Evening journal., 1904-01-01
CHICAGO WEEPS
FOR ITS DEAD
CONTINUED fr0m FIRST ragel
BUILDING Laws VIOLATED
Theatre Had No Automatic sprinkIers
Or Fire Tower On STAGE.

Or Fire Tower On Stage.
Although the Iroquois Theatre was
undoubtedly the safest theatre in Chi
cago. It became evident that the city
building department had not strictly |
enforced one or two sections Of the
building ordinances. Section 1S5 OF the
local ordinance provides that IN build
ings OF the class to which the Iroquois
Theatre belong there shall be a system
Of automatic sprinklers There were no
sprinklers in the theatre. and Deputy
Building Commissioner Stanhope.
when this was called to his attention,
replied:
There was no sprinkler system In
the theatre, but the provision about
the /. n doors made It unnecessary
for the theatre to have them"
Section 1S9 Of the ordinance pro-
vides that theatres be equipped with
fra alarms connected with the city
fire alarm system. Mr. Stanhope said.
9TH iroquois had fire alarm conncc-
tions did not see the box, but that
is my information"
City Electrician Ryland said: "Tle
Iroauois had no fire alarm connection
with the city alarm system. No appli-
cation is on file for any such csnnec-
ton"
The alarm of FIRE. in fact. was turned
in from n box over half block distant
from the theatre
The law provides, also. that there
shall be ventilating shaft (fire tower)
at the rear of the stage. which will
conduct flames and smoke away from
the auditorium in just such emergen-
cies as arose Wednesday The Iroquois
theatre possessed no such ventilating
shaft.
From the action OF a committee OF
prominent architects Of Chicago. at
meeting last night. may result rec.
ommendation to Mayor Harrison TO
close every theatre In the ely until its
exits and construction have been ex-
amined This idea was suggested 10
/ President Beaumont Of the Chicago
Architects Association, yesterday by
w. A. Pridmore. an architect who lost
some relatives in the fire. President
Beaumont refused 20 personally make
the recommendation to Mayor Harri-
son. but called an Informal meeting Of
the association. at which It was de-
cided that a larger gathering OF the
members would be held and action at
that time would be decided upon.
Theatre Must Employ Firemen.
The mayor sent the following letter
to all theatrical proprietors in the city:
"The city ordinance. among other
things. requires each theatre to EN-.
f, ploy firemen. to be approved by the
chief of the IRE department to look
after the nre protection OF the house
liam advised by the chief that several
j theatres have refused to comply with
this provision Of the ordinance. In view
Of the terrible disaster at the Iroquois
" theatre. and pending action Of the city
council, I have directed the chief ol
: the fire department to assign a mem
Der OF the department TO each theatre
now complying with the ordinance re
r lating to the employment Of fremen
The fremer now employed by the .he
atres should be assigned TO the front
g Of the house. while the fireman as
signed by the chief should be assigned
TO the stage have further directed
To- the chief. In cases where the ordinance
!. has not been obeyed, TO assign two reg
= ular fremen to the duty Of protecting
I. the public against fire.
!. "The wages Of these fiTemen will be
J. billed direct 20 the theatres to which
. they are assigned. and the service will
be continued until the council has
finally acted upon the ordinance"
{. After dispatching this letter the
d mayor said: III any one Of the theatri
:. cal managers refuses TO pay the wages
}. of these men, as several of them have
. refused in the past, / viii close the
s. doors of the theatres and keep them
closed until they agree TO act as they
should"
;. Offers Of Aid Pouring In"
= All during the day kilograms o.
! sympathy to the people Of Chicago an,
offers of aid poured in by telegraph
a upon the mayor. He said: Il have re
j ceived many offers of aid. II may bl
e that before we get through this a fev
?, persons viii be found to have been pu
70 -, -,o1 l,,,f fhfoaoo mill ho ob1o =.