The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-06
INVESTIGATING
CHICAGO FIRE
New Theory for Failure Of the
Asbestos Curtain
DAVID JONES WAS EXAMINED
Alderman Friestadt Estimates That
Fully IS Per Cent of Chicago The
aires Recently Closed Can
Never Open Their Doors.
DAVID JONES WAS EXAMINED

| the CONDITION or the local theatres, ana 10
report upon what alterations are necessa-
ry to make them conform to the build
| ing ordinances, held its first meeting to-
day.
! According to the statement Of Alderman
| Friestadt, one of the members of the
| committee, it is doubtful II 30 per cent
of the theatres will ever reopen their
doors. Strict adherence to the building
laws would require that every one of the
| play houses In the city be of fire proof
construction and this would require
the demolition and rebuilding of the ma
! Jority of the theatres
Alderman Jones, chairman Of the COM
mittee said tonight:
I'VE will first revise the building ordi-
nances. Then we will visit the theatres
and decide what alterations will be neces-
| sary to make the construction of the
houses conform to the law. OF course,
the owners of theatres will do nothing
| until they know just exactly what the
| amended ordinances will demand Of
| them.'
| Late today, attorneys OF the fire de-
| partment caused the arrest OF four en-
| ployes of the Fuller Construction COM
pany. David Jones. a masonry foreman,
/ Angus Mckay. Otto Rausch and John
Kingston, iron workers.
Taken to Fire Department
| Attorneys for the Fuller company took
| Jones, who had been sought by the police
for several days. to the fire department.
1t had been charged that Jones and his
men broke the skylights on the theatre
after the fire in order to destroy possible
evidence. 1t developed today that after
the arrest of Jones and his men that the
skylghts were blocked by scantlings and
wire to prevent their opening, and that
neither of them had been opposed since
| the theatre was built.
Jones. in making this statement to the
fire department said:
II took the three iron workers with me
up through an adjoining building and
out on the theatre roof over the stage.
First, / removed tho wooden scantling
which blocked the skylights. Then /
found the lights tied with wire inside,
and broke two panes of glass to get at
the wire to unite them, l finally got
the wires off and opened the skylights.
Jones was asked why he went to the
roof of the theatre, and replied that he
cracked In the fire, and went to see II
II was true. He declared he had loosened
the skylights because he feared they
might fall through and injure somebody
| on the stairs.
why did you take three iron workers
with you to inspect a brick wall?" asked
| Attorney Fulkerson of the fire depart
ment.
Jones Was Confused.
Jones was confused, but finally an
swered that the men went with him
through curiosity He admitted that the
| iron workers helped him open the sky
lights and worked with him about the
roof for half an hour. Although he said
he went to the theatre of his own ac-
cord and without orders from the Fuller
Construction company, he admitted that
he should have been in another building
where he had been working.
When asked how he was going to ex-
plain to the company that employed him
where he had taken three of their en-
ployes and kept them with him for
practically an hour. in order to satisfy
his curiosity, Jones could make no sat
isfactory reply.
He denied that he had used any tools
in forcing open the skylights, but this
statement was denied by George Muel-
Ter, who. witnessed the breaking open of
the skylights from an adjoining build
ing.
Numerous witnesses who were in adj
joining buildings overlooking the theatre
testified that the skylights were not open
during the fire.
Coroner Traeger said tonight that he
was almost ready for the inquest, which
will commence Thursday.
II wish 1t understood, he said, that
this is not a trial. but simply an inquiry
90. dAta he fan af fire.
as we can. The coroner's jury will not
attempt to fix the blame of the fire upon
anybody, nor will it recommend the pun
ishment of anybody 1t will simply report
upon the facts as 1t has been able to
gather them and the rest of the work
will be left for the states attorney. II
It is found that there is anything for
him to do
Theatrical Business Dlsarranged.
According to the manager Of the local
theatres, the closing of the play houses
in this city has disarranged theatrical
business of the entire country. Com
panies that have been booked for this
city for the next fortnight are either sus-
pended or they are being sent to other
cities, thus forcing other companies to
change their routes.
Life insurance companies object to the
statement of the coroner that no verdict
will be rendered after the inquest, CIaim-
ing that large sums of money in insur-
ance on the lives of those VINO persisted
in the theatre fire depend for their pay
ment on the verdict of the coroner's jury.
And attorneys for the relatives of those
who died declare that a verdict should
be given In each particular case of death
in order that collection of insurance
may be possible.
JOS A. Dougherty. who tried to lower
the asbestos curtain at the lroquois thea
ter on the fatal day. provided Attorney
Fulkerson OF the fire department with a
new theory of the curtains failure to
work. Dougherty declared that during a
matinee performance two weeks ago, a
fire broke out In the Iroquois under the
stage. but was extinguished. On that
occasion Dougherty said, an attempt to
lower the fire curtain resulted In Its strik-
ing a plank used as platform from which
It was TO operate spot lights" The same
plank was in place on the day OF the
disaster, said Dougherty. Dougherty de-
clared his belief that the descending cur
tain struck the plank on the day of the
catastrophe. just as 1t did few days be-
fore
The Fuller has agreed to aid the fire
company in every way possible by sup
plying witnesses.
Former Fire Denied.
-.;&h no, ~ arfv 4