The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 1

WEATHER FORECAST Fresh to strong northerly winds partly cloudy and colder, with light local snowfalls. For complete weatner report so page seven. TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY 13; 4 SAME DAY LAST YEAR 28; 8 MONTREAL, MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1927. TWENTY-TWO PAGES PRICE FIVE CENTS VOL. CLVI.

No. 8 LATE EDITION SEVENTY-SIX CHILDREN KILLED IN PANIC ON STAIRWAY AT FIRE IN EAST ST. CATHERINE STREET MOVIE THEATRE SUNDAY AFTERNOON i LANE ATTACKS BRIDGE 74 VICTIMS AT THE IDENTIFIED MORGUE Law Prohibits Unguarded Minors Being Admitted TWO FAMILIES BEREAVED BY LOSS OFTHREE Girl Attending First 'Movie' Died With Brothers CLARITY OYER OCEAN 'PHONE WASAMAZING Absence ol Static Marked Second Day's Operation WOMAN HAD $700 WORTH FOUR MEN HELD FOR INQUEST ON PANICJflCTIIIS Taken to Detective Bureaa lor Appearance as Witnesses Today ONE GRANTED $500 BAIL JAM OCCURRED ONLY 5 STEPS FROMSAFETY Ail But Few ol Victims Were Children or Youths in Early 'Teens DIED OF SUFFOCATION 7 Becoming- Real Evil Among Women Players Special Cable to the N.Y. Times and Montreal Gazette. London, January 9.

Sir William Arbuthnot Lane, eminent surgeon, makes a sweeping attack on overindulgence in Bridge, in a letter to the Daily Express particulariy against women players, among whom he declares the game is becoming a real evil. Excessive cigarette smoking, abuse of alcohol nad physical and morai detriment are some of the evils which Sir William sees rife in the Bridge-playing woman, who he Incidentally remarks is usually stouter than her sisters. "Like most efficient drugs which benefit In moderation but are poisonous in excess, when Bridge is indulged in for so long that it hypnotises the players and makes them blind to their own interests and to those who depend on them for comfort and companionship, It becomes a positive evil," he writes. He admits, however, when pursued in moderation, Bridge is excellent and most beneficial to health. ACTED LIKE GENTLEMAN R.

A. F. Pilot Says He Was Pushing a Balky Car London, January 8. "When Colonel Minchin, Imperial Airways pilot, was arraigned here today on a charge of being in charge of an automobile while under the influence of liquor, he pleaded he was not driving the car, but pushing it. He said that on leaving a hotel his car balked and he decided to push it.

Arrested, the Colonel declared to the police: "If you say I am bottled, I will agree." Following the police Inspector's testimony that the prisoner's behavior had been exemplary and that of a gentleman the magistrate discharged him. RENOWN HAS ROUGH TRIP Seas Prevented Duke Going! AsThore at Las Palmas Special Cable to the New York Times and Montreal Gazette. London, January 10. The Duke and Duchess of York are not meeting the best of treatment from Father Neptune on their voyage to Australia aboard M.S. Renown.

After a stormy passage through the Bay of Biscay, the Renowrt reached Lag Palmas yesterday (Sunday), but the. eather prevented the Duke from going ashore. There was a strong northeast wind W'th a heavy swell rendering the sea unsafe for boats. The Duke will be compelled to cancel landing arrangements unless there is considerable Improvement. The Renown is now anchored a few miles from shore.

RADIO UNCLES MISSED Many Protests on Behalf of Children Reach B.B.C." Special Cable to the N.Y. Times and Montreal Gazette. London, January 9. The abolition of wifeless uncles and aunts who have been lulling thousands of children to sleep nightly with bedtime stories. is bringing many protests to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Bedtime stories still are told, but by Mis3 and Mister in stead of Aunt Sophie and Uncle Billy. Most of the protests say the children are crying for their wire less uncles. and aunts. INDEX TO THE NEWS Page Two British again control Ex -Premier FJemming denies charges Europe contrasts Britain and U.S. Page Three Calles suggests Hague arbitration.

Man posed as ex-Ciown Prince's son. Instalment plan declared sound. Page Four Mayor Ballantyne takes farewell. Bordeaux Hospital opening near. Safety show for children.

