Panic in a Hall.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 98, 27 December 1913, Page 5

Panic in a Hall.

A FALSE CRY OF "FIRE!”

SEVENTY-FOUR PEOPLE PERISH

{By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] { United Press Association I Xew Vor, December 2G. A terrible disaster occurred at Calumet, Michigan.

While hundreds of sinking miners with their wives and children were attending a Christmas-ree entertainment, a man shouted “Fire!” Instantly there was a panic. Everyone started for the door. Many were crushed against the walls. Shouts and screams arose. Men trampled upon women and children indiscriminately. The children, unable to protect themselves, fell in dozens, life being crushed out of them instantly. Their bodies blocked the narrow stairway to the roof. Those outside were.unable to enter to effect rescues. A crowd gathered and organised a rescue party. When the bodies were removed from the the stairway,' seventy-four corpses were found. Others are believed to have been removed by friends. The dead include thirty-seven girls, thirteen women, five men and nineteen boys. Excited women ran around the building, calling for their missing relatives and even attacked the' rescuers, who prevented them from entering the building.

The doctors found little need for their services, as all who were able to keep their feet escaped with bruises. Only children lined the hall, which was a two-storey one, ready to receive presents, when a large-sized bearded man, his name unknown, thrust -his head trough the door, shouting “fire!” in stentorian tones and then disappeared. The alarm spread despite shouts that there was no lire. A large number of foreigners were present. They understood no English. Consequently the statement that ther was no fire was misunder-. stood and added to the confusion. Eye-witnesses describe the scene after the alarm as terrifying in its rapidity wherewith lives were sacrificed. i For hours frantic women ran through the streets calling for their children. There were 700 persons in the hall, three-fourths of them being children whose parents did not accompany them. Fathers and mothers by the score ran into the building, and became violent when they were unable to learn their children’s fate. About 100 escaped down a fire escape, hut others n-erp. too panic-stricken to use. the escape.. Many deaths were due to suffocation. A woman who tried to save throe struggling children was trampled to death, and a man mas similarly killed. The man who called out “Fire!” is believed to have been drunk and not to have known what he was do-

Times—gjyj\ip!y Sun Special Cables ' ! New York, December 26.

The Christmas-tree at Calumet war, arranged liy charitable organisation:’ for the starving families of copperminers. The managers invited £he children to approach the stage and receive gifts. When all were crowded together the cry of “Fire!” was raised. The fatal panic followed.

DEALING WITH THE STRIKE.

(Received 11.50 a .m.) New York, December 26

As a result of the disaster at Calumet the peacemakers are endeavouring to settle the strike, which has raged there for many months with much bloodshed.

Investigations are proceeding, but no clue has yet been discovered as to the identity of the man who shouted “fire.”