Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-02

asbestos curtain today. I pulled
it to pieces easily with my finger and
thumb. 1t was a single thickness
when it should have been three or four
thicknesses at least"
Nothing Left Of Curtain.
The stage was completely Quilted.
Only the bare brick walls of the pro-
scenium arch extended up to the roof
Only the iron supports from the top
and bottom of the curtain stretched
across the stage opening. Near by
were fragments of the curtain that
crumbled to the touch.
The asbestos curtain was expected
to withstand intense heat, much great
er than that developed at the Iroquois
theatre, which, according to Architect
Marshall, was not great. He called at
tention to the fact that the back rows
of the orchestra seats were not even
scorched
Asbestos or mineral wool is prac-
tically indestructible except when
submitted to the most intense heat.
The heat that was developed in the
fire Wednesday was far from produc-
ing the temperature needed to destroy
it.
Fimsy Curtain Gave Way.
All the evidence that the coroner
and building department at the city
hall have been able to gather on the
subject so far, bears out the statement
that the curtain was blown to pieces
when subjected to the flames of the
burning scenery on the stage and the
air drafts caused by the heat.
In lowering the curtain it's thinness
caused it to belly out like sail and
stick. That it stuck is claimed by
Manager Davis and all those connect
ed with the theatre. There it hung
for few seconds. inspiring confidence
in the minds of the employees of the
place to such an extent that they tried
to check the wild rush to the exits.
How many lives were lost by that
brief delay will never be known. 1t
may have caused the calmer ones in
the audience to decide to take their
chances in their seats rather than to
trust to the frantic rush of the panic
stricken crowd. Many of these were
found dead in their seats, charred al
most beyond recognition.
Only by sudden giving way of the
curtain can the wave of flames and
smoke that overwhelmed the hun
dreds' in the balcony. and the gallery
be explained. 1t came like an explo-
sion,7 deluging and overcoming the
poor unfortunates with heat and suf-
locating vapors.
Alderman Friestedt was positive in
his assertion concerning the flimsy
construction of the supposed fireproof
drop curtain. He said:
The curtain was of flimsy construc-
ton and unable to resist any consider
able air pressure. I obtained pieces
of 1t today and easily pulled it apart.
1t was of single thickness when it
should have been of three or four
thicknesses.
Asbestos is mineral wool, with lit.
tie lbrous strength. When the fire
started and after the curtain had been
lowered about two-thirds down some
|one opened the doors leading from the
Astage to the street. This created a
draft and have no doubt the current
OFF air carried the curtain away. It
Was not strong enough to resist the
pressure of the air. and the fire at
ONCE leaped into the auditorium.
Made Furnace of Theatre.
"A door was opened in the northeast
ner of the building and created a
mney for the furnace Scores of
pie were found near this exit burn
o death. No doubt the draft car
the flames to these people. The
ry of these extravaganzas is ex-
ely infammable. 1t is no better
led paper, and benzine is often
the paint to make it dry quick
ne of the scenery is as fine as
] burns Ikea flash.
! the asbestos curtain blew to
p lie flames from this burning
sc were carried in flash into
thu ny and gallery. That is why
so were killed.
It ners of the prosecnium arch
were Of brick, as has been claim
ed. s-girder across the prosceni-
UNI o. 6 carried the brick work
above This made a square stage