The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1904-01-05
FIRE INSPECTOR SEEKING TO FIX
RESPONSIBILITY FOR GILL
CGoO CATASTROPHE.
ORIGIN OF THE BLAZE DETERMINED
LINEN CURTAIN CAME IN CON
TACT WITH AN INTENSELY
HOT FLOOD LIGHT.

Chicago. Jan. 5.-The investigation
into the Iroquois fire horror has passed
beyond the stage of cause seeking to
that Of fixing responsibility for causes.
This work was taken up during the
day by Fire Inspector Fulkefson, who
has the assistance and cooperation OF
the chief of police and of Coroner
Traeper. Every employe of the the
ater, both on the stage and in the
auditorium are on the list summoned
for investigation. Witnesses to the
number of sixty-fiye will be examined
Inspector FulFerson said:
Il have determined that the fire
originated from the contact of linen
curtain with an intensely bot and in.
adequately protected flood light.
have determined that the curtain stuck
because a piece of stage mechanism
in normal operation was directly IN
the path of the descent of the fire
shield | 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
Il have evidence that the automatic
skylights over the stage did not open
as they should have done and create
a fue through which the flames, smoke
and heated air on the burning stage
could have found vent Il is ap-
parent that the exits were not ade-
quate The next step is fixing the re-
sponsiblity
Fire Inspector Fulkerson has init
y, L., al
against Superintendent Jones, alleged
TO have led a "wrecking crew of EN-
ployes Of the George A. Fuller Con
struction company in the smashing or
glass and opening of ventilators on the
roof of the Iroqudis theater over the
stage. apparently to destroy evidence
of possible criminal negligence.
Saw the VentIators Smashed.
Inspector Fulkerson looked at the
ventilators on the theater roof and
subpoenaed half dozen persons in
the Real Estate BOARD bpilding, an
adjoining structure. who assert thai
they saw the yeEtilators smashed and
opened after the fire. The Fuller Con
structiOn company were the builders
of the Iroquois theater.
Not satisfied by previous inspection
the coroners jury during the day
made a second tour of the iroquois the.
ater The jury spent three hours In
the building Contrary TO announce
ment the Jury aid not take experts
with them, the members evidently pre-
ferring 10 make their own inyestiga.
tion without advice from outsiders.
The jury spent half an hour on The
stage sitting The debris piled on the
charrel floor. but no trace was found
OF the alleged asbestos curtain On The
wire cables with which il Is said to be
hung search was made for the
proscenium border lights. which Ii rs
said made il impossible TO lower the
asbestos curtain. but neither could
they be found. After exploring every
part OF the building, including the
basement. the entire investigating
party Went to The roof of the theater,
where a careful examination Of the
skylight dues and ventilatng ap-
paratns was made The glass in the
skylieht was found TO be broken and
all the tlues and pipes We're open
Coroner Traeger has received infor-
nation that more than half of the
stage hands were in a saloon near the
stage door drinking beer when the
fire was discovered Ii has been
learned that the smaller stage door
opened in and not out. as the city or
dinance requires. and that it was torn
from its hinges when the stampede of
chorus girls occurred
All OF The stage hands and members
of the "Bluebeard' company We're adj
mitted 10 bail during the day Their