22 Stereographs - The Italian Hall Disaster, Calumet, Michigan

American, 1914, halftones stereo cards by the Allied Printing Trades Council. The copper strike of 1913-14 was one of Michigan's most bitter labor struggles. The Michigan state militia, on horseback, was deployed against the strikers. Strike leaders held a benefit party on Christmas Eve, 1913 for the children of striking miners in Calumet. The party was upstairs in the Italian Hall. When the hall was filled with people a man opened the doors at the bottom of the stairs leading outside and yelled "Fire". Everyone, mostly children, rushed down the stairs and tried to get out. There was no fire. With the rush of people, the doors which opened inward could not be opened and children were crushed against the doors, in all 73 people died. It was believed that strike breakers, hired by the mine owners were responsible but no suspect was ever found nor convicted. (Very rare set, 22 of 25) Ex Spira Collection.