The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-01-07
CHICAGO HALLS CLOSED
Upwards of 400 Must Comply with
Building Ordinances.
MANY OF THEM ARE FIRE TRAPS
Charges Made That Stage skyli9hts
at lroquois Theatre Were oestroyea
Day After Fire-Polioe Still Making

at lroquois Theatre Were Destroyea
Day After Fre-Police Still Making
Arrests.
Chicago. Jan. 5.-As result OF the
Iroquois theatre fire and panic. III
which $50 persons lost their lives
Building Inspector Williams issued an
order closing all public halls. dance
halls and all similar places OF pnbh'
assemblage. until an inspection has
shown that they are complying win
all the provisions OF the building ordi'
nance. All the theatres have already
been closed This leaves Chicago
churches and lodge halls alone open
for public gatherings.
As there are upwards Of 400 nails
In Chicago. ranging In size from those
that will accommodate 80 persons to
those with seating capacity Of 300
this order will affect probably as many
persons as the theatre closing order
Protests were numerous. but the
building commissioner was inheXible
He said. Many Of these halls are
worse than any theatre in Chicago.
some OF them are put mp with no re-
strictions such as govern theatres. and
many of them are fire traps OF the
worst kind
Attorneys for the fire department Sc
cured from five Witnesses corrobora-
tion of the charges that a wrecking
crew of the Fuller Construction com
pany had destroyed the stage skylights
on the day after the disaster.
Fire Inspector Fulkerson said. 1T
was the intention that these skylights
should open automatically to allow the
escape OF heat and smoke and create
a draft which would draw them up
wards instead of allowing them to
pass over the audience. But from the
information have am positive that
the opening Of the skylights was i'm
possible. because beneath each section
Of the lights had been placed pieces OF
scantling. which remained there until
removed by employees Of the Fuller
Construction company on Thursday AT
ternoon
The police arrested George VI. Du
senberry. chief usher Of the theatre,
on charge of manslauctter. Dusen-
berry declares that he tried to hold
back the rush Of spectators and helped
N save 80 women from the jammed
front exits He is hei 10 furnish evil
dence on the statements made by many
people i'm the theatre that the ushers
closed the doors. and that they al first
refused 10 allow people 10 pass out
benjamin Solomon. a boy who rent
cd opera glasses in the upper balcony,
declared that all the ushers and at
taches closed the doors and shouted
To the spectators To remain seated. as
there was no danger
Coroner Traeger Is looking for the
chief scrubwOman OF the theatre who.
Il Is said. carried all the Keys TO the
doors and exits OF the balconies. She
will be arrested when found.
In addition TO the managers OF the
theatre. VIII J. Davis and Harry j.
Powers. every employe Of the theatre
has been summoned before the inquest
Thursday morning. and many members
OF the "Bluebeard" company. who were
not permitted 10 depart for New York,
will also be called on 10 testify
John r Thompson. proprietor OF
restaurant. which adioins the lroquois
theatre. has lost the greater portion
OF his business since the fire On the
day Of the disaster Mr.. Thompson
threw open his restaurant for the bod
les OF the dead and wounded He sum
moned nurses and doctors. procured
medical supplies and did everything
possible 10 alleviate suffering. His
services were widely advertised in the
papers. driving away nearly all his
patrons. He has caused all Of the "a
bles to be removed and destroyed. and
has taken away all portable furnish.
ings that could remind customers Of
the fire. bit people stay away from
his restaurant.