Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-02

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Davis, one of the managers of the thea
ter, for failing to properly equip the the
alter as demanded by the city ordinances
and for failure to properly drill and in
struct his employees. Carter II. Harri-
son. Mayor of the city of Chicago be
cause of lamentable lack of force in his
attempt to shift the responsibility upon
his subordinates, whose inefficient work
under his administration forms a menace
to the city; Building Commissioner
George Williams because he grossly neg
lected his duty i'll permitting the Iro-
q dis Theater to open before the building
was complete and fully equipped in com
pliance with the building ordinances; Ed
ward Loughlin, building inspector. be-
cause of gross neglect of duty in care
less inspection of the theater and report
ing it 20. k; Fire Marshal William H.
Musham, because of neglect of duty III
failing TO enforce the ,ity ordinances re-
lating to his department and for failure
to exact report from William Saller,
the fireman stationed at the theater;
William Saller, because of gross neglect
in not reporting the lack of fire appara-
tus ana appliances; William McMullen,
the food light operator, because of neg
lect and carelessness; James L. Cum
mings, because of gross neglect of duty
in failing to properly equip the stage
with fire fighting appliances.
The laxity and carelessness Of city
officials was censured and revision of
the manner in which city business is
transacted is demanded of the Mayor and
City Council Immediately.
The jury advises classified printed lists
for the building department, separate
passageways for fire escapes, absolutely
freproof scenery and stage parapherna-
liza, steel curtains REINFORCED with as
bestos curtains and held by steel cables,
two electric mains for all places of
amusement and two iremen.
1t recommends the close study of city
ordinances by all city employees and adj
'Tises an examination before awarding
positions. The office and detail work of
the fire department should be taken out
Of the hands of the fire marshal and in
trusted to some person specially fitted
FOR the work.
The Mayor of Chicago. his building
commissioner ard his fire marshal, the
pany and four other persons were placed
under arrest. in accordance with the YER
diet of the CORNERS jury holding them
responsible for the disaster of Dec 30
They are to be held until discharged by
due process of law The bonds Of
Mayor Harrison. Musham, Davis and
Williams were fixed at $1,000 and the
remainder of the defendants $1,000. Will
liam McMullen, the man who operated
the fatal food light went TO jail in de-
fault of fnding bondsmen.
Say City Is Liable.
Chicago, it is claimed. is made liable
for nearly $10,000000 damages by the
verdict of the coroner's jury which holds
Mayor Harrison, Chief Musham, Build
Ing Commissioner Williams and Inspec
tor Loughlin responsible and declares
them guilty of neglect in connection with |
the IroQuois Theater horror.
The lawyers are certain that the YER
dict of the coroner's jury will be follow |
ed by deluge Of suits The question |
as to the responsibility of the city in the
deaths and injuries they hold to be prae
tically settled by the verdict.
II Chicago is forced to pay the dam
age claims that are thus heaped up /
against it the city will be bankrupt by /
the Iroquois disaster. The damages for
which the city may be held liable are as
follows:
572 killed IS. 30. 600 /
2Io seriously injured 1905 100000
200 minor injuries. .... 1000, 600
Suits by theatrical companies. 100000
That the verdict gives the claimants
For damages 3, oasis sor action against
the city and adds strength 10 their claims
IS agreed by lawyers Those suits al
ready filed amounting 10 nearly $1,000
200, name the city of Chicago as q party,
with the theater mana gers. and others