January 13, 1908: A fire breaks out at the Rhoads Opera House in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. A capacity crowd of 400 people was in attendance, and 171 of them died.
Boyertown is in coal-mining country, 17 miles east of Reading, 47 miles northwest of Center City Philadelphia, and 110 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan. The Opera House -- really just an auditorium on the 2nd floor of what had been a factory building -- had been financed by local businessman Dr. Thomas Rhoads.
The play being performed that night was The Scottish Reformation by Harriet Earhart Monroe, who was heavily involved in the production. A slide (magic lantern) show and lecture were presented at intermission, to provide historical background for the play.
The fire started when a kerosene lamp being used for stage lighting was knocked over, starting a fire on the stage. In short order, the spreading fire ignited a mixture of lighting gas and oxygen from a malfunctioning stereopticon machine being used to present the magic lantern show. Audience members waited for the fire to be extinguished by theatre personnel, wasting the precious minutes they needed to escape safely.
Among the victims was Monroe's sister, Della Earhart Mayers, 51, who was involved in the production. Monroe lived until 1927, age 84.
No criminal charges were filed in connection with the fire, and $22,000 in relief funds were raised for the families of the victims. The Pennsylvania legislature passed new fire laws, and Governor Edward Stuart signed them into law on May 3, 1909.
*
January 13, 1908 was a Monday. There were no scores on this historic day. But the next day, the Montreal Wanderers would begin their defense of the Stanley Cup in a two-games-total-goals series against the Ottawa Victorias. Both games were played at the Montreal Arena, and "The Little Men of Iron" left no doubt: On January 9, the Wanderers won, 9-3. On January 13, the Wanderers won, 13-1.
