The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-03
ONE THEATER OPEN
All THE OTHERS IN CHICAGO
HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
AuDIToRIUM'S STEEL CURTAIN
All THAT SAVED 1T FROM BEING
ALSO CLOSED.

DF.aaxements of the Theaters
Sought TO Have Mayor Harrison
Reconsider His Order Closing
Them-He Was Obdurate-Deter-
mined That no other Such CaIam-
itv as THAT at the IrOquOis The
ater Shall Occur.
Chicago, Jan. 2.-To-night every
theater in the city of Chicago is dark
and with doors locked. Not one of
them will be open to the public until
it's managers have complied in the
fullest manner with every section of
the ordinances regulating playhouses.
The order compelling the theaters to
close was issued this afternoon by
NTavor Harrison, after conference
with Corporation Counsel Tolman, who
assured the Mayor that ample legal
ground existed for his action. Six
teen theaters and museums were closed
last night, and the sweeping order of
the Mayor to-day shut the doors of
seven more. These last are the lead
ing theaters in the business section of
the city and are the Studebaker,
Graund Opera House. Bush Temple,
Calumet, Clevelands. Great Northern,
Haymarket, Hopkins, Peoples Insti-
tute. Trocadero, Columbus, McVickers,
IaSalle, Garrick and Illinois and the
Powers. The last two are owned and
controlled by Messrs. Powers & Davis,
the managers of the ill-fated Iroquois.
The Garrick closed to-day is not to
be confounded with the Garrick Thea
ter closed yesterday, it being one of
the largest playhouses in the city,
while the one concerning which action
was taken yesterday is a much smaller
affair in the northwestern portion of
the city.
The sixteen places of amusement
which were shut last night were closed
for the one reason that they were not
provided with an asbestos curtain.
The further action taken to-day is in
consequence of violations Of other Sec
tions of the ordinance regulating the
aters.
There was hasty rush of theatrical
managers to the office of Mayor Har-
rison in the effort to secure the with
drawal, or at least, a postponement of
the order, but their reception was of
an exceedingly frosty nature.
They We're Informed by the Mayor
tha5 the inspectors had reported in
the case of every one of them viola
tions of the law, and he was determin-
ed that it should not be said hereafter
that the city had neglected anything
which could prevent repetition of the
horror of last Wednesday afternoon.
Only Steel Curtains Safe.
The fact that the asbestos curtain
IN the Iroquois Theater was so badly
wrecked by the fire that charred pol
tions of it have been carried away by
various Investigating committees
caused the Mayor to decide that as
bestos curtains could not be relied
upon to afford the most complete pro-
lection. It was announced that every
theater in the city must hereafter COM
ply with the following provisions be-
fore they will be allowed to open:
Steel roll curtains, wide exits, no COM
bustibles of any kind in the hoEse
furnishings, fire proofed scenery, no
calcium or spot lights to be used on
the stage, sky lights above the stage
provided with automatic lids to per-
NIT the egress of smoke, fire and gas;
separate stairways each exit having its
own stairs leading to the street.
TAIbCI lSSulHB his sweeping OIuGEy
Mayor Harrison said:
Il do not wish to assume RESPONSE
bility for these theaters. The order
was issued to make it certain that
no precaution to insure the safety of
audiences had been neglected. 1t is
quite probable that the owners of the
theaters may sustain serious financial
loss, but in view of the condition of
the playhouseS we cannot take any
risk, and if the law had been fully
complied with in the first place there
would have been no question of clos
ing them now. The auditorium, which
IS the only theater left open in Chi
cago, has a steel roll curtain, and as
this seems to be the only curtain that
affords absolute protection against fire
in view of the fact that the Iroquois
curtain was destroyed. 1 have deter
mined as far as possible to see that
the other playhouses are similarly pro-
yi0ed."
IrOquOis PrOprietOrs Arrested.
Will ]. Davis and Harry Powers
proprietors of the Iroquois Theater,
and Building Commissioner Williams
are under arrest, charged with man
slaughter. They have been released on
100000 bond and Their hearing
rants for their arrest were
sworn out by Arthur Hull who lost
his wife and three children in the fire.
Mr.. Hull explained that his acton was
not inspired by any motive OF ven
geance. but sumply to make it GER
tain that the owners of the theater
should not escape any chance of pun
lshment that was rightfully theirs,
While stage hands and electricians and
other employees were compelled to sutS
fer.
1t is a noteworthy fact that Build
ing Commissioner Williams, who is
now charged with manslaughter in
connection with the greatest fire hor-
ror the country has ever experienced
owes his appointment to a tragedy
OF similar nature, but of much less
extent, which occurred two years ago.
Mr.. Williams predecessor vacated his
ONCE after the burning of st. Luke's
5anitarium at Twentieth street and
wabash avenue. This was the instl-
luton In which q score of men suf-
iering from delirium tremens were
burned to death while strapped to
Iheir beds. Mr.. Williams was selected
win the Idea that he was the proper
HIan TO see that no such catastrophe
could happen again
henector Caused the Disaster.
Fire Inspector Fulkerson tonight
announced that he had finally discov-
sreo the secret Of the fire. The asbes-
~. Ss curtain, upon which the safety Of
me audience depended, was, according
w MT. FulkerHon. blocked In its de-