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HffiREGf ME m mmxAwful Holocaust,In a. Fcnnaylvtnla Opera House.Boyerstown, Fa,, Jan, 14.—A catastrophe horrifying in its details and sickening in its results last night swept nearly one hand red souls of this borough into eternity «in almost the twinkling of hja eye and injured nearly three score, many of them fa- ■ tally. -A majority of the dead .are members of the leading families of the town.While the “Scottish Reformation” was being produced in Rhoads* Opera House by Mrs. Monroe or Washington, a tank used in-a moving picture scene exploded. Immediately there was a wild rush for the exits of the building, Men of mature years eadeavorea ; to still the panic, hut their voices could ; not be heard above the shrieks and t screams of the terrified women and children, who composed the greater part of the audience.The scenes can not be portrayed fit- | ly by the most imaginative. The blood-curdling cries for help of those who were penned within the walls of the blazing structure could be heard above the roaring, seething flames.It seemed as though nearly the entire audience made a mad rush lor the exits the moment the explosion occurred.In their attempts to quiet the crowd, those persons who were on the stage accidentally upset the coal oil lamps used as footlights. The burning oil . scattered in all directions, and the . lamps which were used to light the , opera house exploded, throwing the . blazing oil over the terror-stricken people who were fighting frantically to gain the exits.In the mad rush a section of the floor 1 gave way, precipitating scores of per- 4 sons to the basement. As the floor collapsed, the shrieks of the helpless persons who were carried down were heard for blocks.. Had the women and the children f heeded the warnings of the cool heads , in .the audience the terrible loss of life might have been averted, but there was the usual panic and stampede, j which almost invariably accompanies ( -j such a catastrophe. The flames spread : rapidly and communicated to other parts of the theater. Men. women and children rushed for the many exits, and the weaker sex and children were ' trampled and maimed in the mad rush ■§ Mto gain the street.
Newspaper Details
Mexia State Herald
Mexia, Texas, US
Thu, Jan 16, 1908
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
TX, USA 23 Aug 2022
Other Publications Near Mexia, Texas
Mexia Weekly Herald
Mexia State Herald
Mexia Weekly Herald and Mexia Evening News
Mexia Evening News
Mexia Daily News
