Ward Mills

Ward Mills escorted three women to the Mr. Bluebeard matinee — his wife, his sister, and his wife's coworker. They had seats in the balcony on the second floor.  When a stage fire spread to the auditorium, Ward and his sister headed to the exit through which they'd entered the auditorium, leading into the theater lobby, but like hundreds of others, did not know how to manipulate the bascule lock.  Ward broke the glass panes on the door and got out ,but his sister was caught up in the crowd; when Ward reached the street in front of the theater, his sister did not emerge.  Nothing was published about his wife and her friend's failed escape. In the party of four only Ward survived.

Ward taught geology and natural sciences at the Armour Institute of Technology and the South Division High School.