Page Five Surprises at New York auto show. 'phoned to England. Daudet newspaper' on Index. Page Six Today's radio programmes. Page fx-ven Franco protects Nice.

Sir Alan Cobham booms aviation. Page bight Social and personal. Winnipeg welcomes Premier Bruce. Page Nine News of Interest to women. Page Ten Fireman knew son was in theatre.

Heavy life toll in former fires. -Page Twelve Editorial. Tage Thirteen Passenger trains crash in New York. Page Foiirtpen Wild scenes as Ottawa won at hockey. Maroons, beat Boston, 3-0.

St. Pats, beat Americans. Page Fifteen Racing results. Page Sixteen Edinburgh trophy curling. Alex.

Foster won ski honors. Page Ncvcutcvn Two January cattle shipments. Italy plans energetic 1927. Spy plots stir Europe. Page Eighteen Corner block eold for $54,000.

Oil men accused of seeking war. Page Twenty Review of local stock market. Pags Twenty-one Iloview of Nevt York market. Local stock nvi'kcf weeV. Armand Lavallee, 10 years, 138S St.

Catherine East. Roland Leduc, 11 years, 1837 Da' vidson. Cecile Martin, 8 years, 567 Davidson. Edouard Morin, 18 years, 1863 Aylwin. Antonio Menard, 12 years, 545 Bourbonniere.

George McCleary, 8 years, adopted child of Joseph Marquette, 23 Marlborough. Michael Murphy, 14 years, 1541 Notre Dame East. Rita Maheu, 7 years, 545 Davidson. Eva Martel, 8 years, 549 Davidsoi. Yvette Martel, 7 years, 549 Davidson.

Philippe Nantel, 12 years, 18t3 Prefontaine. Francienne Otis, 10 years, 1410 Cuvillier. Martha Paquin, 6' years, 14C8 Cuvillier. Francois Pesant, 14 years, 1512 Aylwin. Romeo Petchat, 9 years, 530 Descry.

Arthur Paul, 10 years, 2026 NiccJet. Raoul Pageau, 9 years, 2067 Hildegarde Quintal, 9 years, 2)03 Joliette. Adrien Quintal, 13 years, 2.03 Joliette. Sylvia Quintal, 8 years, 2103 Joliette. 1 Marcel Ratthe, 11 years, 1519 St.

Germain. Louis Philippe Remillard, 11 years, 1671 Desery. Germaine Rivard, 14 years, 2932 Adam. Albert Reade, 11 years, 5 Arthur Lane. Rene Roy, 14 years, 1440 Prefcn-taine (Sunday was his birthday).

Gertrude Sauvageau, 14 years, 1489 Adam. Georges Stoneff, 7 years, 1(38 Chambly. L. Simonne Seguin, 13 years, 1S71 Lafontaine. Andre Tellier, 14 years, 535 Cuvillier.

Alice Taillon, 11 years, Delonmier svonue.l Gabriel Tardif, 7 years, 1653 Joliette. Leopold Tremblay, Joliette. Yvette Tremblay, 7 years, 2f Cuvillier. Tremblay, 2047 Cuvillier. Charlemagne Vincent, 11 yer, 1452 Frontenac.

Jeanne d'Arc Viens, 4'j years, 1602 Desery. In addition to the al.ove, thren other? were identified, but their names' were not available. t. FOR SUFFERER Theatre Managers Pledge Raisin? of Relief Fund At a hastily-summoned meeting' of the members of the Montreal Theatre Managers' Association, ield last evening in the office the Palace Theatre, a resolution oC sympathy with the sufferers and families of the victims in the afternoon's Jis-aster was passed. The members also pledged themselves to raisS a fund of $10,000 towards paying tho funeral expenses of the victims, relieving any distress among families arising out of the disaster.

Of this sum, $1,000 was subscribed on the spot, by the managers preseHj. It was also intimated tiiat their ac Hon, taken on their own responsibil-N lty, would probably be supplemented by the owners of the various theatres, with the result that a fund of $20 000 to 30,000 would be raised. The Laurier Palace Theatre, th scene of the tragedy, Is not rbpte' sented on the Montreal Thoar managers Association, which com-- priHes me managers of the follow ing houses: His r.i Imperial, Orpheum. St. Denis, Gayety, S7 i.

r-aiace, Amherst Rlalto, Strand. Regent. WeMmount. Papineau. Plaza, Rivoll.

