The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-04
CHICAGO AROUSED
Mayor Harrison Threatens to
Close Churches and Hotels.
Office Buildings, Stores and Fac
tories Nay Be Included.
WILL ENFORCE LAWS.
Council Will Be Given Chance
to Amend Them First.
A Number of Present Require
ments Deemed Unnecessary.

Chicago, Jan. 4.-Notice served by
Mayor Harrison of a possible whole
sale closing not merely of theaters. but
of churches. stores, office buildings
factories, hotels and private residences,
has aroused the city
Before the mayor proceeds to ex-
tremes the city council will be given a
chance to revise the laws and strike
out provisions which are held to be
unjust to property owners and not
essential to safety.
The council once having acted or
having decided not to act, then the
laws are to be enforced. AS the ordi-
nances stand at present, strict enforce
ment it is stated would paralyze busi-
ness, professional and Industrial. inter-
ests of the city. For that reason Mr.
Harrison viii give the council an op-
portunity of acting.
The immediate effect of the mayors
declaration will be revision of the laws.
That regarding the inclosing of eleya-
tors which, if it We're enforced now
would close nearly every office build
ing, store and hotel in the city, is in
the hands of the city council judiciary
committee, has been partly amended
and now is practically before the coun-
Gil for final adoption by the aldermen.
This amendment will make it unnec-
eSsary for fire proof buildings to have
enclosed elevator shafts which are con-
sidered as Offering no greater safety
and as imposing unnecessary hardships
on the elevator operators and the pas
sengers.
Then the council may find it advis-
able to repeal the ordinance providing
fire escapes on private residences OF
four or more stories in height.
Churches are mentioned as fragrant
offenders against the building laws:
placing chairs in the aisles, of having
infammable material on the platforms,
especially at such celebrations as
Christmas and of not having the proper
number of exits in some cases.
Some congregations it is said, wor-
ship in buildings which would be con-
demned as fire traps if used for large
gatherings of people for any other pur-
poses.
The aldermen are found considerably
averse at this time to striking out any
clauses which provide for the safety of
occupants, but a number of the re-
quirements are held to be necessary and
these may be eliminated.
Whatever action may be taken by the
aldermen, one things seems sure-there
is to be an enforcement of ordinances
in Chicago, such as an easy going city
has not known for many years.
CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
Chicago, Jan. 4.-Inspector Fulkerson
said today:
ct have determined that the Iroauois
fire originated from the contact of
linen curtain with an intensely hot and
inadequately protected light. I have
determined that the curtain stuck be-
cause a piece of stage mechanism in
normal operation was directly in the
path of the descent of the fire shield. 1
know that the fire was driven under
the SUSPENDED curtain by the rush of
cold air into the stage when some one
opened the stage door.
'I have evidence that the automatic
skylights over the stage did not open
they should have done and create
hue through which the flames. smoke
and heated air on the burning stage
parent that the exits were not ad-
equate. The next step is fixing the re-
sDonsibilitY."
FIXING RESPONSIBILITY.
Chicago, Jan 4.-The investigation
into the Iroquois fire horror has passe4
beyond the stage of cause, seeking co
fix responsibility for causes
This work was taken up today by Fire
Inspector Monroe Fulkerson, who has
the assistance and cooperation of the
chief of police and of Coroner Traeger.
Every employe of the theater. both on
the stage and in the auditorium, is on
the list summoned for investigation.
Witnesses to the number Of IS viii
be examined.
Upon Treasurer John ]. Noonan of
the Iroquois theater, Chief O'Neill has
levied for the pay rolls or the mouse,
giving the names of the employees From
officials other data concerning these en-
ployes have been sought
Although the police interposed no OBJ
lection when the members of the Mr.
Blue Beard company left for the east,
some of the actors may be brought back
to add their testimony to that of the
sixteen members who have been ar
rested
NONRESIDENT VICTIMS NUM-
Chicago Jan. 4-The number of Iro-
uuois fire victims who lived in places
elsewhere than this city is remarkable.
The health department has issued
burial permits to the number of 233 for
the bodies of persons who lived outside
of Chicago.
All of the stage hands and members
of the Blue Beard company were ad-
mitted to bail today. Their hearing was
continued till January II.
IDENTIFIED BY HER TEETH.
Chicago. Jan 4.-After A. S Dixon
had searched morgues and hospitals in
vain for three days. often looking upon
the body of his wife but failing to rec
ognize it. the family dentist who had
worked on Mrs. Dixon's teeth five years
ago identified the body among the
Iroquois dead at the county morgue to-
day Mr. Dixon himself then recog-
nized the body as that of his wife.
Mrs Dixon went to the theater with
her daughters. Edna, 8 years old, and
Leah, aged IS years. The dead bodies
of both little girls were identified at
the outset.
SCHOOLS CLOSED.