New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-05
CLOSES 400 MORE HALLS.
Nayor Harrison LeaUes Only
Churches and Lodge Hall Open.

Theatre fire and panic. the deaths from which
now number $50, Building Commissioner Will
Jams tonight issued an order closing all the
public halls, dance halls and all similar places
of public assemblage, until inspection has
shown that they are complying with all the
provisions Of the public ordinance. All the the
atres have already been closed. This leaves
onlv churches and lodge halls open for public
gatherings. AS there are upward Of four hum
dred halls in the city, ranging in size from
those that VIII accommodate fifty persons TO
those with seating capacity of five hundred,
this ords- viii affect probably as many persons
as the theatre closing order. Protests were nu-
merous. but the Building Commissioner was in
flexible lie said:
Many Of these halls worse than any the
atre ili chicago. Some of them put up with
no restrictions such as govern theatres. and
many Of then. are fire traps OF the worst kind
The closing Of the theatres and halls has
caused a paralysis ot business in many direc-
tIons Three thouserd actors, stage hands and
people who dep >rd directly on the theatres for
a living are idle. with hope Of employment
for probab}- a fortnight. Restaurants that cater
TO the theatrical audiences have laid off many
people. The hotels are complaining, and traffic
on the street railways has fallen off at night
Even the electric signs have been cut of
Deputv Building Commissioner Stanhope made
anothe. inspection Of the Iroquois runs To-Day
10 prepare fo- the questions which will be asked
by the coroner and jurors when the inquest be-
gins Il was pointed out to the building COM
missioners to-day as indicating that the theatre
was .one-od pren7aturelv that the $4,000 bonds
filed with the Street Department by the Fuller
Construction Company on April 20 TO secure
use Of the stree, and to insure the city against
damage to the frontage in excavations had not
vet been redeemed. At the Office of the Street
Departrle,. il was declared 70 De the invaria-
be custom Of contractors 10 redeem bonds as
soon as work was finished.
Mayor Harrison and seven aldermen who
have been appointed members OF the City
Council committee to control the legislation in
relation to theatres. met this afternoon with
theatre managers. every play house. excepting
the Great Northern, being represented. The
! managers asked il they could not open their
houses and sell seats the lower floor only.
but the Mayor and aldermen refused this re-
quest It was declared that all the places
must remain closed until the ordinances had
been fully met.
This afternoon attorneys for the Fire Depart
ment secured from five witnesses confederation
OF the charges that a wrecl1ing crew Of the
Fuller Construction Company had destroyed
the Iroquois stage skylights the day after
the disaster. These lights were supposed to
open automatically but it is declared that
| heavy pieces of scanuing prevented this.
1t has been said by Powers and Davis. man
ayers of the theatre, that the house not filed
on Wednesday afternoon at the time of the fire.
| This assertion was contradicted this afternoon
| by Edwin H. Price. manager or the Mr.. Blue
| Beard" company. Il should say" said Mr..
| Price, that between ninety and one hundred
tickets were sold after the theatre filled The
DAYS receipts amounted TO something more than
| George NJ. DusenIeTy, chief usher OF the
| theatre, was arrested to-day on charge Of
| manslaughter. DuseHberry declares that he
| tried 70 hold Back the rush OF spectators and
helped to save thirty women from the jammed
/ front exits. He IS held TO furnish evidence
| the statements made by many people in the
! theatres that the ushers closed the doors. and
that they At hrst refused 10 allow people TO pass
out. Benjamin Solomon. boy who rented
! ope~a glasses in the upper balcony. to-day de-
Clared tnat all the usne"S and attaches closed
| the doors and shouted 10 the spectators 10
main seated. as there Was no danger
In addition 10 the managers Of the theatre,
VIII J. Davis and Harry J. Powers. every en-
| ploye OF the theatre has been summoned 10 APP
| pear 1t the inquest on Thursday morning. and
| many members Of the Blue Beard" company
| who We're not permitted 10 depart for New York
| yesterday VIII also be called on to testify
John r. Thompson proprietor Of a restaurant
| which aGjolns the lrOquoiS Theatre has lost the
greater part o: his business since the fire. on
the day OF the disaster Thompson threw open his
restaurant for the bodies Of the dead and wound
ed. He summoned nurses and doctors. procured
medical supplies and did everything possible to
alleviate suffering. His services We're widely ad-
Vertised IL the papers. driving nearly all his
patrons away. He has caused all the tables to
be removed. and destroyed and has taken away
all portable furnishings that could remind
toners ot the fire, but people stay away from
his restaurant
Many funerals. beIated because Of inability 10
secure hearses and carriages, took place to-day
The public schools We're closed as a tribute to
thirty y-seyen teachers who were victims OF the
fire. Superintendent Cooley said that the board
would take action Wednesday evening tow
ard aiding the families of dead teachers
\ large crowd attended the City Council meet
ing tonight, at which Il great number OF bills
desgred to insure greater safety in places Of
public assembly were introduced