Notes for Benjamin Hoye Atwell: This is an anonymous contemporary account of the Iroquoi theater disaster (the worst theater fire in American history), which contains a quote from Benjamin H. Atwell:
"No disaster, by flood, volcano, wreck or convulsion of nature has in recent times aroused such horror as swept over the civilized world when on December 30, 1903, a death-dealing blast of flame hurtled through the packed auditorium of the Iroquois theater, Chicago, causing the loss of nearly 600 lives of men, women and children, and injuries to unknown scores.
"Perhaps the best description of that quarter hour of carnage and the sense of horror when the seared, scorched sepulchre was entered for the removal of the dead and dying is found in the words of the veteran descriptive writer, Mr. Ben H. Atwell, who was present from the beginning to the end of the holocaust, and after visiting the deadly spot in the gray dawn of the following day wrote his impressions as follows:
'Where at 3:15 yesterday beauty and fashion and the happy amusement seeker thronged the palatial playhouse to fall a few moments later before a deadly blast of smoke and flame sweeping over all with irresistible force, the dawn of the last day of the passing year found confusion, chaos and an all pervading sense of the awful. It seemed to radiate the chilling, depressing volume from the streaked, grime-covered walls and the flame-licked ceilings overhead. Against this fearful background the few grim firemen or police, moving silently about the ruins, searching for overlooked dead or abandoned property, loomed up like fitful ghosts.'"
On the 1910 Census (3rd Ward of Chicago), Ben H. and Hattie M. Atwell were living at 738 East 39th Street, Apt. 19. The name of the apartment building is something like "Hampdru Apartments" or "Hawpdru Apartments".
According to John William Atwell: Ben worked for Al Jolson as a press agent. He also worked for some famous russian dancer as a press agent. He would go on tour around the world with them. He split with his wife, but never divorced. (After his death his wife got it all.) He retired to Hollywood and lived with a woman named Carlotta, who died before Ben did.
According to John William Atwell: Ben was in a coma for a year before he died -- he does not know why he was in a coma. John Hoye would come and shave him every day until he finally died in 1951.
The following entries were taken from The Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI). Each entry in the BGMI lists the biographical works which mention the individual in question. Researchers may obtain additional information by consulting these refrence works (from which the BGMI index was created). Consult your local academic or research library for more information.
Name: Atwell, Ben H Birth - Death: 1876?-1951 Accession Number: 156630 Source Citation: Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 2: August, 1949-August, 1952. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1953. (BioIn 2)
Name: Atwell, Ben H Death: 1951 Accession Number: 156629 Source Citation: Notable Names in the American Theatre. Clifton, NJ: James T. White & Co., 1976. Earlier edition published as [The Biographical Encyclopaedia and Who's Who of the American Theatre.]. 'Necrology' section begins on page 343. This book often alphabetizes by titles of address, e.g.: Dr., Mrs., and Sir. (NotNAT B)
Name: Atwell, Ben H Death: 1951 Accession Number: 156629 Source Citation: Obituaries on File. Two volumes. Compiled by Felice Levy. New York: Facts on File, 1979. (ObitOF)
More About Benjamin Hoye Atwell: Social Security Number: 383017344.33
More About Benjamin Hoye Atwell and Hattie May Raymond: Marriage: 1897, Chicago?, Cook?, Illinois?.34
Benjamin Hoye Atwell (b. 12 Apr 1876, d. 21 Feb 1951)
Notes for Benjamin Hoye Atwell: