New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
jROOUOIS MANAGERS HELD
zLL THEATRES CLOSED.
No More Performances in Chicago
Until Al La7cs Are Obeyed.

d.
ers, managers Of the Iroquois Theatre. with City
building Commissioner Williams were to-day
held under bonds OF $4,000 each. Colonel Will
lem Pinkerton and Charles H. Pamondon fur
rished bonds for Davis end Powers. Andrew ].
Graham e banker furnished bonds for Commits
s.ouer Williams. The hearing OF the cases was
set for January l..
Arthur 7. Hull. whose family perished in the
theatre fire. and who was the complainant.
present when the two theatre managers and
Commissioner Williams were arranged at the
home Of Justice Underwood. where thev went
with their counsel. Mr.. Hulls attorney said:
sboSsa s 10 ' refrain fo oaGens a one any iT n
necessary annoyance. In view OF the Investigation
I.at his proceeding can properly be continued
these r1ea under bonds and o hold them by means
Of legal process: second Mr. I!9ll desires TO spur
catastrophe' thild /! }he official investigation Is
r:ae5Taehea & ONO sS N ITy ms procgfGhg WI! Nh
keystons o5 5he NEoie affair It a92ea[eG to ny M
others who occupied much more prominent posi-
ors were allowed 10 go free lie feels thar tbs
sporsibhty ought 10 be fixed upon whoever is
The attorney for Davis and Powers said
On behalf Of Dssis and Powers. ! viii say that
they are going 10 meet the, issue sauarely. Both
7ond 70 act their Part as men Shouts
Davis appeared 20 feel the stain under which
the defendants have been more acutely than the
others. As newspaper photogra piers took flash
light pictures OF the group in the house during
the signing of the bonds Davis would invariably
Jump when the powder touched Off. and
gave other indications of extreme nervousness.
MAYOR CLOSES EVERY THEATRE.
Mayor Harrison to-day ordered the closing
Of every theatre il the city. without exception.
until il has been definitely ascertained that they
supplementary 10 his order of last night, which
closed seventeen theatres. about half the total
number Of playhouses in the city. In issuing
the order for every playhouse to be closed, the
Mayor made the unqualified statement that
they were all violators Of the city ordinances.
ana that none would be permitted to open its
doors until it absolutely complied with every
requirement Of the ordinances.
In conference to-day with Corporation Coun-
sci Tolnan. the Mayor found legal grounds for
his action During most Of the day the Mayor
was busy studying the reports OF the Building
Commissioners about precautions against fire
a. the various theatres. The closing Of seven
teen houses last night. because of the absence
OF asbestos curtains. it thought would be
followed by further restrictions. Managers who
visited the Mayors Office to have notifications
% the order repulsed. From the discus
sion relative curtains came the conclusion
70 close ths katres wholesale.
The Mayor Inquiries led him TO consult not
cniy the legal depsrsyneet but Fire Chief Mus
ham and Building Inspector Williams. He told
the heads OF departments that he would not
hare it said that as Mayor OF the city he had
.-ft anything undone TO prevent a repetition OF
Wednesdays horror. II all theatres were closed
urtil the Building law was revised by experts
he SAID Tho good that such action might do
would never be discounted.
FLOOD" LIGHT CAUSED FIRE.
Wi!!iam McMalIen. manager OF the spot light,
which is alleged 20 have caused the fire I'm the
lToquois Theatre. testified at the Investigation
today that the spot light had nothing to do
WIKI the fire. which ne said, was caused by the
heat from the food light, used 10 flood the
theatre McMuen said that his spot light was
turned ont when the fire started He was look
ing up al the nooc light, and saw the amsy bor-
der blow directly over the food light The heat
from this light. he alleges. caused the fire. The
city electrician followed with testimony that the
heat from the food light was sufficient to cause
the fire
A mass Of evidence throwing important light
on the fire obtained from stage employees by
Coroner Traeger to-day, and will be submitted
10 the coroner's jury when that body meets next
Thursday 10 hear testimony. The coroner has
learned that Stage Carpenter Cummings is the
man who superintendent the fitting out Of the
rigging loft and responsible TO the owners
a. the theatre for the operation of everything on
The stage. If the city ordinances were not com
Piled with in regard to the necessary safeguards
from fire behind the curtain, it was Cummings
duty 10 inform the owners and managers of the
house
Joseph Dougherty. who is now In one of the
hospitals suffering from broken leg, was HI.
man who attempted 10 lower the asbestos cur
tain. lie says that the reason it stuck and
would not come down was shat it stuck on the
arc spot light in the first entrance near the ton
~ the prosceniurn arch.
From the stage hands Coroner Traeger learned
the cause Of the mysterious explosion which oc
CURED shortly after the fire was discovered II
was the falling Of the big fan scene which con-
tanned eighty incandescent electric lights This
scene was not In use at the time OF the fire buf
was IN the rear Of the stage The opening ~
tae oouble doors created a draught which caused
'he, scene 10 topple over and break the incap
descent bulbs. This produced noise like an
explosion. The stage hands deny that there was
calcium tank on the stage at the time OF IN.
IRE.
THOUSANDS OF FEET OF OILY ROPE FED
FLAMES.
Coroner Traeger has learned that .acb =, .,o
$50 drop scenes in the house was hung y,tb
new oily, manila rope. II is estimated that
there were 1900 lneaI feet OF this innsroroshr.
material used in supporting the drop scenes
And that IL added fuel to the flames IN m. r,g-
giag loft
'~o9one- Trssger to-day sent q letter 10 Mavor
Asrrison suggesting that a public funeral bs
heia Tor the unidentified victims The coroner
Stss mat he Is Of the opinion that fhe l,odias ~,