The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-01-08
LES. talk,
MORE WORK.
rs PROPOSED BY THE CHI
cAGo ALDERMEN.
The Present is No Time
For Censure.
PROBING THEATRE FIRE.
PROBING THEATRE FIRE

Many Evidences Of Gross Negligence
Discovered by the Fire Inspector
Thrilling Statement by One Of the
Survivors Windows, Through
Which Escape Might Have Been
Made, Closed With Iron Doors.
Chicago, an. 4.-"Let us do things
and not say things" So said Alder
man William Maver at the city hall
this morning before big delegation
OF aldermen assembled with the may
or to consider sane and wise pro-
gram of action for tonight's council
meeting.
As the sentiment expressed by the
sixth ward alderman was approved
by many other aldermen, 1t is evident
that the council will pass no resolu-
tions Of censure.
"This is no time for censure," said
Alderman Maver. "The city officials
recognize their responsibility, and it
is Just as well for us to wait a while.
The council has not time to censure.
II must recognize that it is the time
for, work.
Nearly every alderman has some
plan or suggestion on theaters.
The managers propose that the
council give them authority to open
their houses pending alterations on
condition that seats, be occupied on
the ground floor. The managers urge
this not to make money for them
selves, but to find a way of continuing
the pay of their employees. The clos
ing down of the houses has thrown
over 10000 persons out,sof employ
ment. -.,.s,sss-
Evidence of neglect in~the Iroquois
theater fire was brought out before
the fire Inspector and In tother places
this afternoon as follows:
No attempts were made to lower the
so-called asbestos, curtain, 1t was not
touched by the stage hands. The sky.
lisht ventilators on the roof over the
stage were tampered with after the
fire on Thursday morning by men
working under the alleged guidance of
superintendent Jones OF the George
A. Fuller Constellation company.
Inspector Fuller wasakept busy all
morning examing Witnesses who tes-
titled to the conditions OF the air
shafts and skylights ns.the night OF
the fire. Testimony showed that the
slides at the top of the shafts were
wedged by boards and that they
could not have been opened except
by man crawling on the roof and
smashing them open with an axe.
The fire inspector believes that this
testimony is most important and made
public a statement in which he said
that II the slides could shave been
worked properly the loss of life would
not have been nearly what it was.
Windows .of the lroquois theater
through which many people might
have escaped, were closed and cover
cd with sheet iron doors.
This is shown by the experience of
Mrs. Maud Mcdonald Mickey, who
today, after recovering from the
shock for the first time was able
to relate the details of her escape.
More than half dozen windows on
the first floor within easy reach of
these occupying seats in the orches-
sra circle were closed and covered
on the outside by iron doors whose
bolts had rusted or would not loosen.
Only one of those windows respond
ed to the frantic efforts of dozen
people. Many persons, Mrs Mickey
believes, fell dead while trying to
open other windows.
Mrs. Mickey saw the flames start
ed In the scenery, but did not get out
Of her seat until the heat became in
tense and people around her began to
faint said Frank Mickey. husband
OF the woman. Then she ran first
toward the rear and then toward the
burning stage, but finally was attract
ed by the breaking Of glass at the
window.
"A man was there trying to force
open the iron door covering the win.
dow and scores were crowding that
way. The window was tightly bolt.
ed or blocked and would not loosen
readily. All the time they were try.
ing to force 1t, people were falling and
being burned to death. When the
door swung open and the cold air
rushed In there was a mad rush My
wife jumped to the ground, falling on
people and with other persons falling
on her, Her hair had been singed and
she was almost exhausted from shock
A boy jumped from an upper window
and nearly killed her. The distance
from the lower windows to the
ground In the alley was only few