Belmont. Mount Royal, Corona, Francaise fairyland, Napoleon Palace, Lorl Nelson, Alhambra, Midway, Rojal Alexandra (Lachine), Park George Rotsky, vice-president of the association, presided at the meeting in the absence of the president-George Nicholas. ISSUED 51 CERTIFICATES Coroner McMahon at Work Afternoon and Night Short! hfrtfA tj niht Coronr McMahon had ls- t.tLj-one aeatn certificates. All but two of the seventy-six bodiet were identified, but it was impos-smie for the coroner to question all the relatives and issue certificates last night Throughout the afternoon and evening he had sat at his desk In the Coroner's Court, steadily putting questions to people and recording the answers. A brief adjournment for supper was all the respite he had from his work, which was made doubly difficult by the emotional state of many of those who came to identify the bodies.

At the hour mentioned the court was adjourned until this morning. Three bodies remained unidentified, but the morgue remained open and until early this morning persons entered in order to view, and It possible identify the bodies hi the mortuary chamber. FIRE INQUIRY TOMORROW Cause of Outbreak Will Be Investigated Today The investigation before' the FJre Commissioner's Court will open tomorrow, and the investigators will continue their work today. Yestei-day they were unable to determine the cause of the fire, and conditions were against allowing them to have a good look at the premises. Doors und other matters prescribed by municipal by-laws will be examine! with care.

Gaston Arpin, 6 years, 63b Rouville. Marcil Baril, 15 years, 1871 Bour-bonniere. Annette Bisson, 16 years, 1336 Darling. Germaine Boisseau, 13 years, 1870 Joliette. Yvette Boisseau, 8 years, 1870 Joliette.

Rolland Boisseau, 11 years, W0 Joliette. Raoul Bouchard, 10 years, 1434 Moreau. Raoul Benoit, 12 years, 1631 Moreau. Roger Coulombe, 11 years, 16G6 Aylwin. Rene Champagne, 16 years, 1629 Chambly.

Roland Clement, 7 years, 1538 Desery. Theresa Couture, 14 years, 596 Davidson. Armand Cournoyer, 11 years, 2077 Adam. Jean Marcell Dumont, 12 years, 940 St. Donat, Tetreaultville.

Germaine DeTonnancourt, 12 years. 597 Cuvillier. Maurice Dumont, 16 years, 940 St. Donat, Tetreaultville. Antonio Dufour, 12 years, 2099 St.

Germain. Edouard Frechette, 12 years, 1661 Desery. Jean Louis Gagne, 13 years, 507 Jean Gtgne, 14 years, 5045 Par thenaia. Gervais, 11 years, 1723 St. Germain.

Maurice Gervais, 8 years, 2028 Marcel Girard, 9 1666 Joliette. Maurice Grondines, 11 years, 500 Joliette. Rolland Guerin, 10 years, 400 La-points boulevard, Tetreaultville. Adrien Gauthier, .10 years, 2059 Moreau. Roland Gravel, 7 years, 581 Darling.

Raoul Girard, 8 years, 1970 Adam. Rejane Gauthier, 10 years, 57a Rouville. Lucien Gervais, 12 years, 2028 La-fontaine. Bernard Houde, 13 years, 1S-t6 Cuvillier. Adrien Hetu, 9 years, 3456 Rouen, Montreal East.

Alda Leduc, 16 years, 2171 Adam. Ange Aime Levasseur, 13 years, "069 Darling. Marcel Levasseur, 9 years, "069 Darling. THEATRE HAD FOUR EXITS Was Remodelled Building With Capacity of 1,000 The Laurier Palace Theatre, which bears the civic number 1(112 St. Catherine street east, has been in operation for several years.

It is a two-storey building with a stone and brick front. The seating capacity is about one thousand. It is a building remodelled for its present purposes. The orchestra seats about 800 persons while there Is a large gallery which fills the back of the house and runs on either side. The place has four exits, two at the front of the house, Into which lead the stairs from the balcony, and two at the side of the place, leading into a lane with an exit on Desery street.

