Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-12
AFTER THE GUILTY.
Investigation Of the Iroquois
Theater Fire at Chicago.
Coroner Traeger Says He Will Probe
Matter to the Bottom
And Find Out Who Is Responsible for
the Disaster.

Nttii''SO, otiii. IL w Z are HOW lttity
to make a searching investigation to
find out just who was responsible for
the Iroquois fire. We have cleared
away the brushwoOd and are prepared
to get down to inner facts. We shall
spare no one for we are determined
to fix the guilt
With this statement Coroner Traeg-
or began the second week of the Iro-
Quois theatre fire inquest, today. For
few days the coroner will be forced
10 put the general public on the stand
but when he gets through with il. he
intends to start one of the closest in
Quires into the working of the build
Ing. police, fire electrical departments
of the city that they have ever known.
After an investigation of 10 days
Attorney Fulkerson of the fire depart
ment, has practically established all
of the points necessary to make his
report Oil the causes of the fire. These.
lie says, tend to show that there was
Wilful neglect of this safety of the pat-
rons of the house,
Unlimited funds to aid in prosccut-
ing the persons responsible for the
lroqnois fire have been pledged to the
lroquoiS Memorial Society, composed
of relatives of victims
The announcement was made at a
meeting of the committee on perma-
nent organization. Arthur E Hull
stated that the offer of funds had been
made by "a firm with a financial back
ing of over Il million dollars"
The committee decided upon the fol-
lowing recommendations:
1. To establish il suitable memorial
to commemorate the names of the VIC
Tins of the fire.
> To render assistance to those
made destitute through the loss of rel
atives in the fire.
3. TO devise and carry out methods
to prevent similar occurrences in the
future.
/. TO assist in and compel the en-
forcement Of existing and future ord-
nanceS and statutes enacted for the
purpose of safeguarding human life in
public assemhlages.
It was also decided to appoint a COM
mittoe TO aid the coroner in his inves-
tigation.
Having heard Tie testimony Of seven
chorus men ana eight chorus girls of
dc Mr.. Biuebeard' Go. With regard
% the Iroquois theatre fire. Assistant
state Attorney Barnes took a non
suit i'll the cases against them. today.
A diamond ring valued at $3.50 is the
inst important find in the Placer
Mine" operated in the debris of the
Ircquois theatre fire.
Mrs. \. G. WiGfall. who was injured
n the FIRE. died. today.
The body Of Leroy Greenwald was
Identified by his father in a vault at
Mount Hope cemetery. today The
body previously had been identified
nd claimed as that Of Norman Cor
)in All unclaimed body at the county
morguC Was identified, today. rs that
# Corhn.
Startled by testimony of woman wit
ness that additional doors not hereto
fore referred to We're closed on the !
lay OF the disaster. the coloner's jury |
adjourned. today. Went to verify the |
settlement The supposed doors We're |
found to be mirrors. The testimony |
vas revised accordingly.
BY the death. today. Of Herman. the |
number OF dead is brought up to 81. |
James NJ. Strong went before the cor
oner's jury which is holding an in
quest ove; the victims of the Iroquois |
theatre fire of Dec. 80, and testified that |
he, with his mother and Wife bought |
standing-roOm tickets for the per-
formancc and were in the first balcony. |
When the fire started they hurried to |
4 door which proved to be locked |
exit. He could not force the door open. |
and breaking tranSom with his fist |
climbed out. He found a man with Il |
lot OF tools. The two men tried to |
break down the door from the outside |
Then Strong pulled himself up into the |
trlnSoIn to try to lift his mother and |
wife out. While he was half way |
through the transom, flames filled all !
that part Of the theatre and his mother |
and wife were burning in front Of his |
eyes. He was 50 severely scOrched |
that his life was dispared of. 1t is on
Strons's evidence that the states at
tOrney will largely rely if an attempt |
is made to secure indictments in con-
nectiOn With the fire.
George NJ. Dusenberry. head usher.
testified that he made d round of the
theatre just before the fire and found
Continued on page 81 {