Charles S Owen, MD

"Dr. Owen, a physician and one of the most prominent men in Wheaton, Illinois, died at the Chicago Homeopathic Hospital from burns and injuries sustained at the deadly Iroquois Theatre fire. On Christmas day, Dr. Owen held a family reunion and eight relatives came from Ohio to spend the holiday week. Wednesday, a theater party was arranged and twelve seats were secured at the Iroquois Theatre for the matinee. The seats were in the front row of the first balcony. Out of the entire party of twelve, Dr. Owen was the only one to escape. His death marks thirteen people from one family. Died at the Homeopathic Hospital on Saturday Jan 2, 1904.

"Dr. Owen probably held more offices in Wheaton than any other man.  He was alderman of the Second ward, trustee and secretary of Gary Memorial Methodist Church, trustee of the Gary-Wheaton Bank, trustee and treasurer of the Adams Memorial Public Library and superintendent of the Wheaton fire company." (Chicago Tribune)

"Last in the party to die, eight days after the fire, Charles Owens in his last days described his Iroquois experience either to a newspaper reporter or to one of his two brothers-in-law who in turn described it to a newspaper at Charles death.

"He showed great presence of mind by telling the people around him to keep their seats. His words had a quieting effect upon his neighbors in the audience, but when the heat became unbearable Dr. Owens stood up and said: "Fly for your lives now, everyone for himself and may God help us all.

"With these words, the aged man picked up his little boy in his arms and rushed with him up the center aisle. He fought his way toward the door until partly overcome by the smoke and partly by the crowds of terror-stricken people he fell to the floor. He regained his feet and joined the struggling humanity.

"Again he was overcome and sank to the floor, unconscious. The cooler and purer air of the floor revived him and he arose for the second time, but this time could not find his son. He stayed behind to look for the boy when he fainted again and was carried from the building by a policeman.

"After regaining consciousness Dr. Owens walked unaided to a near-by drug store where he procured bandages and restoratives. With these, he hurried back to the scene of the disaster and resumed his search for his family. Despite his will, he found himself too weak to work, and despairingly called a cab and was driven to the Chicago Homeopathic hospital, of which he was formerly the house physician.

"The physicians at first expressed hopes of his recovery, but when the doctor was informed by his brothers-in-law, J.F. Dodd and D.H, Battenfield, of the death of his entire family, including his wife and only son, his grief was unbounded and he gradually declined until last Friday afternoon death came to the relief of the grief-stricken man."  (www.iroquoistheater.com)