The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-05
TAO WITNESSES
Have Been Summoned in Connec.
tion With IroquOis Inquest.
New Theory Advanced Regard
ing the Asbestos Curtain.

Chicago, Jan. 5.-Evidence showing
grosser criminal negligence than any
thing previously developed was given
under oath today in the fire depart
ment investigation of the Iroquois hor-
ror- 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 attempted to lower the as
bestos curtain it was stopped by the
same obstruction that prevented it's op-
Grafton last Wednesday, the fatal af-
terpooc
The curtain manager declares that he
protested at that time, but that no at
tention 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 averted as the result of the
first fire. The skylight at that time.
he said, was securely closed.
Arrangements for the inquest over
! the bodies of the victims of the Iro-
/ quolS theater disaster were completed
| by Coroner Traeger today. Everything
I is now in readiness for the examination
/ of the witnesses when the inquiry be-
/ gins Thursday. Since the day after
the fire the sheriff's office has been
busy serving subpoenas. One hundred
and forty witnesses have heen sum-
moned. among them being Will ].
| Davis and Harry ]. Powers, resident
| managers Of the Iroquois theater, City
| Building Inspector Williams, Chief of
Police O'Neill and his assistant,
! Schuettler and Fire Chief Musham-
The coroner spent several days to-
day in secret search for new cVi-
denee. He examined several witnesses
| at their homes but declined 10 make
WATT III
! States Attorney Dineen announced to-
day that no special grand jury would
be called to investigate the fire and its
attendant loss of life.
The coroner's jury is making careful
! inquiry into the cause of the fire and
its attendant loss of life,' said he land
will undoubtedly fix all responsible
ty.''
Two important witnesses were dis
covered today in the persons of Chas.
F. Rooster and Henry Sander, real es-
tate dealers. They were passing the
1roquois theater when the fire broke
out, and attempted to get into the the
ater. While smoke was issuing from
the cracks in the front door they were
; denied admission. They declare that
: the doors were kept closed by the ush-
ers and attendants in the lobby for
J nearly five minutes after the fire was
discovered on the stage. Foreman
Jones of the Fuller Construction COM
pany said by witnesses to have smash
ed in the skylight of the theater after
r the fire has been found. He was ex-
amined today in connection with the
} allegation that an attempt was made
Z to destroy evidence.
{ After an interview with Daugherty,
Attorney Fulkerson said the rumor OF
5 a previous fire at the theater had been
: investigated several days ago, but as
r it had been denied by most of the au-
thorities, including Will J. Davis, he
had been compelled to believe that the
report had nc proper basis. 80 far as
= I can learn" said Attorney Fulkerson
''the fire two weeks ago was in a pile
4 of combustible material back of the
t stage and was extinguished without
= alarming the audience. The fire cur
2 tain failed to work, and why this warn
ing was disregarded is a matter that
somebody will have to explain"
Daugherty'S statement was made un-
t der oath. Speaking of the skylight or
: the day of the first fire. Daugherty de-
) clared that the skylights above the
stage were closed, as were the venti-
lators between the skylights. The lat
; ter were designed to create an upward
oraught in case Of fire. The Ventila tors
were operated by a lever, but Daugh-
erty declared no attempt was made tc
4 open them during the fire which came
a few days later The ventilators were
, in perfect condition, he said, and hac
been operated a number of times dur
f ing the engagement Of the blue Beard
company He could give no explana-
ton as to why the ventilators were no
I opened when the fire broke out
Recurring to the curtain, Daugherty
: insisted that it was not a light pro
! sceniun arch but the fiVe-foot planl
which was used as a platform to sus-
tain the spot light, which obstructet
: the asbestos curtain.