The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-06
MAY NOT REOPEN
Many Chicago Theaters Must
Go Out of Business
Or Be Rebuilt II Present Ordi-
nances Be Enforced.
FACTS COMING OUT.
Skylights Were Fastened Down
by Wire and Scantling.
Theatrical Business of Entire
Country Disarranged.

Chicago, Jan. 6.-The special commit
tee composed of members of the city
council appointed to investigate the
condition of the local theaters and to
report upon what alterations are neces-
sary to make them conform to the
building ordinances has held its first
meeting.
According to the statement of Alder
man Friestedt, one of the members of
the committee, it is doubtful if 45 per
cent of the theaters ever will reopen
their doors. Strict adherence to the
building law would require that every
one of the playhouses in the city be of
fire proof construction and this would
require the demolition and rebuilding
of the majority of the theaters.
Alderman Jones, chairman of the COM
mittee said:
Eve will first revise the building or
dinances. Then we will visit the the
aterS and decide what alterations will
be necessary to make the construction
OF the houses conform to the law.
"Of course the owners of the theaters
will do nothing until they know just ex-
actly what the amended ordinances will
demand of them. but they will be
obliged to reconstruct their theaters to
conform with the ordinance we are go
ing to propose
Alderman Friestedt declared:
Some of the leading theaters in Chi
cago can not conform to the ordinances
unless they are entirely rebuilt, and
they may find it too expensive to make
that change I do not believe over So
per cent of them will ever open again,
anyhow"
The attorneys of the fire department
have caused the arrest of four en-
ployeS of the Fuller Construction COM
pany. David Jones. a masonry fore
man, and Angus McKely, Otto Rausch
and John Kingston, iron workers. At
torneys for the Fuller company took
Jones who had been sought by the po-
lice for several days to the fire depart
ment- 1t had been charged Jones and
his men broke the skylight on the the
alter after the fire to destroy evidence
It developed after the arrest of Jones
and his men that the skylights were
blocked by Scantlins and tied with wire
to prevent their opening and neither
of them had been opened since the the
alter was built Jones, in making his
statement to the fire department, said:
Il took the three iren workers with
me up through an adjoining building
and out upon the theateF roof over the
stage. First I removed the wooden
scantling, which blocked the skylights.
Then 1 found the lights tied with wire
inside, and broke two panes of glass
to get the wires to unite them. I final
ly got the wires off and opened the
lights
Jones was asked why he went to the
roof of the theater, and replied that he
had been told that the north wall had
cracked in the fire and went to see if 1t
was true He declared he had loOsened
the skylights because he was afraid
they would fall through and injure
somebody on the stage
Why take three iron workers with
you to inspect a brick WALTZ asked
F'ulkerson.
Jones was confused. but finally an
swered the men went with him
through curiosity.
Numerous witnesses who were in an
adjoining building overlooking the the
alter testified the skylights were not
open during the fire.
Coroner Traeger said he was almost
ready for the inquest. which will COM
mence Thursday morning. Il wish it
understood" he said. this is not a
trial but simply an inquiry to deter
mine the facts OF the fire as far as we
can. The coroner will not ATTEMPT to
fix the blame on anybody. nor will the
jury recommend the punishment of
anybody. 1t will simply report on the
facts. and the rest of the work will be
left for the states attorney If it is
found there is anything for him to do. "
according to the managers of the local
theaters the closing OF the playhouse IN
this city has disarranged the theatrical
business of the entire country Com
panies that have been booked for this
suspended 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, claim
ing that large sums of money in insurance
on lives of those who persisted in the fire
depend for their payment on the verdict
of the coroner's jury and attorneys for
the relatives of those who died declare
that verdict should be given in each
narticular case Of death in order that col
lection of insurance may be possible.