The stairway in which the human jam occurred is five feet wide, and about twenty-five feet long. There is a right angle turn five steps from the bottom of the stairway. The talrs follow tho east wall of the building, and after the turn ends on a rotunda that leads to the street door, a wide entrance, eomo fifteen feet away. After the fire yesterday tho or chestra celling beneath the balcony 'was badly damaged, while the floor of the balcony was burned through in spots. The celling at tne back or the balcony was also damaged by the flames, and the glass in the windows fronting on St.

Catherine street was broken. The lower floor suffered severe damage by water. EXAMINED 76 VICTIMS Dr. Derome and Dr. Fontaine Determined Causes of Death After eight harrowing hours in the mortuary chambers, Dr.

G. Wilfrid Derome, provincial medico-legal expert, and his assistant, Dr. Kosario Fontaine, were at the point of -collapse, as they finished their work of -determining the causes of death of the seventy-six victims. Dr. Derome, to whom the sight of mangled bodies is a part of the daily routine, was near to tears when he spoke to a Gazette reporter at the morgue shortly before midnight.

"I have never seen anything ltko it, or anything that would begin to ap-nroach it. in my entire experience," he said. "The sight of those poor yourg bodies was sufficient to break down even my professional barrier of unemotionalism. The only comparison that comes -to my mind is a fire in a Paris theatre "in 1909. when many were crushed to death, but there were not such a great number of children." Despite numerous Interruptions, questions from parents and relatives, morgue employees and newspapermen.

Drs. Derome and Fontaine had examined every body in the morgue by shortly after 11 clock, and had their reports in readiness for the opening of the inquest today. MAIN CAUSES OF DEATH 60 Asphyxiated, 11 Crushed and Five Burned The causes of death of the seventy-six victims of the theatre panic tragedy as officially stated last night by Doctors Derome and Fontaine, medico-legal experts, were as follows: sixty victims died of asphyxiation; eleven died of compression, and five died of asphj'Kiation and burns. No children may be admitted to a moving picture house in the province of Quebec when under the age of 16 years, in virtue of the very first section of the Moving Picture Act of the province. Tills prohibition lias been in force since the inception of the act.

The provision reads: "To person or persons in charge of a moving picture hall where slvows ore given by means of a In the case of a company or partnership, no manager or other person in charge of the establishment, shall receive in any way, at such shows, any child less than sixteen years of age, unless such child be accompanied by liis or her father, mother, tutor or teacher, or by a guardian specially authorized by the father or motlier." The only exception to this rigid prohibition is where special shows are given for children after being authorized by tlie censors. The penalty for admitting children under the age of 16 to a moving picture house is a line up to $50, or, in default of payment, imprisonment up to one month for the first offence. In the case of a subsequent offence the fine Is not less than $50 and not more than $100, or imprisonment up to two months, in default of payment. Police officers are empowered to enter any motion picture theatre to ascertain if the law is being observed. given to a few choking little ones who-revived in the open air, then died Nearby fire and police stations be came temporary morgues.

Mortuary wasrons started their myriad trips. Ambulances clanged and rushed their I mangled freight to tranquil and shining hospital wards, where competent hands took charge. And now the crowds came. The news spread, and soon hatless, anxious parents were on the run toward the theatre. Reinforced police were merciless to the curious, kindly and sympathetic to the people who feared their little ones were inside the building.

They got little news. The safety forces of the city, and the hospital squads, worked so quickly that either hospitals or the morgue alone could answer the queries. Nevertheless, the crowd held. It was only late in the afternoon, just as darkness came up over Mount Koyal and the advancing c-oud threw into relief the white lighted Crass on the Mountain, that the trek of tragedy from hospital to hospital. and then to- the morgue, began.

Admitting officers at the four big hospitals were besieged for the names of the patients they had. The best was done for the questioners. But there was need for tact, for more were dying, and the gentle rustle of the priest's soutane was heard in more than one corridor. At the end of the journey was the morgue. The spacious chambers, provided against the day that would curse Montreal with a catastrophe of this magnitude, were guarded by line after line of police, repelling the in- sistent, near-crazed people who wanted to decide once and for all If the loved ones were dead or missing.

In each mortuary chamber the crucifix surmounted an unforgettable i scene. Under the brilliant lights, i stretched on the shining, gray-tinted floors, were the boys and the girls There they lay, some with blood-1 stained faces, others smoke-blackened, most of them just pale suffo cated to death. Bright red mufflers, green sweaters, roir.id-toed little shoes, tousled hair, upraised fists, chubby faces wrinkled and distorted into grimaces of the agony in which they died. The morgue officers had done their best. For the time being, the relatives, admitted two or, three at a time, must look upon the bodies just as they had been pulled from the choked stairway.

