The Washington times., 1904-01-03
Electrician TeStiies Be-
fore Inspector That
CareleSSneSS in PIdcing
Curtain Caused Dis
aSter.
Iwenty-four Bodies Re-
main Unidentified in
Morgue-The Coroner
Thinks List of Dead
May Reach 900.

CHICAGO. Jan. New light poured
IN today on the black disaster in
the Iroquois Theater. which is shown
up to this hour TO have cost
80 lives and to have caused 100000
loss IN personal effects OF the an
oIeree- From the corOaer's office ana
from other sources came evidence s,,D-
porting charges Of negligence ana disre-
gard of the law.
The real story of the origin OF tha a.
was told for the first time today bv
william McMul.in. assistant electrician
MeMuilin's evidence was given hsfors
Munroe Fu-kerscn. chief fire inspector
who began an investigation TODAY tbs,
may hx the responsibility for the catas-
trophe
Flood Light Caused Fire.
The fire did not originate with the biz
spot hight, but from what is known
as flood light" Immediately above
H. Careiessness in placing one Of the
a1eh curtains too near the carbon Of
THIS hight caused the FIRE The rinlsv
materfa. was blown b5 the draft si-
rectly over the light. ana at once capebs
hre- City Electrician Eliicott. who was
present agreed that such an explana-
ton was most likely the proper one
The spot light was complsteIy ex-
Ins olshed az the time of the ire
SAID McMullin. II am positive of this
because was working on il. Tbrcs
feet above my head was the flood light.
notlced the curtain swaying directly
ABOVE II. and suddenly a spark shot I'd
and 1t was abiaze in a second
Assistant Used His hands.
-
assistant to the flame.
Put the fire out ne said.
All right. said the man. reaching
down and using his hands to put on.
the small fame
8Iunin.
Il am" said the other ciapping tho
iiimsy stun between his hands.
Stage Workers Alarmed.
Some of the stage hands at this mo-
ment noticed the fire.
Look at that fire. they called out.
Cant you see that you are on fire u
there? Pat Il out"
D II. 1 am trying TO" said the
man. who was clapping away at til,
burning paint-impregnated muslin The
a flame foot high shot up and caugLC
the draperies above those on fire.
LOOK at that other one. It's on
fire." some one on the stage yelled.
Put it CUT shouted another.
Beyond His Control
"An right. said the man on the perch.
But he did not clap hard enough or fast
enough. and in ten seconds the flames
were beyond his reach.
II was after these handclapping at
tempts to eXtinguish the fire had proven
futile that McMullin shouted a call for
the asbestos curtain to be put down
Curtain Failed to Move.
Il did not see the curtain move" he
said 10 Chief O'NeiH.
W. J. Davis II. J. Powers. and Build
ng Commissioner Williams are under
$1,000 each. having been the subject of
charging manslaughter They
drove TO Justice Underwood's home to-
Hay and asked for continuance until
January y. Justice Underwood grant,
I'd the continuance and ordered the
hree defendants 10 furnish the bonds
before they would be free to leave VIII
lam A Pinkerton and Charles A Pla-
hohdon We're accepted as bondsmen.
Twenty Men Arraigned.
Twenty men arrested by the police Of
ne central stauonin connection with the
roquols The2ter fire were arraigned be-
ore Judge Caverly this morning in the
tarison Street police court on a chargs
# mansiaughter, Five OF the defend
-nts were members of the chorus Of the
Mr.. Bluebeard company and were de-
ended by Attorney Thomas Hogan.
No testimony was given in court and
was Immediately agreed that a con-
inu2nce be granted. Most OF the time
vas devoted 10 an effort by the attorney
o have the bonds of his clients re-
ucCd from 5000. in which they had
cen held FOR appearance in court this
morning.
Bail Is Reduced.
Hogan told the magistrate that his
hents had nothing 10 do with the man
cement. construction. or handling sf
he scenery. He said they continued
ingins even after the audience became
snic-stricken, in vain effort 20 aliay
he fear.
On the agreement of the attorney and
assistant States Attorney Thomas Hea-