The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-05

Dance Halls and Other Places Of
Gathering in Chicago
Ordered Closed.
INVESTIGATION is CONTINUED
Chief Usher Of Iroquois Theatre
Placed Under Arrcst--Chargc
Is Manslaughtcr.
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press)
CHICAGO, Jan. AS n result OF tho
1roquois Theatre fire and panic, in which
100 persons lost their lives, Building
Commissioner williams tonight Issued
an order closing all public halls, dance
halls and all similar places Of public as
semblagc until an inspection mas shown
that thcy arc complying wfh all pro.
visions Of the building ordinance. All
the theatres have already been closed.
This leaves Chicago churches and lodge
halls alone open for public gatherings.
AS there are upwards of 400 halls IN
Chicago. ranging in size from those that
will accommodate fifty persons to those
with seating capacity Of 500, this or
der will affect probably6as many persons
as the theatre closing order Protests
were numerous. but tho building commits
sioner was inflexible. Flo said:
MANY OF these halls are worse than
any theatre In Chicago; some OF them
aro put up with no restrictions; such as
govern theatres and many Of them arc
fret Of the worst kind
Two years ago q. general Inspection OF
halls was made before the beginning
Of Building Commissioner Williams nd-
ministration. Notwithstanding this. tho
commissioner declares that he will take
no changes, and that every hall must
satisfy tho requirements.
Deputy Building Commissioner Stanhope
made another inspection Of the Irouuois
ruins to-day to prepare for the ques-
tons. which will be asked by the coroner
and jurors when the Inquest begins.
Mayor Harrison and seven aldermen,
who have been appointed members OF
the City Council Committee to control
Legislation in relation to theatres, met
this afternoon with threatre managers.
every play-hause, excepting tho Great
Northern, being represented. The man
ayers asked IL they, could not open their
houses, and soil seats on the lower floor
only, but the mayor and aldermen re-
fused this request. 1t was declared that
al! places must remain closed until the
ordinance requirements had been fully
met.
DESTROY SKYLIGHrS.
This afternoon attorneys for the fire
DEPARTMENT secured from five witnesses
confederation Of the charges that a
wrecking crew of the Fuller Construc-
ton Company had destroyed the stage
skylights on the day after the disaster.
Fire Inspector Fulkerson said
ut was the intention that these sky
lights should open automatically 70 alloW
| tho escape Of heat and smoke and create
a draft which would draw them upwards
Instead of allowing them to pass over the
audience. But from tho information l
have IL am positive that the opening of the
skyliehts was impossible, because upon
each section Of the lights had been placed
pieces of scanning which remained there
until removed by employees Of the ruler
! Construction Company on Thursday IL
! tcrnoon' .
It has been said by Powers and Davis,
managers Of the Iroquois Theatre, that
| tho house was not filled on "Wednesday
| afternoon ut the time Of the fire. This
| assertion was contradicted this AFTER
noon by Manager Edwin II. Price, OF the
Bluebcard Company. u,
II should say" said Mr.. Prlce, Una
between ninety and one hundred tickets
were sold after the theatre was filled
| The days receipts amounted 70 some
thing more than sl.70o )"
| Little result followed the examination
of seven men of the double octette
which was on the stage when the fire
broke out.
we kent on singing and dancing ant
| did not even know that there was
fire until sparks fell on the stage ant
two girls of the double octette tainted,
said William Sleek.
at is the rule OF the stage that We
| are fined II we turn our faces Tor III
instant from the audience. All know
| ls that we stuck to our work until w
| had to run for our lives
| slecks story was corroborated by TIT
l other six. men.
CLOSED THE DOORS.
| The police to-day arrested George NJ
Dusonbcrry, chief usher Of the theatre
on u charge OF manslnughtcrD usenperr!
declares that he tried to hold back III
| rush OF spectators and helpe dto saw
thirty women from the damned fronts
exits. ii
He is held to furnish evidence on tn
statements made by many people In tn
/, theatre that the ushcrs closed the doors
and that they at first refused to allow
people to pass out.
/ BENJAMIN Solomon, boy who rentSt
opcra glasses in the upper balcony to
i day declared that all tho ushers and at
4 taches closed tho doors and shouted u
i the spcctntors to remain seated, as Their
was no danger.
Coroner Traeger is looking for the chic
scrub woman OF tho theatre, who, II u
said carried all tho keys 70 the door
! and exits Of tho balconies She VIII b.
arrested when found.
In addition to tho managers OF IN
theatre, Will j. Davis and Harry J
] Powers, every employe Of tho theatre
| has been summoned before the inques
Thursday morning. ana many ''onoo'
OF the Bluebeard Company who were no
(, pcrmitted to depart for New York yes
/ terday, will also be called on to testify
John r. Thompson proprietor OF a res
taurant which nd1oins the lro1uois The
atre. has lost tho greater portion OF NJ
4 business since the fire. On the day of IN
disaster Mr.. Thompson threw open NJ
restaurant for the bodies OF tho dead an
wounded. His services We're widely 40
yertiscd in the pnpcrsh driving nearly ~
his patrons away,
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