Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-01-08
GOES TO THE LIMIT.
Mayor Harrison Closes Ali Theateis
and Halls in Chicago.
Many Glasses of Business VIII Es
Para1yzed-knOyvn Dead from
IrOQuOis Theater Fire Near
1y 6OO-Hundreds Buried.

1y 6OO-Handreds Buried.
Chicago, Jan. 5.-The closing down
of Chicago theaters by order of Mayor
Harrison has caused paralysis of bust
ness in many directions, Three thou
sand actors, stage hands and people
who depend directly on the theaters
for living are idle, with no hope OF
employment for probably a fortnight.
Restaurants that cater to the theat-
rica1 audiences have laid on many en-
p1oyes. The hotels are complaining
and traffic on the street railways has
fallen off at night.
After last night it will, for some
weeks at least, be practically impossf-
BILE to hold a public meeting of any kind
in Chicago outside of churches. Build
ing Commissioner Williams last night
issued an order closing all public halls.
dance halls and turnverein halls and
all similar places of public assemblage
until an inspection has shown that
they are complying with all provisions
of the building ordinance. AS there
are upward of 400 halls in Chicago,
ranging in size from those that will ac-
commodate SO persons up to those
with a seating capacity Of 800, this Or
der will affect probably as many per-
SONS as the theater closing order. Pro-
tests were numerous but the building
commissioner was infiexible.
1t is estimated that IL, 900 persons
will suffer from the mayors closing
order. The loss in receipts at the IS
theaters will total $4,000 per day.
Chicago, Jan. 3-Church bells toll
ing at noon, business activity checked,
many celebrations postponed and long
lines of funerals making their way to
the outlying districts where the Gem
eteries are situated-these circum-
stances evidenced Chicago's outward
grief Saturday for the victims of the
Iroquois theater disaster. Priests and
ministers of the gospel went from
, funeral to funeral, as they will Mon
day. The unidentified dead will be kept
as long as possible at the morgues.
II no one then comes to lay claim to
the bodies they will be buried at the
city's expense. By common assent of
the clergy Lead Kindly Light" the
hymn written by Cardinal Newman,
was sung at all the funerals.
received of the loss of personal effects
from the bodies of the fire victims,
coroner's Office clerks estimate that
100000 worth of diamonds, watches,
iewelry, furs and other personal prop
erty was lost in the fire. Many of the
victims had money in their possession
which could not be found when the
bodies were examined at the morgues.
Much of the property of value was I'M
doubtedly lost, but large amount may
have been stolen by ghouls. Hundreds
of the bodies were carried away in
| trucks and express wagons, and there
wa; no way OF preventing persons from
searching the victims and taking their
valuables.
A thorough analysis of the compost
ton of the asbestos" curtain of the
| IroQuois is being made by the city
J chemist. The curtain was consumed
by the flames, alth ough the ordinance
requires a flre-proof curtain, such as
genuine asbestos material.
The number of Iroquois fire victims
| who lived in places elsewhere than this
city is remarkable. The health de-
partment has issued burial permits to
the number of 233 for the bodies of
! persons who lived outside of Chicago.
st. Louis, Jan. lone member OF
ST. Louis family whose loss Of life
| in the Chicago fire is recorded, is Kath-
| leen, the 13-year-old daughter of John
A. Middleton, general freight agent OF
the Frisco system, who was spending
the holidays there with a family named
Folz. A visit to the Iroquois theater
was planned as a farewell entertain
'uent for the st. Louis visitor.
| Gibson City, ILL.,, January 5.-The
body of Miss Anna Hanson, a teacher
in the Gibson high school here, who
lost her life in the Iroquois holocaust,
and who was identified by means of
her teeth, a Gibson dentist going to
Chicago for the purpose, was buried
here Monday.
Hill Speaks for Democracy.
| New York, Jan. 5.-The policy of the
democratic party in the next cam