Note from Charlie's citation and Northfolk that there was no evidence whatever presented that it was "company goons" that shouted Fire - or that the tragic results could possibly have been predicted if they did. It was shown that the door was certainly never barred by anyone from the outside.

This is one that the research staff at Happy! File Central have done a bit of background on and I quote from them:

"The Italian Hall Disaster" occured on 12/24/1913 at a Christmas party for miners' children during a bloody copper strike in Calumet, Michigan. Somebody shouted "Fire!" In the panic they rushed downstairs but the unlocked door opened inward and the crush of people prevented it being opened. 16 adults plus 57 children under age 16 were trampled, smothered and died in the stair-well. It was thought but never proved that company thugs did the shouting. Extensive details nd statistics are given in the local books Tinsel and Tears & Tinsel and Tears II by Peggy Germain. [thanx Calumet (Michigan) Public-School Library director, Debra Oyler]