Oakes Republican. (Oakes, N.D.) 1898-1906, 1904-01-08
held pending the verdict of the ooro-


After being arrested four of the men
told Chief O'Neil they had been re.
quested by people connected with the
theater to leave the city. When asked
who advised them to do this they at
first refused to say, but later admitted
that the advice was given by an as
sistant stage manager
Chief of Police O'Neil said the ar.
rest of the men did not necessarily in.
dicate that there was any specific
blame attached to them. The move
was made to prevent the possible dis.
appearance of witnesses before the
time when they are needed at the in.
quest.
'nquiry Vigorously Pushed
The police yesterday vigorously
pushed their inquiry into the causes Of
the fire and made several other ar.
rests of stage hands. among them Will
lam McMullen, the operator Of the
light which started the flre. He was
locked up ct the central station, and
Wilson Kerr. fyman at the theater.
was also placed in cell.
Fifteen members of the double octet
which takes part in the song In the
Pale Moonlight" have been placed un-
der arrest by the police, Miss Ro-
maine being the sole one who has so
far eluded the detectives. They are
wanted as witnesses and there is no
charge against any of them. Orders
were issued by Chief of Police O'Neil
last night that none of the fifteen
would be released unless a bond Of
$4,000 was furnished. McMullen, the
flight operator, underwent search
Ing examination by Assistant Chief of
Police Schuetler yesterday afternoon.
McMullen's story was as follows:
4. -. ..s:Te'ls Story Of Fire.
Il was standing on the iron bridge
at the right side OF the stage from
which the "spoot light" is operated.
The lamp seemed in good condition,
but in. tuc middle OF the second act,
just as changed from white light to
a blue oE4e,. the arc between the car
bons splEttercd and jumped. A spark
struck the frayed edge On the inside of
the border of the curtain drapery. A
fana which should say was about
! twelve iucacs long shot up. aban-
doned the lamp and clapped by hand
upon the flames. but they spread in
/ spite CT NC. called to have the fire
I curtain lowered and yelled to the
house fireman to help me. He came
with patent fire eNtinguisher which
had 10 effect On the flames. Finally
| jumped from the bridge to the stage.
| A little child in one OF the front boxes
had already heen burned. seized her
and carried Ee. out and then returned
| to the theatcr. Hero worked, pulling
| people out ct the chc;.cl exits until it
was useless to stay any longer
/ With tho arrest of McMu!len the po.
lice believe they have the last impor-
tant witness amcng the tEeater EN-.
! ployes who are cssc1: :ial to a COM
plete inquiry at the ccroner's inquest.
Mayor sarr:son investigates.
Moyor Harrison yesterday, in COM
pany with Building Commissioners
Williams. Aid Mayor and several
| architects. visited the iroquois theater
building and went over it thoroughly.
At the first step in the building the
| mayor accidentally trod on a lock Of
human hair which had been torn from
the head of Victim of the disaster.
He shuddered, and. removing the hair
from his shoe, placed it on one side
Of the hallway. and passed in. The
mayor went over everywhere except
into the cellar. went out on the fire
escape, tried the exits and finally
| mounted into the loft above the stage.
The dressing rooms were visited and
! the
Whole interior Explored.
B. H. Marshall, the architect Of the
building. accompanied the mayor
throughout the trip When the gallery
was reached the mayor paid particular
! attention to the exits ard tried all the
handles by which the doors are
opened.
The failure to comply with the ordi-
nance requirement that exits shall be
indicated by printed signs struck the
mayor. and when he noted. that heavy
Damascus curtains hung before some
of the doors. he inquired of Architect
| Marshall why they had been placed
there. Mr.. Marshall said it had been
done to improve the appearance OF
the house.
1t was also noted by the mayor that
the ordinance Requirement which in.
sists that all galleries above the
ground floor must have. a separate
stairway leading to the street had been
disregarded. *s
Mayor Gives His Opinion.
Returning to his Office. the mayor
said:
Il think exactly as thought yester.
day Of the theater. I could not see
any exclamation for the disaster ex.