New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-01
JURY At THE SCENE.

This evening the coroner's jury. which had
spent the day in visiting the various morgues,
was taken by Coroner Traeger to the theatre.
The jury first went to the stage and Deputy
Coroner Buckley pointed out the spo; where the
fire was discovered. The seats in the first ten
rows on the first floor were brrned. bur back
Of that the orchestra chairs were in good condi-
tion. In one corner of the stage a pile OF
brass spears and armor used In the production
Of Mr. Blue Beard" Ill that was visible OF
the $50 pieces Of a",pery used in the extrdva-
ganza were small piles Of ashes where the
scenery had dropped and burned on the stage
The steel frames Of the arc lights. one Of which
is said to have caused the catastrophe, were
piled in confusion near the front Of the stage.
The jury questioned Coroner Traeger regard
! ing the asbestos curtain, that had oecoHe iast-
| ened when an attenlp. was made 10 lower II.
Il do not understand why this asbestos cur
| tain was put In unless II could be used uhueF
| all conditions in case of Are" said Juror Cum
mings.
| Inspecting the stage frequently remarked that
! the protection against fire seemed 10 them TO
/ have been Inadequate The jury thee climbed
/ the stairway leading TO the first balcony. Here
| the plush covering of the seats was found 70
| be burned on every seat from wall to wall ana
| from the front row Of the balcony to the last
! An inspe. ti3n was made OF the exits leading TO
| the fire escapes at the north end OF the building
9Th ;e doors much too small; they should
have been three times as large said Juro:
| Finn
! IRON DOORS CLOSED AND LOCKED.
! The iron doors wer. closed and locked. and it
was then seen that the Inner doors were close
TO the steel shutters that they could not be
| opened with the shutters fastened. This exit is
| not sufficiently high for an ordinary sized man
| 10 walk through without stopping. and when the
Jurors learned this fact by personal experience
| there was considerable comment among them.
I The Jury then assembled to the top gallery.
! where the greatest loss Of life occurred.
Coroner Traeger pointed TO the balcony rail.
which was bent in several places. and said that
q number of spectators had Jumped through
| these openings to the lower floor. An inspection
was then made Of the exits leading to the fire
escape, and the Jurors told that the bodies
OF the dead were piled ten feet high in front of
these doors when the police reached the scene
after the fire.
| criminally negligent" said Juror Finn
The exits are too small. anyway" said Fore
man Meyer. as he measured the doors leading TO
| In both balconies there We're hundreds OF grew
some relics OF the catastrophe scattered between
! the seats where they had been dropped by the
| terrified victims. There score or more
rubber Shoes muffs handker chiefs, gloves. chill
I drens woollen hoods and mittens. A gold
| trimmed comb was found with the inscription,
From Jack to Lottie. Christmas. 1903" Under
| one seat was found a tiny doll. which had evil
IDENTIFY been taken to the theatre by httle girl.
The Jurors were deeply affected by the sight as
| they sorted over the relics Of the disaster.
At the conclusion of the inspection Of the thea
tire il was decided TO continue the inquest until
next Thursday morning at o'clock.
ARCHITECTS TAKE ACTION
From the action of committee Of prominent
! architects OF Chicago at a meeting to-nght may
| result a recommendation to Mayor Harrison to
| close every theatre in the city until its exits
and construction have been examined. This idea
| was suggested to President Beaumont OF tho
| Chicago Architects Association to-day by w. a
| Pridmcre architect who LOST relatives in the
| fire. President Beaumont refused to make the
| recommendation TO Mayor Harrison personally,
| but called an informal meeting OF the associa-
ton at which IT decided that a larger gath
ering Of the members would be held tomorrow.
and action would be decided upon at that time.
| Mayor Harrison said tonight:
| see no more reason for closing all the thea
tres than for stopping all railway trains after a
| disastrous wreck. There is no necessity of get
| ting hysterical about this matter although this
horrible disaster has taken place In probably the
! safest theatre in Chicago.
THEATRES MUST HAVE FIREMEN.
The Mayor tonight sent the following letter
| TO all proprletors Of theatres in the city:
the City Council report on the theatres of Chi
cago. calling the attention Of the CounciI IN tba
| faiiure OF all the theatres tc comply fully with
| tHe terms or the onHolng ordinance relative to
| places OF amusement The Council sent the com
| munlcation TO the Committee on Iudjciarv for
| CONSIDERATION, and, pending reDort FROM, ,tot
| soI.linlttee directed The Commissioner of Build
"sS 70 suspend enforcement OF the ordinance.
fhe city ordinance. among other thing. re-
| CURES each theatre 20 employ a fireman. 10 be
| approved py the Chief Of the Fire Department
| --.-
! To Cure a Cold In One Day
| Take Laxative Bromo QUINN. Tab.,. Am ,,.u,.
| s.s money II II falls 10 z. W. Grevs's