The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-02
Harrison Shuts Up 19
Theatres and Museums.
NO ASBESTOS DROPS
The Mayor Holds That Had the Ashes
tos Curtain Fallen at the lro-
quois There Would Have
Been Few Lives Lost. A
Day of Mourning.
(By the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press)
Chicago, Ills, Jan. Mayor Carter H.
Harrison today took steps to provide as
far as possible against repetition OF
Wednesdays horror at the Iroquols
Theatre. AS a result of an investigation
made at his orders and lasting but few
hours, 10 theatres and museums were or
dered closed, some of them being among
the leading and most popular play houses
of the city. The act of the mayor was
based on a single violation of the ordl-
nance which are intended to protect the
patrons of theatres from just such an oc-
currence as that which cost so many lives
on Wednesday, This was that everyone
of these places had omitted to supply an
asbestos curtain. The theatres ordered
closed are: Howards, Sam T. Jackson,
Marlowe, New American, Olympia, Acad-
emy of Music Alhambra, Avenue, Bijou,
Chicago Opera House, Columbus Stock,
Thirty-first Street, Criterion, Fiejen-
baums, Milwaukee Avenue, Garrick, and
Glickmans. In addition to these the Lon
don Globe Museum and the Clark Street
Museum were also compelled to close their
doors
The Chicago Opera House and the Olym-
pic theatre are vaudeville houses on the
highest class and probably do as much
salsiness in point of numbers. as any one
of the theatres in the city at single per-
formances They give, however, a matt
nee every day in the week, and it is sell
dom that seats can be obtained for any
performance at the time of opening. In
addition to this they have been accustom-
ed to selling large numbers of tickets for
standing room, and as a general thing
more people are within these places OF
amusement at an average performance
than can be found at any other play house
in the city.
The Carrick Theatre, which was order
ed closed, js small play house on the
northwest side of the city and should not
be confounded with the larger theatre of
the same name situated on Randolph
street, one block west of the Iroquois.
The inspection ordered by the mayor to-
day was carried out by Building Commits
sioner Williams and Chief of Police
O'Neill. The scope of the investigation
included no other feature than asbestos
curtains. The mayor instructed Commits
sioner Williams to report to him prompt
y at the conclusion of his investigation,
declaring that it was his intention that
no theatre should be allowed to open it's
doors in Chicago hereafter unless it is
provided with an asbestos curtain OF
standard quality that would work at all
times and under all conditions.
''It may not be possible" said Mayor
HARRISON, ito prevent loss of life when
audiences rush for the doorways, but
have determined to see that every precau-
ton is taken to prevent such occurrences
as yesterdays, which alarm the people
and start them on a rush for the exits.
1t is all very we'll to say that the great
loss of life in the Iroquois Theatre was
due to the fact that the people lost their
heads and crowded into the doorways and
aisles like maniacs, but the fact remains,
and 1T cannot be denied, that there would
have been no panic if the apparatus in this
theatre. which, judged by all ordinary
standards, was the best equipped play
house in the city, had been in proper
working condition. There is no getting
beyond the fact. From all the evidence
now in hand it is clear that if the ashes
tcs curtain in this theatre had been in the
condition it should have been there would
have been no loss of life, comparatively
speaking"
The report of Building Commissioner
Williams showed that the Academy of
Music, with a seating capacity of 2,OOO
had curtain of burlap The Alhambra
with a seating capacity of 1900, the
Aveneu 1900; the Biiou 300; Clark Street
Museum 270; Criterion 1,4O0; Fiegen-
baums 400; Howards, 900; Marlowe 1900:
New American 1.400, all had curtains of
linen. The curtain in the Chicago Opera
House was of burlap covered with fire
proof paint In the Columbus Stcck
Theatre and in Sam T. Jacks it was of
canvas. The Olympic Theatre. with
seating capacity of about 1000 people
has a curtain of canvas.
"There were other glaring defects" said
Building Commissioner Williar;s. (which
were noticed in some of the houses. but
we were not paying particular attcrtion
10 them today, although l noted them
and the. theatrical managers will BE- com
PEELED &c remedy them as soon as posi-
bln.
Such q day of mourning Chicago never
witnessed as that which ushare1 III INC
New Year In every portion of the city
almost. it seemed as though there were
funerals going, or undertaking wagons ar
irving with dead who were being brought
to their homes, for the last time While
the funeral professions were moving
through the snow-covered streets to vari-
Gus cemeteries, the throng about the