The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1904-01-09
WARNING UNHEEDED
ASBESTOS CURTAIN IN IROQUOlS
THEATER OUT OF ORDER
OVER TWO WEEKS.

Man Who Had Charge of the Curtain
Testifies That 1t Failed to Work at
a Matinee Performance Some Time
Previous to the Disaster-Declares
the Management Paid No Attention
to His Protest.
Chicago, Jan. 6.-Evidence showing
grosser criminal negligence than any.
thing previously developed was given
under oath in the fire department in.
vestigation of the Iroquois horror.
Joseph Daugherty, who had charge
of the curtain, swore that two weeks
ago during matinee performance
there was a fire on the stage and that
when he atten- -"' - lower the ashes.
tos curtain it )ed by the same
obstruction that prevented its opera
tion last Wednesday, the fatal after
noon.
The curtain manager declares that
he protested at that time. but that no
attention was paid to his warning. In
his opinion if the curtain had been
run down during the fatal matinee the
lives of many, if not all, the victims
OF the disaster might have been saved.
1t was only by the merest chance that
a panic was avexted as the result of
the first fire. The skylight at that
time. he said, was securely closed.
After the interview with Daugherty
Inspector Fulllerson said the rumors
of a previous fire at the theater had
been investigated several days ago but
as it had been denied by most of the
he had been compelled to believe that
the report had had no proper basis:
$50 far as l can learn" said In
spector Fulkerson, ''the fire two weeks
ago was in pile of combustible mate.
rial back of the stage and was eX-
tinguished without alarming the audi
ence. The fire curtain failed to work
and why this warning was disregarded
is a matter that somebody will have
to explain
Daugherty's statement was made
under oath.
Many Witnesses subpoenaed.
Arrangements for the inquest over
the bodies of victims of the Iroquois
theater fire have been completed by
Coroner Traeger. Everything is now
in readiness for the examination OF
witnesses when the inquiry begins.
Since the day after the fire the sher.
if's office has been busy serving sub
poenaes on persons wanted as wit.
nesses. One hundred and forty OF
them have been summoned, among
them being Will J. Davis and Harry
J. Powers, resident managers Of the
Iroquois theater; City Building In
spector Williams, Chief of Police
O'Neill and Assistant Chief SchuettleI
and Fire Chief Musham.
The coroner spent several hours
during the day in a secret search fol
new evidence. He examined several
witnesses at their homes, but declined
to make public the result of his inter
views.
States Attorney Deneen announces
that no special grand jury will be
called TO investigate the theater fire
and it's attendant loss of life.
"The coroner's jury is making care
full inquiry into the cause of the fire
and it's attendant loss of life said he
"and will undoubtedly fix all responsi
bility."
Two important witnesses have beer
discovered in the persons Of Charles
F. Koester and Henry Zander, rea
estate dealers. They were passing the
Iroquois theater when the fire broke
out and attempted to get into the the
ater. While smoke was issuing from
the cracks in the door thew were de
MED admission. They declare thai
the doors were kept closed by the ush
ers and attendants in the lobby fol
nearly five minutes after the fire was
discovered on the stage.