Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-01-12
PROBING THE HOLOCAUST.
Effort Beiug Made to Fix Responsi.
bIIity for Iroquois Disaster.

Effort Being Made to Fix RESPONSE
bflity for Iroquois Disaster.
Harry j. Powers and VIII ]. Davis.
Chicago managers of the Iroauois Thea
ter. which burned, KILN. 591 people.
made their FIRST statements under oath
"Wednesday. Fire Department Attorney
Fulkerson had them brought before him
for examination.
In answer to his inquiries both men
profesSed to have no personal knowledge
of the management of the theater; were
uniformed as to whether employees had
Instructions for action at time of fires
or panic; were uniformed as 10 what
fire apparatus was in the house; had
only given most general instructions TO
their subordinate manager, and did not
know how many people were in the thea
ter when the FIRE broke out.
Evidence submitted under oath
proves conclusively that had the
skylights and yentilators over the
stage of the Iroqueis Theater been
open, and the openings over the
auditorium been closed, there
would have been no fire in the
audience room of the playhouse
last Wednesday ard no lives need5
have been lost by panic"
This statement was officially made
public by Attorney Monroe Fulkerson OF
the Chicago fire department in summing
up the result OF the investigation as con-
Quoted under his direction. The other
points covered by the inquiry and, in the
opinion of the attorney, conclusively
proved, tell the story of the holocaust
as it has not appeared in detail. In his
analysis of the vast amount of evidence
heard up to date Mr. Fulkerson does not
attempt to place responsibility.
Following are the points which Mr.
Fulkerson announced have been proved
eonclusively by the verified testimony of
witnesses:
That the fire started from an over
heated foodlight twenty feet above the
floor by which linen curtain. which was
nearer than usual to the light, was ig-
nited.
That both skylights over the stage and
the ventilator, or fire Hue, were closed
during the fire.
That both stage skylights were fast
ened down from the outside as we'll as
from the inside. but that the ventilator
was in working order and was not
thrown open.
That the larger of the two ventilators
over the auditorium was open, and that
the stage doors were open, creating
perfect draught for the death-laden
flames which swept over the audience.
That the drop of the asbestos or fire
curtain was obstructed by light or light
board fastened TO the wall of the thea
ter back of the proscenium arch
That there had been previous fire at
the theater and that the same obstruc-
ton at that time prevented the fire cur
tain's being thrown between the stage
and the audience.
That the skylights and ventilator. or
fire flue over the stage. were opened by
employees of the Fuller Construction Com
pany the day following the fire. when the
property was in the hands of the coroner.
That, with one or two notable excep-
tons, the employees of the theater de-
serted their posts or did not understand
what should have been theig duties at
such a time
That there is no evidence that there
had been any fire drill or systematic or
VI lut tuediNb tuUlpA Is lOI
the protection of the pu'(ic in an emer-
geney.
Thai there was no fire alarm box on
the stage, or in the theater building.
''T rose are the main points brought
out by this investigation to date" said
Attorney Fulkerson. Evidence showing
responsibility. and in regard to crowded
aisles, locked doors and inadequate and
closed exits, is still to be produced. SO
far, the evidence have on these points
Is largely hearsay information. They
have not been proved.
''In the light of the information which
is now a matter of record. | desire to
make this statement, without the fear
of successful contradiction: Had the con
dition of the stage and auditorium sky
lights been reversed the catastrophe
would certainly have been averted.
Again, had the asbestos curtain worked
as it should have. there is little doubt
that there would be a different story to
tell.
I'm my opinion, either one of these
conditions in all probability would have
averted the disaster Certainly, both
would have protected the audience. In
other words. regardless of any violation
of existing laws, ordinances or other reg
ulations in regard to construction. the
operation of the safeguards in that thea
ter for just such an emergency would
have saved the lives of about 600 peo-
pie.
Somebody is responsible for the con
dtions shown to have existed and enum-
Grated above. 1t is my intention to hew
to the line in an effort to establish re-
sponsibility."