Some, sobbing and near-dazed went into the mortuary chambers and came away with nothing learn ed. Others caught tneir Dream "There!" and a linger pointed at the victim. Constables moved reverent-ly about the trying to find some little clue to identity. And all the time the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters poured in. Down on St.

Catherine street east, facing across the ice-packed St. Lawrence, is a gaunt building, and, at one end, a doorway. Five steps from the threshold seventy-seven met death. ABOUT THIRTY INJURED Several Died After Being Admitted to Hospital In addition to the seventy-seven who lost their lives in the panic, the list of injured reached almost thirty. Of theKH several received only minor hurts.

A few. however, for whom the doctors at the scene of the tragedy held at least a glimmer of hope were rushed to the varous hospitals, put despite the efforts of the doctors and nurses succumbed to tneir injuries, and their bodies were removed to the morgue to be identified later la the night by grief-stricken parents and relatives. Of ten children taken to Notre Dame Hospital, only one was badly burfied. and hospital authorities did not expect him to live. He is Ernest Kobichaud, 16 years old, of liiol Ayl win avenue.

Late in the afternoon his parents had not been located. The "other children were suffering from slight burns and bruises and suffocation, but doctors in attend ance thought all would recover. They are: Jtan Paul Paquel, 10, of 1703 Desery. Joseph Valiee, 14, of 3727 Lafon-taine. Jean Bergeron, 12, of 2148 (Cortimied on Page 10, Col 1).

POLICEMAN SOUGHT, KIN Found One Body Outside Theatre and Two Others at Morgue Two families each lost three members in the fatal panic in the Laurier Palace Theatre, St. Catherine street east, yesterday afternoon. Octave Quintal, of 2103 Joliette street, lost three childen Sylvia, aged 8, who was attending her first movie show, perished with two brothers, Adrien, aged 13, and Ililde-garde, aged 9. Constable Albert Boisseau, of the Te.reaultville station, also lost three children, his entire family. The constable, who was off duty at the lime, was near the theatre and went to the scene of the fire a short time after its outbreak.

After several bodies had been laid out in front of the building to t4 placed in the morgue waggon, the constable recognized the second body he examined as that of his eldes daughter. Later, when all efforts to loi'ute the other two children failed he went to the morgue and founj them there. The dead children ar Germaine, aged 13; Rolland, aged 11, and Yvette, aged 8. When Constable Boisseau heard of the fire, he had a fear that hl chil dren might have gone to the theatre. When he discovered how serious the matter was, he telephoned to his u'ife and asked her if the children bad gone to the movies.

She answered that she did not think they had, but he remained around the scene to help his comrades on duty. He was assignel to guard a num-cr of bodies that lay on the covered with tarnaulins. When the morgue waggon arrived to re- love these t'o1ies he aided other officers in holding back crowd. The second tody picked up and placed in the waggon was that of his eldest girl, Germaine, 13 yearj of He recocrnized her and broke down. Inspector Langevin, who was present, tried to comfort the father on'' allowed "him to go with the waggon to the morgue.

There he found his other daughter, Yvette, 8 of age, and his son, Holland, 11 vears of age. He had previously tttt'ted his comrades to notify his wife. "It-'wipes out my family," said the constable last night. SCENE AT MORGUE. The scene in the little room of the Coroner's Court was unparalleled.

A long line of weeping fathers, mo wers, orotners and sisters led to the bench, where Coroner McMahon, In vestigator or crime and accident cases in Montreal for more than forty years, asked each one particulars concerning the deceased. The coroner had opened the ln-1 quest in oroer to permit relatives to claim the bodies. The retniar opening of the enquiry will bo today ju eavu person Mr. ftlCManon put two questions. He asked the be.

leaved person whether or not th child who perished was accompanied to tne ineatre by an adult. In nearly every case the answer was "No." The coroner then asked if the child had permission of the parent to go to the show. Seventy-five per cent, of the answers to this question were in the negative. After persons had established iden tiflcation, they were brought to thf courtroom upstairs to replace those in the line who had passed before tin coroner. Touching episodes were witnessed as the coroner directed his questions.

