Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1904-01-06
The IROQUOIS
HOLOCAUST
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF
THE BURNING OF THAT
FAMOUS THEATER.
PEN OF RICHMOND BOY
Picture of the Awfulness of the
Scene-suicides, Funerals, Etc.
Crime of Century.
Correspondence Of the Palladium

Correspondence OF the GaIladluh.J
Chicago, Jan 5, 1904.
That the burning of the Iroquols
theater in Chicago on Wednesday, De
cember 3Oth, was one of the most co
lossal crimes of the century is be
ing brought out in the investigation
now being held in Chicago. That
such structures are permitted to be
built under the supervision and di-
rection'' of city building depart
ments is a sad state Of affairs.
If we can not look to those duly
elected to Office to see to it that build
ings devoted to amusement enter
prises are made safe and secure, then
why have such Offices?
1t seems impossible to realize the
terrible holocaust and the borrow Of
it all Who dreamed the magnificent
edifca so lately thrown open to the
public should prove to be such fire
trap. None were 10th to risk the
precious lives Of mothers, wives and
children; they were IN holiday attire;
out for a holiday treat and had
looked forward to the matinee with
anticipation; many of the tickets
having been Christmas gifts. One
moment the vast audience in the
great auditorium was screaming
with delight, as they gazed on the
gaily brilliant tinselled costumes of
the "Pony Ballet appearing in
their famous song entitled Pale
Moonlight" and the spot light which
is necessary to enhance the beauty Of
this scene, and which had been work
ing badly, hung In the loft Of the
stage, and which ignited, and In less
than sixty seconds was created into
a roaring furnce Suddenly the aw
full cry of fire was heard. Some of
the prominent performers in "Mr.
Blue Beard" appeared dressed in
their sgrotesque costumes, and made
up, rushed to the front and tried to
quiet the fears of the women and
children who struggled on the lower
floors, but the fire had gotten too
great headway; none of the necessary
appliances were at hand, and too late,
the fimsy, so-called ire-proof ashes
tos curtain was lowered. In the rush
of fame all were panic stricken.
Strong men temporarily insane
trampled beneath their feet weak
women and tender children; their
only object being to reach the exits,
many of which were locked and
barred, and bolted or rusted so that
it was impossible to open them In
less than five minutes the "fire-
proof curtain was reduced to ashes;
flames and smoke filed the vast au-
ditorium. and hundreds were stricken,
really before they had time to leave
their seats.
No pen can picture the awfulness
Of the scene. Bodies of men, women
and children ware piled one upon an
other to a height of ten feet in the
stairways, and in less than fifteen
minutes from the time the first sparks
shot from the spot light nearly six
hundred souls had gone to their
Maker.
Why was there no fire alarm at
tached to the theater? Who can an
swer this question? But true it is,
that fully twenty minutes had elapsed,
before single fireman was upon the
scene, and then it became their work.
to carry out the bodies of the vic
TINS, and ready hands of both fire
men and citizens gathered up the
dead, and carried the bodies to near
by stores, where ministers, priests,
doctors. nurses and Sisters of Charity
worked side by side endeavoring to
restore, if possible, and, if dead, car
ing for tie bodies, which were placed
in ambulanees, patrol wagons, pri-
vate hospital wagons, and, there not
being sufficient number Of those,
wagons were sent from the big stores
on State street, from Marshall, Field