The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1904-01-09

Managers Davis and Powers ana
Commissioner Williams Held.

ManH0ers DuNfs Wnu f"NffN A"'
Commissioner Williams Held.
Chicago. Jan 2.--Formally charged
with manslaughter. Managers VIII J.
Davis and Harry j. Powers, of the lro-
quois theater. with City Building com
missioner Williams, were held under
bonds of $4,000 each.
Col VIM. Pinkerton and chas. II.
Plamondon furnished bonds for Davis
and Powers.
Andrew ]. Graham, banker, furnished
bond for Commissioner Williams.
Arthur Il. Hull, whose family per.
ished In the theater fire, and who was
the complainant. was present when
the two theater managers and the city
official underwent the ordeal of facing
the charges. The hearing of the case
was set for January IL.
other Arraisnn,ents.
Twenty men arrested In connection
with the lroquois theater were ar
raigned before Justice Caverly In the
Harrison Street police court, Saturday
on a charge of manslaughter Five of
the defendants were members Of the
pany, and were defended by Attorney
Thomas Hogan. No testimony was Civ
en- In court, and Il was Immediately
agreed that continuance be granted
Most of the time was devoted to an
effort by the attorney to have the
bonds of his clients reduced 10 $4,000
in which they had been held. In the
end the bonds in each case were re-
duced TO $1,000, and the cases -aced
on the calandar for hearing January II.
Pleaded For His clients.
Attorney Hogan told the magistrate
that his clients had nothing 10 do with
the management, construction or hand
| ling of the scenery.
He said they continued singing, even
after the audience became panic strick-
en-. Those who Will be arTaigned before
Justice Caverly January ii are: Ed
ward q. w. Wines. Victor Bozart,
Samuel Bell, VIM. Slack, John J. Rus
sell and E. r. Mora.
The other defendants will have a
hearing before Justice Caverly Monday.
They are: w. ID. Kerr, VIM. McMulen,
VIM. Plunkett, Max Mazzonlvitch, A.
Bernard, Edward Eagle, VIM. Mcqueen,
William Olsen, r. Poland VIM. Carl
ton. J. Jandraw and r. r. Nolan.
Their bonds were placed at $4,000
each.
A mass OF new evidence which
throws important light on the Iroquois
theater fire was obtained from stage
employees by Coroner Traeger, Saturday,
and will be submitted to the coroner's
jury when that body meets Thursday to
hear testimony. Coroner Traeger has
learned that Stage Carpenter Cum
mings is the man who superintend-
ed the fitting out OF the rigging loft and
was responsible TO the owners of the
theater for the operation OF everything
on the stage. If the city ordinances
we're not complied with in regard TO the
necessary safeguards against fire be-
hind the curtain II was Cummings du-
ty to notify the owners and managers
of the house. Joe Dougherty, who ia
now In one Of the hospitals suffering
from a broken leg, was the man who
attempted TO lower the asbestos cur
tain. He says that the reason that 1t
stuck and would not come down was
that 1t stuck on the arc spot light in
the first entrance near the top OF the
proscenium arch.
That Mysterious Explosion.
From the stage hands Coroner Trae-
ger learned the cause OF the mysterious
explosion which occurred shortly after
the fire was discovered. II was causet
by the falling Of the big fan seen,
which contained 80 incandescent cleo
trio lights. This scene was not in us'
at the time Of the fire, but was set II
the rear OF the stage. The opening o.
the double doors in the rear Of the
stage created draft which caused ths
big fan scene to topple over and breaE
the incandescent bulbs. This produced
| noise like an explosion The stage
| hands deny that there was a calcium
/ tank on the stage at the time OF the
| fire.
Too Mach oily Rope.
Coroner Traeger has learned that
each OF the 180 drop scenes in the
theater was hung by new, oily, manila
rope. II Is estimated that there we're
as 900 lineal feet of this infiammable
material used in supporting the drop
scenes and that 1t added fuel to the
flames In the rigging loft.
what Frank Poland Told.
McMulIen is considered by the police
TO be one Of the most important wit
nesges. He was in charge of the spot
light which set fire to the scenery and
resulted in the large loss of life
Frank Poland made vain effort TO
have his bond reduced from 5000. say
ing that he was OF the stage when the
fire started. He told the magistrate
that be and another employe. strang-
er to him, were In the balcony above
the gallery controlling the arc lights
which made the pale moonlight for
tho show. When the panic occurred. be
says. his companion jumped TO his
death. lie could not remember the