatti nnd thnt has not yet been considered In committee It In prob able, however, that it will bo reported at au early dato. Tho Panama (Mini treaty also Id In committee, nnd it also probably will bo reported to tbo seunte during tho present week. Tho Hmoot case will bo proceeded with by the committee on privileges and elec tions, but the Indications nro thnt Bomn weeks will elapse before tho question can bo biought befoio tho senate lu regular order. A Ml. 1,000 Klre nt Orcenw onil Pile originating from an oil ftovn used to keep 400 bushels of onlonn stored In the basement of n. flora building from freezing, destroyed ?IB. 000 worth of property at Grconwood, Nob. Tho store roomn occupied by, Frank Slahnuim, hnidwnro dealer; H. Cooper, druggist, nnd SIlss Slyrtlo Goodalo, milliner, wero burned, Ut gethcr with a large part of tho utocksw KnnmiR City Ncliool llnoctlrm Further ovldenco of boodllnj: on tho part of members of tho hoard of educa tion of Kansas City, Kan., wns prn eented beforo tho grand Jury. Gcorg McMlller testified that another mem ber of tho board had ugrocd to securn for tho agent of n Chicago book firm for $700 tho contract for supplying the public Fchools of tho city with books. . George Morrison testified that when ho tried to sell tho bonrd1 of education a site for a school building for (3,000, agreeing to divide his commission, thai, the' member told him that ho carno ton late. Later nuother real estate mitu sold the sumo slto to the boa id for. 5-1,000. 1 vj Nnt i:niingli Kvlilonca to Hold Lynchers James Ralnw. C. O. Bailey, Jnmi Kiister, Brant D.ivlr nnd LlouU-nnnt J. F. Parker, of ThcbtB, 111., who nro, charged with tho lynching of William John, colored, last spring, had a hear-, lug beforo J. 10. Jackson, a colored Jus tice of tho peace, and all wero dJn-t charged as tho ovlucu-jo seemed InsuflK clcnt to liom them. ii HarUlUt Nntlnonl Convention The national convention of tho o ciulist parly will bo held In Chicago May 1, 11)04, at which tlmo candidate fur national officers will bo put lu nomination. Bernard Berlyn, national committee man for Illinois, haa been instructed In make preparations for tho accommo dation af five hundred delegates. I'rlnccM Mntlillda Fnuoa Aitnj Prlnccsa Slathllde, tho only tough tcr of Princo Jerome Uonaixirte, died I u Paris. Shortly before tho princess eiplrert ex-EmpreB Kugenlo and Princes Clothlldo visited tho bedside. Tho death of Princess Slathllde hn! caused sorrow throughout Prance, not only because sho was ono of the "Inst of the Nupolcons, but because sho waa alwajB known as "tho good princess.") Two Tlings VVki Up riilln1rphl I Two whlto men In Philadelphia blew open a safe, held up several persons and otherwise caused considerable ex citement In the suburban- towns along tho main lino of the Pennsylvania lall road. Two men wero held up at Hav erford and later a man cecortlng tvyo ldlo was stopped by the same mtm, but the screams of his companions scared the footpads off. Severn! houn later thoy appeared at Strafford, cov ered' an aged watchman with revolv ers and blindfolded him. The men '.thin blew open tho safe in the railroad illa tion which Is also used aa n postefflc) and took about $1,000 in money and stamps. Blessed Is tho peacemaker, for bo generally gets the worst of it. Orer 76,000 Immigrants In lOOS Immigration at the port of New York lu 1908 has- passed all prevlouu records. During tho calendar year now ending C10.980 immigrants stceragn passengers arrived thero, ua ngnlnst 647,187 In 31)02, an increnso of 72,783. It la estimated that somo 2,000 mora foreigners will land beforo January J. so that tho total Increnso probablo will bo close to 7C.O0O. Tho year of 1902 was u record-breaking ycur, tho in crease, over 1901 being about 189,000. Silence Is probnbly considered golden because gold is eo scarce, VI J4 a 1 fi i m m I I I 4 LV P'l ll ;.b II l I " i Ai J''l ." ,'tttit .IsW- A J" . h MM 'tt AtihfauiMM