The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1904-01-06
ASBESTOS CURTAIN I'M iROQUOlS
THEATER WOULD NOT WORK
TWO WEEKS AGO.
IMALL FIRE OCCURRED At THAT TINE
MAN IN CHARGE OF CURTAIN
GIVES DAMAGING EVIDENCE
ON EXAMINATION


krosser criminal negligence than any
Thing previously developed was given
under oath in the fire department IN
yeSrtation of the lroquois horror.
Joseph Daugherty. who had charge
Of the curtain, swore that two weeks
AGO during a matinee performance
there was fire on the stage and that
when he attempted TO lower the ashes
tos curtain ii was stopped by the same
obstruction that prevented 1t. opera
ton last Wednesday, the fatal after
noon.
The curtain manager declares fhat
he protested at that time. but that no
attention was paid to his warning. III
his opinion if the curtain had been
run down during the fatal matinee the
lives OF many. if not all. the victims
OF the disaster might have been saved.
1t was only by the merest chance that
a panic was ayerted as the result Of
the first tire. The skylight at that
time. he said, was securely closed
After the interview with Daugherty
Inspector Fulkerson said the rumofs
OF a previous fire at the theater had
been investigated several days ago but
as it had been denied by most Of the
authorities. including VIII J. Davis,
he had been compelled to believe that
the report had had no proper basis.
so far as | can learn, said IN
spector Fulkerson, the fire two weeks
ago was in pile Of combustible mate.
rial back OF the stage and was eX-
tinguished without alarming the audi
enee The fire curtain failed 10 work
and why this warning was disregarded
is a matter that somebody will have
TO explain.
Daugherty's statement was made
under oath
Many Witnesses Subpoenaed.
Arrangements for the inquest over
the bodies of victims of the lroquols
theater fire have been completed by
Coroner Traeeer Everything is now
in readiness for the examination OF
witnesses when the inquiry begins.
Since the day after the fire the Sher-
ifs office has been busy serving sub
poenaes on persons wanted as WIT
nesses. One hundred and forty OF
them have been summoned, among
them being VIII j. Davis and Harry
]. Powers, resident managers of the
Iroquois theater; City Building IN
spector Williams. Chief Of Police
O'Neill and Assistant Chief Schuettler
and Fire Chief Musham.
The coroner spent several hours
during the day in a secret search for
new evidence He examined several
witnesses at their homes. but declined
to make public the result of his inter
views
States Attorney Deneen announces
that no special grand jury will be
called 10 investigate the theater fire
and it's attendant loss of life
THE coroner's Jury is making care
full inquiry into the cause of the fire
an1 it's attendant loss OF life, said he.
"and will undoubtedly fix all responsi-
bility"
Two important witnesses have been
discovered in the persons of Charles
+. Kcaster and Henry Zander real
estate dealers They were passing the
Iroauois theater when the fire broke
ont and attempted TO get into the the
ater. While smoke was issuing from
the cracks in the door they were de-
MED admission They declare that
the doors were kept closed by the ush-
ers and attendants in the lobby for
nearly five minutes after the fire was
discovered on the stage