New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-26
JURY HOLDS HARRISON.
FOR THE IROQUOLS FIRE.
Mast Ans5Uer Nth Others for s591
Deaths.

Chicago, Jan. 25-The coroner's jury which
for three weeks has been hearing evidence relat-
ing TO the fire in the Iroquois Theatre tonight
returned a verdict by which the following per-
sons are held to await the action Of a grand
jury:
CARTER H. HARRISON. Mayor of Chicago.
WILL J. DAVIS, proprietor in part and manager of
GEORGE WILLIAMS. Building Commissioner of
EDWARD LAUGHLIN building inspector under
WILLIAM sALLERs, fireman in the theatre.
JAMES E. CUMMINGS. stage carpenter
, WILLIAM MULLEN, who had charge Of the light
that caused the FIRE.
WILLIAM II. SIUsHANI Chief of Chicago Fire Do
partment
1t was not generally thought that the jury
would be able to make report so promptly, and
when it retired to consider the evidence Coroner
Traeger announced that he did not expect
verdict before tomorrow morning. There was
considerable surprise when the jury announced
shortly before II o'clock that it had reached a
verdict and was ready to report.
1t at once decided by the coroner that
all the men held for the grand jury should be
taken into custody at once. He therefore pre-
pared warrants for their arrest, and called on
the police to serve the warrants
Il do not expect that all these men will try
TO escape" said the Coroner. but some OF them
who have not large property interests might
take it into their heads to leave Chicago.
do not intend that there shall be any mistakes
in that direction laid TO my department II
can cause the arrest of one OF them, am COM
PEELED to cause the arrest Of all, and there will
be no favoritism shown"
The officers sent for the had orders to
take them to the county Jail for the night II
they could not furnish bail.
When the coroner's jury retired for its de-
liberation it had before IT 10000 words of testi-
mony given by 572 persons.
The Iroquois Theatre fire occurred az a matt
nee performance of Mr. Bluebeard." at which
more than 1000 people We're present. In few
minutes JG3 people had been burned. tramPled
or amothered TO death. and those who disa
result OF the fire brought the death list finally
10 591
The fire is suppcced 10 have started by some
Of the scenery coming into contact with a light.
In an instant there was a wild stampede from
the first and second balconies. occupied almost
exclusively by women and children. There was
an iron gate at the foot of the stairs leading to
each balcony. and against these the crowd
surged, finally tearing them away. but not until
many had fallen.
In q few minutes the foot Of the stairways
was cEOEed by mass of dead and injured
Two calcium tanks exploded and added 10 the
pan'c. Those who had remained calm and had
stayed in their seats were slowly making
their way out stunned by the conclusion
and were sufocated or burned before they re-
covered.
The investigation begun the next day showed
mat the fire curtain had stuck halfway down.
anOrding no protection 70 the audience Efayo-
Harrison Immediately ordered nineteen theatres
and music halls closed, and followed that order
a feW days later with one closing every show
house in town. Three days after the fire Will
lam j. Davis and Harry J. Powers managers Of
the theatre, were held in $4,000 bah by the
coroner, pending the inquest