The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-02-02
CAUSE OF THE CHICAGO DISASTER

CHICAGO Dec 31-The first shock the playhouse holocaust
over the city officials began investigation into the conditions that
made OF proo tater which 600 pasureseekers
overwhelmed by Of flame from the stage
Twelve Aldermen met the City Hall and organized themselves
into an emergency committee with view placing the blame and tax
ing the of the calamity in other amue
men houses AS the CQuncmen stumbled over the sodden carpets
and debred aises they found evidences of serious violations of
the law that combined to form potent ally for the angel of death In
the y asbestos curtain and closed vntato the stage they
found the Of the draft that swept the flames the galleries while
the doors that opened blind as between the
seats that locked the occupants n they dsceed the conditions that
aided to heap the dead in piles.
No automatic prnkers called for by the ordinance found
the stage and no fire alarm box found the ucture-wo VIC
latons for which Inspector will be called
inquiry into the circumstances of the fire He conferred with Chief
ONe and Fire Marshal Musam tonight inclined attach
the blame to the theer aace who in charge the hrepoot
curtain
The emergency committee climbed over the balconies and examined
the passageways and took general survey the smoke bacened
poscenum and walls At the Building Commissioners Office half an
them and listed the following violations of the Code that contributed
to the extent of the calamity
signs placed over alarm was
installed the premises which resulted delay of several minutes in
summoning the fremen.
Between the first six in the orchestra and boxes there
asles although they the plans This fact judged
responsible for the death twelve who found the main
floor The venaor above the order The
stage was not protected by automatic sprinklers
In the balconies the seats found close together that when
down there no AS evidence OF unauthorized crowd
ing the building permit called for 1902 seats while the eaer license
gave the capacity 1744
attempt place blame
nfractons of the code will be made and the session OF
the City Council special committee will be called for to investigate the
The Iroquos Theae shaped long
The shorter section given of the largest and
handOmes oer and entrances heater the world The foyer
The other angle of the building stretches from the along the
alley called Couch There fourteen exits to the fire
leading alley The ordinary
ally large and accessible The auditorium and the first and second bal
conieshe second balcony being the gaeace west In other
roquos Thaer permitted the
heater from side instead Of from the front OF the auditorium
This method considered the of architectural cevness
people panic slip along OF their dewise and
than they down ase and then work
to the left and right as in the playhoue
the main from the first balcony 1t the upper ethand
corner OF this balcony the doorway leading down the grand mar
stairway probably piled This doorway wide
landing ommodous three drop from the balcony
the great foyer, which opened into Randolph street.
The for the collection Of dead this point such numbers
admittedly this The electric lights suddenly went Out and the dark
complete that the people fell down the three little steps lead
ing from the balcony exit the first grand landing Others pushed
from behind and the doorway which declared to have been partly OBJ
by the swinging DOORS soon cokd with dead and
dying.
Those enough be in the unable move
forward In the darkness they did not know which to turn The
the skin from their faces few breah of this gust proved their
doing within after had happened few still breath
The gallery balcony hundreds victims but this
easily accounted for The exits smaller and the greatest heat pre-
vailed The flames shot from the the gallery
within three minutes after the initial jet Of fire observed
Careful investigation into the fire horror today disclosed three
The sudden shutting off Of all
lights within the time when the people endeavorng
leave their This darkness caused the people stumble
down the those behind piled and all uocated and
killed
spreading stage its
oOkedo communication the auditorium caused for the most part
by $50 called curtain that did work and which had
dropped and had been thoroughly reproo would have off the fiery
tempest and held it within the stage space
Three: The unquestioned failure leading the thea
the fire escape and landings to work when the people made
effort them The doors do not lock with bolts but are held by
perpendicular bar which inclined stick place The iron
levers cecOaed and running order when the crowd at
tempted to open them get the steel stairways,
Minor which contributed bringing the percentage Of
dead that large number of and children actually refused
leave the thea when they death ungis because of fright
affecting and Also the apparent desire OF the tea
employees hold the crowd in heche wish being kndand the
shutting instead of opening of exits
FLEE OF that in