Asked the age of his son Rene, Benjamin Roy, of 1440 Pre- fontaine street, replied: "He was 14 years old, in fact today was his fourteenth birthday. He and his brother went to the show to cele brate. The other boy was saved Both the Roy children were under 16 years of age. Prosper Martel, of 649 Davidson street, was at the morgue to iden tify the bodies of his daughters, Eva, aged 8, and Yvette, 7. His son, Phllibert, aged 13, accompanied the little girls to the picture house.

but escaped with injuries. He is at the Notre Dame Hospital. Joseph Marquette, of 23 street, was Identifying the body of his adopted son, George McCleary, aged R. He had taken a fancy to the youngster when the latter was an orphaned baby, and had been in charge of him ever since. Marquette said that the lad went alone to the moving picture theatre with his permission.

Relatives began gathering at morgue shortly before 5 o'clock. An hour later the place was congested and by 8 o'clock many were waiting outside the building on St. Vincent street, to provide room for those awaiting appearance before the coroner. There was a constant stream of new arrivals. All persons who were given a certificate of death by Coroner McMahon were told that they could return in two hours for the body.

Morgue employees were preparing to cope with the situation which would develop when the many hearses would jvg'n in arrive. Problem of Eavesdropping to Be Handled by Government for Present (Special to The Gazette.) New York, January 9. New York and London resumed their telephonic conversations yesterday under conditions more favorable than marked the opening of tho radiophone service between the hemispheres op Friday. Sixteen calls were completed, the voices carry with a distinctness that amazed some callers. The static that cut in time and again on tho inaugural talks had faded yesterday to a point where it.

was scarcely noticeable, and officials of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company reported that tho two days of actual service had developed no difficulties worthy of mention. In fact, the trans-oceanic, service, by its smooth performance yesterday, threatens to become almost as commonplace as local inter-excHiaiige calls. Oae of the first calls to corns-, through from London was from aii editor of a London newspaper. He got Governor Smith on the telephone in the goverror's suite in the Hotel Biltmore at 10.02 a.m. The English newspaper man sought to interview the governor on his opinion of William Randolph Hearst's suggestion of a union or league of the English-speaking peoples.

"I told him," said the governor later, "that It waa a nice sunshiny day here, clear and cold, and that 1 did not know anything about Mr. liear.st's suggestion. That's all there was to the Throughout tho day, from tho first call at 8.32 a to the last, at 1 p.m., transmission was excellent. This due in large measure, the telephone officials said, to the passing of an area of low pressure which had hovered in mid-Atlantic for two days. Out of this "storm cloud," however, came a message that lis-teners-in midway 'between the "stations" had encountered no tin.nbie in hearing what the electric waves were bearing.

While Walter S. Gifford, presidan: of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, was talking on Friday to Sir G. Evelyn P. Murray, secretary of the British Post Otficc, ir. the formal opening of the service.

Harry B. Thayer, chairman of the board of the American company, was In mid-ocean on the Lloyd Sabaudo liner Conto Blancamano." Mr. Thayer went to the radio room of thj steamship and followed the talk. He cabieC his colleagues yesterday that he hao "listened in on the first radiophone conversation and heard perfectly, not- witnstanding the static." The first advertisements to be telephoned from this city tor publication In London dailies went foriT.ird in time to catch later editions of yesterday's Issue. Orders for goods, confirmations of deals and just "chats" as witness one New York woman who tfllkpri tnr twAntV-plfrht mlntitno tn ei London friend made up other calls yesterday.

DECIDED IMPROVEMENT. When the circuit was first put up yesterday morning the operators in test calls found that transmission showed a decided improvement. As the day wore on 'the clarity of reception continued to gain, with few-repetitions being necessary. Radio eavesdroppers. listening in to the long distance talker, were quick to notice the Improvement and to begin calling up their friends to retail what they had heard.

Officials of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, in commenting on the fact that so far no device has been perfected to Insure privacy of radiophone conversations said the problem would be left for the time being to the federal Government. Federal Radio Inspector Arthu-C. Batcheler will deal with the eavesdroppers In this district The credit for having telephonei the first American advertisement; overseas was claimed by Joseph Hanson, president of the Joseph K. Hanson Company, of 85 Lincoln road Newark. Mr.

