TERRIBLE PANIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1941, 26 December 1913, Page 7

TERRIBLE PANIC.

SEVENTY-FOiltt KILLED. CHRISTMAS TREE TRAGEDY IN AMERICA; CHILDREN TRAMPLED TO DEATH. By Telairxash—mm ABEOdatioß-CoDjris;:il (Roc. December '_'(';, 1.50 a m.) Now Yorto, ]>e;cnibel- 'Si. A terrible disaster mis occurred at Calumet, Michigan,. While hundreds-of miners on strike, with their when and children, were attending a Christmas tree entertainment, a mai. shouted "ITro!" and instantly there was a panic. Everyone started for t)ic dixir, and many; were crushed a gainst I'm walls. fallouts and screams -arose, and men'trampled down women and children ir.dihcriiuinately. The children were, unahln to protect) themselves, and fell in downs, tho life being crush.'d instantly out oi them. The bodies blocked tho narrow stairway to tiio roof, and those inski'a v. ore iin» able to climb over the heap of dead, and those outside were unable to enter to dfeet reso.io.'. A crowd gathered and organised a. rcscno party, and when the bodies wera removed from the stairway seventy-four corpses were found. Others are believed to liavo been removed by fiicuds. Tho dead included thirty-seven girls, .thirteen wome-n, live men, and uinctoei' boys. Kxeiled women ran around tlitt building calling for missing relatives. They even attacked the rescuers, who prevented them from ontcring the building. Doctors found little need I'm - their services, as all who were able to keep ttaur foot escaped, with bruises only. The.children,had lined tho hall, which-, was a two-story building, ready to receive prvsents, when a liirge-siwd bearded man, whose- liamo is uniiiiown/llii'ust his Iwad through a. door, shouting "Piro!" in stentorian tones. Ho then disappeared. The alarm spread, despite shouts that there' was no lire. A large.number of foreigners were present, who understood no English, and consequently the statements that there was mi fini we»c inisinidei'stHod, and Added to the flonl'usiou. Eye-witnesses describe- the sreiw after tiio'alarm as terrifying in the rapidity with .which.!b:<;.s.,M'ere sacrificed.