The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-01

dDplIcdIIOH Is Oh lllC lOl dHy SuCu tOuiIcC-
ton"
The alarm of fire, in fact, was turned in
from box over half block distant from
the theatre.
The law provides also that there shall
be ventilating shaft at the rear of the
stage which will conduct flames and smoke
away from the auditorium in just such
emergencies as arose yesterday. The Iro-
Cuois Theatre possessed no such ventilat-
ing shaft
From the action of committee of prom
inent architects of Chicago, at meeting
tonight, may result recommendation to
Mayor Harrison to close every theatre in
the city until it's exits and construction
have been examined. The idea was sug-
gested to President Beaumont, of the Chi
cago Ar1/itects Association today by w.
A. Pridmore, an architect who lost some
relatives in the fire. President Baumont
refused to personally make the recon-
mendation to Mayor Harrison but called
an informal meeting of the association at
which it was decided that larger gath
ering of the members would be held
tomorrow and action at that time would
be decided upon.
81 see no more reason for closing all
the theatres than for stopping all rail-
way trains after a disastrous wreck
There is no necessity of getting hysteri-
cal about this matter. although this hor-
rible disaster has taken place in probably
the safest theatre in Chicago"
Possibly nothing could better typify.
the depth of the sympathy which is felt
for fhnco u,ho Jiroofl,, ~, ha
calamity than the action of the striking
livery drivers. BY vote, which was
without dissenting voice. it was decided
to establish a truce of ten days. Presi-
dent Albert Young, of the Union, follow
ing the meeting, issued the following de-
cree which was distributed broadcast:
''Owing to the great disaster to the pub
lie caused by the fire at the Irouuois
Theatre, 1 do hereby declare truct in
the present strike of undertakers and
livery drivers for ten days. and do furth-
er request that every man now on strike
report at once to their respective places
of employment, and do everything in his
power to assist his employer in caring for
the wants of the public. Wages are to
have no consideration.
(Signed) ALBERT YOUNG"
In their turn the employers issued
call to their striking employees to return
to work, irrespective of any previous
Affiliations with any and all organiza-
tlons,' and promising to protect them in
all contingencies which may arise IN the
future.
The mayor tonight in this connection
sent letter to all theatrical proprietors
in no oil
failure of theatres to comply with the
building ordinances relating to places of
amusement, especially. that provision re-
quiring them to employ iremen. The
mayor directs the chief of the fire &c.
partment to assign regular firemen to
each theatre, their wages to be paid by
the theatres.
After dispatching this letter the mayor
Said
IF any one of the theatrical managers
refuses to pay the wages of these men, as
several OF them have refused in the past,
| will close the doors of the theatres and
keep them closed until they agree to act
as they should"
All during the day kilograms of SYM
pathy to the people of Chicago and offers
OF aid poured in by telegraph upon the
mayor. He announced tonight:
Il have received many oSers OF aid.
1t may be before we get through this
lew persons will be found to have been
put to need, but Chicago will be able to
give that aid herself. Most of those
killed and injured. now identified. can be
abundantly cared for"
Among the kilograms of confidence re.
ceiyed from abroad by the mayor were
the following:
Berlin.
Mayor Harrison:
"Wish to express deepest sympathy ON
account of terrible catastrophe at Iro,
quois Theatre. Please let me know of
missing and if some of my acquaintance
among them. What terrible beginning
of the New Year many good citizens of
Chicago will have.
(Signed) ''HENRY OF PRUSSIA"
From E. S. Willard, the actor, London,
was received the. following
Deepest sympathy with citizens mourn
ing"
kilograms Of coincidence were also re-
celved from Mayor Low, of New York,
Mayor Collins, of Boston, and from dozens
OF the chief executives of cities between
ST. Louis and New York.
In addition to his proclamation issued
during the afternoon suggesting that the
usual New Years festivities be abandon
ed, Mayor Harrison tonight made the an
noncement that all departments of the
City Hall will be closed on Saturday.
January 2, on account of the calamity at
the Iroquois Theatre
He made the request that all business
houses throughout the city also close on
that day.
On every train which arrived in Chi
cago during the morning came the rela
tives of persons who w ere thought TO
have been killed or injured in the fire.
The lobbies of the downtown hotels were
the scenes of many happy meetings as
well as anxious inquiries on the part of
fathers. mothers and more distant re!a-
tives of whom no trace could be found.
Many of these people returned to the
hotels late in the evening after either q
fruitless search for their loved ores or
after finding a charred and disfgured
body lying in the morgue-all that re-
NAMED of the relative or friend Tor VIII
they had searched.
Enasf nf fhn circumcieicn