Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-31
The Chicago Disaster.

So frightful a holocaust that reported
from Chicago necessarily involves great
complexity of details. Explanations of the
cause and suggestions as to how the hor-
rnr could have been averted are confused
ina these first hours after the disaster. The
awful story is not yet completely told, but
the world stands aghast at the swiftness
and completeness of and the indescribable
terrors surrounding this destruction of
probably nearly seven hundred lives.
The Chicago disaster is the more shock
ing because of the fact that the 1roquois
Theater was regarded among the safest
of the American playhouses. it being one of
theevery latest and most costly. Apparent
" no expense had been spared to perfect
it In the matter of precaution against fire
1t was constructed of "freproof material
from top to bottom, as far as a theater
can be built. But In common with all other
playhouses 1t contained behind the pros
cenium the materials for violent and in
Simultaneous blaze in the scenery, con-
structed of light wood and oil painted can
vas There is probably no other kind of
building known today to which the crowds
resort that Is to the same degree open to
fire danger as the theater.
A. few facts appear more or less clearly
out of the mass of statements wired from
Chicago First of all, as to the origin of
the fire. il is evident that some one was
careless. either in placing an electric arc
light too close to the scenery, or In fndif-
ferent supervision the wiring and
fuses or in the manipulation of calcium.
Theories of the fire cause touch all three
of these possibilities, with the same inevi-
table conclusion that the disaster sprang
from the Indifferent work of some individu-
al stage helper.
Following the fact of the fire cause, it Is
striking that despite the costly and elabo-
rate precautions against panic and destruc-
ton, not a single one of them worked yes
terday. The broad aisles were Immediately
congested. The numerous emergency exits
were fastened, thus causing delay and add
ing to the congestion The fire escapes
lacked ladders connecting with the ground,
thus contributing further to the packing of
the PEOPLE and the injuries through the
panie-born impulse to leap. 1t is ex-
planned that the theater's equipment was
not yet completed in this detail Why then
should it have been used? Where were the
public officials who are supposed to safe
guard the peoples interests?
Behind the scenes a similar line of cir
cumstances ran directly to contribute to
the disaster. The city ordinances do not
compel the attendance of member of the
municipal fire department behind the
scenes. The theater had fireman of its
own there, however, and he tried to stop
the first flames by throwing on a patent
fluid 1t failed to work. No one knows
why. Had it been tested? Was its quality
taken for granted? Then. the asbestos cur
tain. At the moment of first great danger
1t ordered down, but 1t stuck. The
managers of the house declare that the
draft from the stage resulting from the
opening of numerous exits before the fran
tic outward plunge of the audience caused
the great sheet to belly out, and thus
choked the guides against the brick walls
of the house. The curtain was evidently de-
feCtive. 1t had clearly not been tested 1t
shoJffd i'm any case have been constructed
with a view to the resistance of strong
drafts. 1t should have been raised and
lowered Immediately before the perform
ance. to make sure of its condition. The
theater had no fiue in the rear to carry off
the fumes and flames, which in the alb
sence of such an exit, rushed out into the
auditorium and burned many of the peo-
pie before they could move from their
seats
Perhaps some day theaters will be built
winch VIII Sdlely mousse great auoleHces
Perhaps audiences will learn the lesson of
calmness in the face of peril 1t is evident
that no degree of discipline could have
saved many scores from death In Chicago
yesterday so swiftly did the flames over
take them. Had the theater building, so
beautiful, ostentatiousy "ireproof." so
completely eQutpped-on paper-with the
PROJECTIONS of fire checking and exit-aiding
devices, been up TO the mark of It's pre-
tensions. the casualties would. however,
have been reduced by several hundred