Chicago's Awful Theater Horror Part 2

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SWORN TESTIMONY OF THE SURVIVORS 251

THE FIRST WITNESS--MARLOWE'S EXPERIENCE--MUSICAL DIRECTOR'S SWORN STATEMENT--MRS. PETRY'S ESCAPE--UP AGAINST LOCKED DOORS--BLOWN INTO THE ALLEY--JUST OUT IN TIME--SPORTING MEN TESTIFY--AN ELGIN PHYSICIAN'S TALE--MR. MENHARD'S DIFFICULT EXIT--THE THEATER ENGINEER--A SCHOOL GIRL'S ACCOUNT.

CHAPTER XX.

LACK OF FIRE SAFEGUARDS 271

A UNIVERSITY STUDENT'S STORY--A CLERGYMAN'S STORY-- THE FLY MAN'S STORY--SCHOOL TEACHER'S THRILLING EXPERIENCE--GLEN VIEW MAN'S EXPERIENCE--THE LIGHT OPERATOR--THE JAMMED THEATER--GAS EXPLOSION HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE--PANIC AMONG THEATER EMPLOYEES--AN EX-USHER'S WORDS.

CHAPTER XXI.

IRON GATES, DEATH'S ALLY 300

EVIDENCE OF GEORGE M. DUSENBERRY, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE THEATER--PURPOSE OF THE TWO IRON GATES--NEVER ANY FIRE DRILLS--GATES WERE BATTERED--DIDN'T BOTHER ABOUT LOCKED DOORS.

CHAPTER XXII.

DANCED IN PRESENCE OF DEATH 306

CHAPTER XXIII.

JOIN TO AVENGE SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS 312

ATTORNEY T. D. KNIGHT SPEAKS--CORONER'S WORK THROUGH--REMARKS BY ELIZABETH HALEY.

CHAPTER XXIV.

AWFUL PROPHECY FULFILLED 317

MOURNING AND INDIGNATION--NOTHING ELSE SO HORRIBLE--UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS--FIRE! FIRE!--BEFORE THE DISASTER--THE HOLOCAUST--THE STAMPEDE BEGINS-- ONE OF STUPENDOUS HORRORS--CURSED AND BLASPHEMED-- DEAD BODIES FOUND--SUDDENLY AND FOREVER PARTED--THE FRENZY OF FRIENDS--TOO HORRIBLE TO DWELL UPON--HOW THE THEATERS SHOULD BE BUILT.

CHAPTER XXV.

LIST OF THE DEAD 325

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE STORY OF THE BURNING OF BALTIMORE 357

MEMORIAL PRAYER.

The Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows wrote this prayer for Chicago on its appointed day of mourning. It is a prayer for all mourners of all creeds:

"O G.o.d, our Heavenly Father, we pray for an unshaken faith in Thy goodness as our hearts are bowed in anguish before Thee.

Come with Thy touch of healing to those who are suffering fiery pain.

Open wide the gates of Paradise to the dying.

Comfort with the infinite riches of Thy grace the bereaved and mourning ones.

Forgive and counteract all our sins of omission and commission.

All this we ask for Thy dear name and mercy's sake. Amen."

MEMORIAL HYMN.

Bishop Muldoon selected as the one familiar hymn most deeply expressive of the city's mourning, "Lead, Kindly Light," which he declared should be the united song of all Chicagoans on Memorial Day.

"Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on.

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on.

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile."

POEM BY A CHILD VICTIM.

The following poem, written by Walter Bissinger, a boy victim of the Iroquois Theater fire, fifteen years old, was composed two years ago, in honor of the tenth anniversary of the youthful poet's uncle and aunt, Mr.

and Mrs. Max Pottlitzer, of Lafayette, Ind., whose son Jack, aged ten, perished with his cousin in the terrible disaster:

HAVE A THOUGHT.

I.

Have a thought for the days that are long gone by To the country of What-has-been, And a thought for the ones that unseen lie 'Neath the mystic veil Of the future pale, As the years roll out and in.

II.