Hanson' put in a cali for W. Lint Smith, advertising manager of The London Times, at 9.4S a.m., New York time, or 2.45 p.m., London time. His telephone rang and the operator announced the connection with the London newspaper office. Mr. Hanson dictated an advertisement for the J.

H. Ba.mer Company, Newark, manufacturers of bath room fixtures. Mc Smith reported that he heard the voice from Newark very well. added that it was wet iu London, "'just our usual climate," when Mr, Hanson reported on the sunshine and cold here. The call ended With aa exchange of compliments between British and American advertising men.

The first British advertisements for American publication, ono for Indian Tea, and the other for Carreras, Limited, tobacconists, were telephoned on Friday and appeared in The. New York Times yesterday. Another advertisement wus telephoned by William H. Rankin, president of th William H. Rankin Company, to Colonel B.

F. Lawson. publisher of The Daily Tclegrcph. T'sw (Continued on 38. Theatre Inspected in December, Chief Inspector of Fire Deoartment Reports Four men the proprietor, the rs-sistant manager, the head usher and the ticket taker of the Laurier Palace Theatre, 1683 St.

Catherine street. In which seventy-six children were killed and 30 other persons were in- iured during a panic following the outbreak of fire yesterday afternoon, were taken to the Detective Bureau this morning by Sergeant-Detectives Pusie and Nantel. The men held as witnesses for the inquest are: Ameen Lawand, 31 years of age, of 992 Sherbrooke street east; Michel Arie, 34 years of age, of 1479 Davidson street; Camil Eazzy. 30 years of age, of 1604 Desery street, and Alex. Bazzy, S2 years of age, of 1604 Desery street, all Syrians.

A short time after his -being brought to headquarters, Lawand put up JSOO in cash bail and was allowed to go. Coroner McMahon. who had asked the Detective Bureau to locate the men and hold thtm as witnesses for the Inquest this morn ing, had previously fixed ball at $510 cash. Yesterday afternoon, when he waa notified of the tragedy. Coroner Mc Mahon went at once to nis onice iu i.A flitnw nnrents who wanted to cV'Jnv the bodies of their children to do so immediately, ine coroner also thought ol tne investigation nr.1 nftpr Serireant-Detectlve Pusle, in estigator of the court, had ex plained tle circumstances oi tne case to him, he ordered that the pro-irietor and other persons connected with the theatre le held as witnesses for the opening of the inquest.

FURNISHED J500 BAIL. Last night Sergeant-Detletive Pusie, accompanied by Sergeant-Detective Nantel, set out to search for the four persons required. They experienced some difficulty in locating them, as they were busy about business matters In connection with the theatre, and it was only early in tho morning that they found the men They took the r.ren to headquarters und Lawand requested thht ho be al-liMiorl in B-n on bail. He was told he was required to deposit $500 cash ball, and he telephoned friends, and in a short time arrangements were made for his release. He will appear at the Inquest this morning wltii the three other witnesses, who woie held overnight.

Js either Lawand nor the other wit-nesues were questioned or made any statements to the detectives. INSPECTED IN DECEMBER Concerning the catastrophe In the Laurier Palace Theatre yesterday, James Mclsaac, chief Inspector of the fire department, stated last night that he had taken an action about a year ago against this theatre to force the management to open a blocked exit and that his instructions In that respect had sen complied with. As to recent reports on the same theatre, he stated that Information in them should be properly a matter for7 the consideration of the Coroner's Court. He declared, however, on that point, tint these new reports concerned- routine matters. Questioned as to the last time the Laurier Palace Theatre, St.

Catherine street east, had been inspected. Mr. Mclsaac said he had several reports regarding the infections of the Iirier Palace Theatre, and some fjhese inspection had beer madeTS December. He hud two men on theatres to report cases and take actions. Asked whether or not these inspections had been satisfactory, Mr.

Mclsaac said: "That will be material for the Coroner's Court. Besides I would like to get an order first from Chief uautmer, as this is a grave matter, and we city employees are under a general regulation by which we are unable ta speak on such questions. I do not say, though, that have much information. "There was a blocked continued Ir. Mclsaac, "in this same theatre about a year ago, and an ac-tpn was taken against the theatre that time in the Recorder's Court, aiid the proprietor was fined.

He cj-en compiled with the noticS from my department and had the obstac-jt-i, of the exit removed. The caise i still pending in the Superior Court oy' which the theatre propnetor is WB' occupies a property in the rear, wn'0 claims is responsible." wrong aiuce with this theat5 33 snown yur reports?" Mr jdcisaac was asked. "AS 1 have not got my reports ine I cannot make any statement except that these reports concern routine -work only" he replied. 7as Killed on Coal Barge jcanaimo, B. January 9.

Falling 2G Jeet through an open hatchway in(j the hold of a coal barge, Ivie ykver, 33, of Vancouver, was insta.it-Ivjliilled here lat night. Fire Broke Out in Flooring of Gallery List of Injured in Hospitals Numbers About! Thirty Several Died After Being Removed From Scene of Tragedy Two Bodies at Morgue Still Unidentified Seventy-six blood-blotched bodies of boys and girls lie lifeless today on the slabs and floors c-f the, morgue. About thirty -other and a few adults, scarred, scratched and burned, repose in cots at four city vhjiivls. All are victims of a Ftampede that followed a minor, outbreak of fire Sunday afternoon dur tng a moving picture show at the Laurier Palace, 1683-5 St. Catherine street east.

All evening the toll mounted. Hour after hour ambulances made Mill rrore Journeys to the old gray building near the harbor, where mortuary chambers held scores of bodies ghastly in death. Long after the last wisp of steam had ateu over the gaifit -2st end buikiing which had hew' Vomb for so many, rjffs. ithers, brothers and Some cried hysterl- jnd their little ones Others left the last jfme more call to make, jfrgue, enveloped in the uness of a business dis ced on the seventh day, saw ever-lilllng lines of taut-strung men, women, children even, still searching and awaiting the worst. The mute and mutilated were taken dn mid-afternoon from a stairway, barely thirty feet long, leading from the eastern -end of the theatre gallery to the street.

Ten minutes encompassed the whole tragedy. Out of the bright January sunshine, which threw alluring blue shadows under the trees of the enow-covered park opposite the theatre, troops of adults and children, but above all children, had filed, rosy-cheeked and laughing, into the ground floor and he gallery of the ehow house, (glaring bills, rich in startling colors, had filled them with the anticipation of the fun they would get from the comedy, "Get 'Km Young," of the excitement that would come from the serious films. Chairing and gay, they filled the greater part of the theatre. The screen was enthralling them. WITHIN REACH OF SAFETY.

Then, from the balcony, the cry "Le feu!" It was an usher who Bounded the alarm. There was a startled gasp from the audience; a etir and the om.nous rumbling of a panic. Trained employees hushed the anxiety, for only a little smoke was cording from beneath the front of tYiA gallery. It grew in volume. The audience on the ground floor was advised to take the exits, and that was dorve without semblance of a Ecramble.

Upstairs, the children were piling toward the ways that led to the sidewalk. The western stairway was clear, and the youngsters were descend.ng rapidly. Things were equally good on eastern stairway, then Five steps from the sidewalk, five steps from safety, the tragedy was born. Wee boys and girls, in the van of the stampeding mob and pressed' suddenly from the rear, stumbled and fell. Behind them, in serried ranks, were the others.

In an instant, panic seized those at the rear. There was shoving and scrambling. Then boys and girls piled in a heap, and a minute or two was sufficient to fill the stairway with a solid, suffocating, groaning, shrieking and dying mass. Firemen and policemen were on the instantly. The blaze became ndary.

Many of toe children were cued from the jam, though twenty pulling on a constable's sturdy ther belt couid not -snatch one fellow from death. Practised eyes saw the need for heroic measures. Holes were chopped through the wooden stairs, directly umler the jam of bodies; anotner hole was made in a wall. Firemen formed in a human chain, and gradually undermined the mass by extracting those jammed. Nearly all pulled out of the stairway were dead.

Two or three boys gave their names and died, crushed and mangled. Outside, the police worked feverishly. While motor Qre pumps roared in ear-splitting cacophony, as the interior blaze was attacked with tons of water, doctors were summoned. Frail little bodies were laid in rows on the sidewalks, faces turned to the azure sky undt-r which they had romped, a short hour before, to thj.show that was to be a tragedy. Dead and injured were quickly separated.

Priests were a tlyj w.r.e, and the last rites i A.